Sonya Deville and her completely unconvincing MMA gimmick

["Gizzark" Mike Wronglevenay]

So she legit was in MMA once, right? But this gimmick has never really been over as the 'killer' Shamrock/Lesnar-esque thing they seem to be going for. She seems to wrestle like someone whose moves all have a big impact, but she so obviously works a really soft WWE style and isn't talented enough to do that AND make it look devastating.

My question is: Why doesn't it work? Is it just cause she sucks?

My hypothesis is that being on Tough Enough showed that she seems to be a pretty nice person, a bit of an underdog, and booking her as a dominant heel doesn't work because she should really be a scrappy, underdog face.

[Deleted]

MMA gimmicks universally suck IMO.

[Kyn]

The problem's the gimmick, not her. In my opinion, bringing up MMA in pro wrestling just serves to remind people that wrestling's pre-determined, and takes you out of the narrative. 'I'm a legit bad-ass, now watch me fake fight' just doesn't work.

[Deleted]

I wouldn't say Sonya sucks, but she's not very good and got called up way before she was ready. The gimmick flopping is a combination of her greenness (which can be fixed) and her lack of an intimidation factor (which can't).

[Deleted]

I just looked up her record on sherdog. Both of her wins were against fighters making their debut at the time and her loss was against a 0-1 fighter.

She was basically on the "Soccer Mom Cardio Kick Boxing" MMA circuit.

It's going to be especially silly, now that Shayna Baszler is on the roster and of course possibly Rousey in the future.

[Deleted]

[Confused Mark Wahlberg]

Her gimmick should be that she won fights against senior citizens.

[SHAKEMASTER TV9 is Don Knotts]

She should have a Cruella De Ville gimmick and threaten Alexa Bliss's pig.

[The Spelunker!]

Jan 7, 2018 9:26:17 GMT -5 @mrsirdrdaddy said:

MMA gimmicks universally suck IMO.

You should look up Jeff Jarrett or Archibald Peck's.

[tenshi]

Jan 7, 2018 11:27:00 GMT -5 Confused Mark Wahlberg said:

Her gimmick should be that she won fights against senior citizens.

So Sonya is Gabi García now?

[This Player Hating Mothman]

Jan 7, 2018 9:55:18 GMT -5 @tacticalsneakman said:

I wouldn't say Sonya sucks, but she's not very good and got called up way before she was ready. The gimmick flopping is a combination of her greenness (which can be fixed) and her lack of an intimidation factor (which can't).

This is the problem right here. Since the Horsewomen, almost none of the female call-ups have been ready for the main roster when they were taken. It's only gotten even worse with these two factions where Ruby Riot is the only one they called up who is even kind of ready to have been called up. Sonya is being tasked with playing a gimmick that is at its weakest trying to be played by someone who's still learning. An MMA gimmick isn't amazing but it works best when someone has experience and lots of time to develop presence, and she has neither.

[EoE: Well There's Your Problem]

She’s OK at the moment given her purpose is largely as a lackey for Paige (although given that her status is up in the air again, it might be up to her and Rose to carry the workload for a little bit). But I probably wouldn’t put Deville on her own and get her pushed as a title contender yet.

[Crow Dust]

Jan 7, 2018 9:26:17 GMT -5 @mrsirdrdaddy said:

MMA gimmicks universally suck IMO.

Sakuraba says no 

[Oh Cry Me a Screwball]

She lacks credibility in a company that employs a much more convincing Shayna Baszler and may be working with Rhonda Rousey.

[El Cokehead del Knife Fight]

Jan 7, 2018 18:32:45 GMT -5 Crow Dust said:

Jan 7, 2018 9:26:17 GMT -5 @mrsirdrdaddy said:

MMA gimmicks universally suck IMO.

Sakuraba says no 

Sakuraba is also the Gracie hunter and is as legit as they come.

