So something I've been ruminating about lately, what would have happened if the diva search never came to be, and the WWE decided to continue with  their semi-serious/pushed women's division?  

Personally, I think the Raw roster especially still would have seen some changes/releases as the division was kind of stale and in need of some fresh faces by that point. 

Would Melina still have come up in manger role with MNM, or would she have debuted in the women's division? Would the likes of Jillian or Katie Lea have had better stronger careers? Would Trinity actually have been relevant?  Would Angelina and Shantelle have made it to the main roster? 

I've never been good at these what if scenarios - but the first thing I thought out of your questions was that I think Melina definitely  benefited from coming up as a manager with MNM because they were a genuine upper card tag team and her charisma was a major selling point in establishing their character, so when she did pivot into wrestling initially in the feud with Trish it seemed like a big deal - if she debuted straight as a wrestler at that time I'm not sure she would have been as successful.

If there were putting a bit more focus on filling out the roster with talented girls rather than the DS chicks I think Angelina and Shantelle would have made it to the main roster. It's interesting to think how just slightly more effort would have effected TNA and whether they would have established the Knockouts division.

Apr 10, 2018 6:40:35 GMT @admin said:

I've never been good at these what if scenarios - but the first thing I thought out of your questions was that I think Melina definitely  benefited from coming up as a manager with MNM because they were a genuine upper card tag team and her charisma was a major selling point in establishing their character, so when she did pivot into wrestling initially in the feud with Trish it seemed like a big deal - if she debuted straight as a wrestler at that time I'm not sure she would have been as successful.

If there were putting a bit more focus on filling out the roster with talented girls rather than the DS chicks I think Angelina and Shantelle would have made it to the main roster. It's interesting to think how just slightly more effort would have effected TNA and whether they would have established the Knockouts division.


MNM definitely helped establish  Melina, more so than a regular debut as a wrestler would have. She got to interact with upper card wrestlers, and the fans got to know he more since she was all over the show cutting promos and having backstage segments

The effect on TNA is an interesting aspect to this. If they had planned to continue with a serious women's division, Gail is one of the talents I could see them keeping if they decided to retool it, as she was still so young. Gail not going to TNA most likely means no Knockouts Division, as I don't see a division built around Traci Brooks going anywhere. 
It's interesting to note that no Diva Search doesn't necessarily mean they division would have been booked well, Victoria's face title reign was booked as an afterthought. The matches weren't given a lot of time either like the  Bad Blood  fatal four way from 2004 I believe was sub 5 minutes and that was with both Lita and Trish in it.   


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If anything, the introduction of the Diva's Search meant the WWE had to find a place for the women on the show. If they didn't find a new way to promote the women, there's a real possibility that they would have lost interest once Trish and Lita called it a day. So I don't think it would have changed a lot. Women's wrestling would have most likely been confined to Raw with only a few women like Beth Phoenix, Melina, Mickie James, Natalya, Kelly Kelly, The Bellas etc. competing. It would have made for more consistent matches, but on the whole there wouldn't be as many opportunities for the women.