So Are They Slow-Turning Rhea?

[CMWaters]

Just thinking about how she was portrayed on Raw this week:
-Wasn't out with Dominik
-Didn't mention Judgment Day at all in her promo (though still had the JD on her face)
-Was challenged by a heel
-Had heel attacks on her by Damage CTRL

Now her promo before Bayley came out was technically heel because it was questioning the technically face of this feud's respect for others, but in a way how she was here this week sort of reminds me in a different way of that time period that Chyna was still helping heel Triple H, but was a face in her IC title pursuits and actions.

Am I wrong for viewing things this way?

[theironyuppie]

It's hard to say, honestly. I think most of her potential big feuds (including Becky, which they briefly teased again) work best with her in the heel role, but I suspect either way there's a chance that post-Mania she's on Smackdown while the rest of JD is on Raw. She's already been working Smackdown house shows these last couple of weeks.

[john84]

I think there's also the factor that she's facing Charlotte and they might be thinking Charlotte will get booed over Rhea anyway so might as well have Rhea act a bit more babyfacish before Mania? Or it could just be a long-term face turn thing lol.

[Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-]]

They'd be absolutely insane to break Dominick and Rhea up, so I do not think that's happening

The Mami thing is one of the most over things in the company

[EoE: Well There's Your Problem]

Mar 21, 2023 5:10:26 GMT -5 Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-] said:

They'd be absolutely insane to break Dominick and Rhea up, so I do not think that's happening

The Mami thing is one of the most over things in the company

I suppose the question here would be “What is it that the crowds are actually booing here, and does it still exist if they hypothetically split Dominik and Ripley?”.

[Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-]]

Mar 21, 2023 5:14:38 GMT -5 EoE: Well There's Your Problem said:

Mar 21, 2023 5:10:26 GMT -5 Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-] said:

They'd be absolutely insane to break Dominick and Rhea up, so I do not think that's happening

The Mami thing is one of the most over things in the company

I suppose the question here would be “What is it that the crowds are actually booing here, and does it still exist if they hypothetically split Dominik and Ripley?”.

I just feel like they're a fantastic heel act, I don't think you take either away from each other

I wouldn't be shocked if both show up to confront the Mysterio Family when Dominick said they'd all be on the show

[theironyuppie]

Mar 21, 2023 5:17:14 GMT -5 Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-] said:

Mar 21, 2023 5:14:38 GMT -5 EoE: Well There's Your Problem said:

I suppose the question here would be “What is it that the crowds are actually booing here, and does it still exist if they hypothetically split Dominik and Ripley?”.

I just feel like they're a fantastic heel act, I don't think you take either away from each other

I wouldn't be shocked if both show up to confront the Mysterio Family when Dominick said they'd all be on the show

I think they will. Especially after their traumatic Christmas experience. Though it is notable that in the last couple of episodes of Smackdown they've had commentary repeatedly point out that Dom is only like this towards his dad because of Rhea's nefarious influence. Which is true in the storyline as told, but was an element that had been dropped for a few months before starting to be brought up again.

[Legion]

I think they see she is popular, so are moving her more to a tweenerish 'she's still bad, but it's ok you cheer her, just buy her shirts and enjoy her' role.

I dont think we'll see a full face turn for a long time yet, not while her and Dom are so hot.

[Totorob101]

Her whole attitude, Look and act with Dom is 100% pure heel, she has the swagger to go with it. Turning her babyface would be a disaster and would never work. She is another female talent who should aways be heel no matter what in her career. She, Bayley, Shayna, Ronda and Charlotte are born villains, the womens division has incredible heels doesnt it?

[Push R Truth]

Breaking up Rhea and Dom would be kinda stupid. WWE can't afford to lose the pegging community right now.

[msc]

I mean - she's a good wrestler, she has bundles of charisma, and hhe's booked as someone with extensive cardio (see the Rumbles) and the ability to beat up most of the men - remember when she bodyslammed Luke Gallows and the crowd lost their shit.

The WWE are in an upward fight with gravity to keep someone like that heel long term.

[Deleted]

Rhea and Dom are as one would say are a whole better than the sum of their individual parts.

Rhea on her own has just never worked out long term....and that promo last night was a pretty stark reminder why she has always sunk when she is pushed out onto her own.

But funny thing is that it is Dom who has been big beneficiary here because he is quickly outgrowing the act as he grows more confident in his mic work but idk if anyone is gonna care once he is no longer feuding with papi.

And people saying breaking them up would be a big mistake just validates that.

[Mid-Carder]

Maybe not but she will definitely be cheered over Charlotte at Mania.

Possibly Asuka over Bianca too but that's less of a certainty

[Zombie Mod]

anyone who faces a Flair is usually viewed as a face even if they were a heel at the start of the show, it's like a weird universal law that a Flair defaults to heel.

[kevin]

Mar 21, 2023 9:10:17 GMT -5 Zombie Mod said:

anyone who faces a Flair is usually viewed as a face even if they were a heel at the start of the show, it's like a weird universal law that a Flair defaults to heel.

I find it almost impossible to cheer for Flair. Her gimmick is that she is geneticly superior and simply better than everyone else. Everything about the way she carries herself how she gives promos, how she wrestlers how she looks down at everyone screems heel. Add to that she has been in the title picture since she first showed up so you almost want to see her lose. The same thing that is happening to Bianca right now on Raw. Flair is a natural heel with a heel character. The last time they tried to make her a pure face was the Lacey Evens fued and they had to do some bizarre stuff to make that work. And poor Lacey has been pushed so far down the card now.

[Jindrak Mark]

I said it last night but I think they were maybe expecting fans to cheer Rhea and boo Charlotte during this build but it hasn’t happened whenever they’ve been in the ring together so far. Charlotte has been cheered. I do think at Mania though with the more hardcore crowd they are likely to react that way.

["Evil Brood" Jackson Vanik]

It's probably for the best at some point. She's great with Dominik but I do wonder what's Dom's ceiling post-Rey as a heel. I'm sure he'll get some heat for sure but he's going to need something else eventually once that's over.

[asuka007]

Rhea gets cheers anytime she’s NOT with Dom. Even here before she called the fans pathetic they were chanting “Mami.”

[ayumidah]

Ugh, I'll be kinda sad if they do, I really enjoy her and Dom.

[sportatorium]

They may realize that if they blow off Edge & Finn and Rey & Dom there might not be much further to take Judgement Day. She is 100% getting cheered over Charlotte. They could re-do the fake eye spot on the steps right before her match and she'd still get cheered like she's 1988 Hogan against Charlotte Flair.

The only downside is that she's pretty much the best heel they have.