[carp (SPC, Itoh Respect Army)]

I kind of don't see the problem with the gimmick; she just uses strikes. If the WWE has trained people to think "MMA" is the same as "wins brutally against everyone" then yeah, it fails.

Her problem is obviously just that she's super-green. I think she'll end up pretty good; she's just not near ready.

[Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-]]

Jan 7, 2018 13:09:54 GMT -5 This Player Hating Mothman said:

Jan 7, 2018 9:55:18 GMT -5 @tacticalsneakman said:

I wouldn't say Sonya sucks, but she's not very good and got called up way before she was ready. The gimmick flopping is a combination of her greenness (which can be fixed) and her lack of an intimidation factor (which can't).

This is the problem right here. Since the Horsewomen, almost none of the female call-ups have been ready for the main roster when they were taken. It's only gotten even worse with these two factions where Ruby Riot is the only one they called up who is even kind of ready to have been called up. Sonya is being tasked with playing a gimmick that is at its weakest trying to be played by someone who's still learning. An MMA gimmick isn't amazing but it works best when someone has experience and lots of time to develop presence, and she has neither.

It doesn't help that it's painfully obvious the five women were only called up to serve as bodies for the Rumble and the only one remotely able to carry herself is Riott. And after that what will they be? Either sent back to NXT or Fired for basically being put in a lose lose situation because they simply aren't ready and were put in the worst gimmick position possible of "Factions Just Because". They can't swim on their own, WWE knows that, they can't swim TOGETHER, they're just gonna sink.

[Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-]]

What also hurts Sonya is the fact that yes she's playing an MMA gimmick when she herself was an MMA fighter for a sip of tea, but also now you have women like Baszlor (and eventually Rousey) who say what you want about their in ring work or how it could be, Shayna at the very least presents herself like someone who could kill you. Sonya doesn't do that at all. Hence why the current best thing about her is @akeemresurrection's Hitmonchan Meme.

[IMPRESSIVE knightwing1047]

Jan 7, 2018 13:09:54 GMT -5 This Player Hating Mothman said:

Jan 7, 2018 9:55:18 GMT -5 @tacticalsneakman said:

I wouldn't say Sonya sucks, but she's not very good and got called up way before she was ready. The gimmick flopping is a combination of her greenness (which can be fixed) and her lack of an intimidation factor (which can't).

This is the problem right here. Since the Horsewomen, almost none of the female call-ups have been ready for the main roster when they were taken. It's only gotten even worse with these two factions where Ruby Riot is the only one they called up who is even kind of ready to have been called up. Sonya is being tasked with playing a gimmick that is at its weakest trying to be played by someone who's still learning. An MMA gimmick isn't amazing but it works best when someone has experience and lots of time to develop presence, and she has neither.

I honestly can’t believe Mandy and Sonya were called up to be Paige’s teammates instead of a pretty-ready Peyton Royce and Billie Kay. I feel like their vibe would fit in perfectly with Paige, as well.

[111111]

Jan 7, 2018 21:59:56 GMT -5 IMPRESSIVE knightwing1047 said:

Jan 7, 2018 13:09:54 GMT -5 This Player Hating Mothman said:

This is the problem right here. Since the Horsewomen, almost none of the female call-ups have been ready for the main roster when they were taken. It's only gotten even worse with these two factions where Ruby Riot is the only one they called up who is even kind of ready to have been called up. Sonya is being tasked with playing a gimmick that is at its weakest trying to be played by someone who's still learning. An MMA gimmick isn't amazing but it works best when someone has experience and lots of time to develop presence, and she has neither.

I honestly can’t believe Mandy and Sonya were called up to be Paige’s teammates instead of a pretty-ready Peyton Royce and Billie Kay. I feel like their vibe would fit in perfectly with Paige, as well.

But then they wouldn't be able to do the Riott Squad and Absolution mirror image staredown spot in the rumble which i'm convinced is the only reason the 2 stables were formed in the first place.