Is Raw Really the Right Place for Eve Torres?

Before the surprise trade last week, I was looking forward to Eve getting a title push on Smackdown. After they had her lose to McCool without much build for a feud, they pretty much killed the chances of that.

It also set her up to get drafted to Raw. What else did Smackdown hold for her? She feuded with Layla, exchanged a few wins with Natalya, and got beaten by McCool. Raw will hold fresher options for her, right?

First problem, it seems even more unlikely that she will get a title push anytime soon on Raw.

On Smackdown, the only other option besides her and Melina was Maria. Eve was easily the safest bet to get a title push when the time was right for Melina to step down.

Melina did step down on Smackdown, but also stepped up on Raw. And Eve came along too.

How much longer until the WWE decides to push another face? Not until Maryse and Melina have a program.

Should Maryse regain the title, and she probably will, the feud will have to continue a bit more so Melina can get at least one rematch.

Then Eve steps right into the picture, right? What about Gail Kim? In terms of wrestling credibility and experience, she deserves a feud too.

What about Kelly Kelly? She seems to be getting used again too. Will Eve still get a push to shine on Raw?

Second problem, her improvement may not be fostered very well with the heels on Raw. On Smackdown, she had credible opponents who could hold their own and help carry her when necessary.

A title feud with Michelle McCool, a solid worker, could have helped Eve get some good exposure in the ring. That would help the fans grow to like her a bit more and possibly motivate her to improve further.

What can a title match against Maryse really do for Eve? And if Maryse is still held back by her injuries, and being required to work through it as she did in the past few months, the matches will make Maryse and Eve both look even worse.

Matches cannot be too fast paced. Eve may have to sell to make weak offense look good. She will not have much incentive to push herself far, risking either sloppy spots or injury to either herself or Maryse. She will be killed before she even had a true chance to get started.

Last problem, based on the new environment of Raw, Eve may just be used as a hot model to stand alongside a celebrity guest host. Raw has been stacked with models and glamour gals.

I am not saying she will get no time in the ring. She will have moments to impress, but what will her chief purpose on Raw be? As a wrestler or model? Will she end up like Kelly Kelly?

This is just a waste. An individual with growing possible wrestling skill like Eve may just slide back out of her improvement.

Am I sounding too negative? The only options I see for Eve are either never getting a title push she seemed likely to get sooner or later on Smackdown, getting matches that turn out sloppy or not too interesting, or simply being left as a model.

Why do I even care about this eye-candy diva, the natural enemy of serious female wrestlers in the WWE? First of all, I give credit when I see it. True solid improvement is not something that can be denied.

A woman who does that deserves a push, but not an overpush or one too much at the expense of credible wrestlers.

Second, if you are going to invest in these women, invest in them properly.

Lastly, and most importantly, I am tired of the same options in the title picture. If it is not the same women, it is inexperienced women getting pushed and putting on bland matches.

I am not saying Eve will be a female version of Jack Swagger, but she at least seems to have some potential. She is showing some moves, but how is she going to get the experience of timing, selling complicated moves, and overall ring intelligence without more exposure with the experienced women?

FCW does not seem to be doing its job well enough. And if she is always wrestling baby matches, not pushing herself or requiring her opponent to push her, her potential will never grow, her opponent, whether a credible wrestler or inexperienced one, is being held back as well, and the whole WWE women’s division, or at least the one on Raw, continues to be dumbed down.

My main problem is that eve is one of the most improved divas in all of the WWE. I simply do not believe Raw is the environment to foster growth in her as a good wrestler.