Diva Dirt presents its fourth annual Writers’ Choice Awards, as decided by the Diva Dirt team. As we come to the end of 2014, we have picked the best of the best to be awarded our Writers’ Choice trophies.
Most Improved: Nikki Bella
If 2013 was the year Brie Bella proved the naysayers wrong, 2014 was Nikki’s turn.
Both Bellas have improved by leaps and bounds since the premiere of Total Divas, taking advantage of the newfound exposure to branch out from the twin routine and distinguish themselves. Nikki shin injury meant Brie’s breakout came first, allowing her to face off with AJ Lee one-on-one for the Divas Title not once, but twice.
Nikki rehabbed and came back stronger than ever, taking on an in-ring style that showed off her strength. She was the one who truly broke out of the Bella mold, adopting a new finisher – the Rack Attack – and sporting high-top sneakers in the ring. But those were just the superficial aspects of Nikki Bella’s breakout.
After Brie quit the WWE at Payback, Nikki bore the brunt of Stephanie McMahon‘s ire. She was punished in a series of unfair matches, Stephanie hoping to get at Brie through the sister she left behind. This seemed designed to make Nikki a beloved babyface, setting her up to overcome the odds and get one over on Stephanie, as Brie did.
But it was not meant to be. Nikki shocked many by turning against her sister at SummerSlam, helping Stephanie defeat her in a bold display of pent up bitterness. She would go on to tear her sister apart mentally and physically, blaming her for her troubles and vowing to step out of her shadow once and for all.
And that she did. While Brie would eventually turn back to the “dark side” and re-align herself with Nikki, the balance of power had shifted. Nikki was now the alpha twin, competing for the Divas Title. In the eyes of some, Nikki had surpassed her sister, entertaining in her character work and impressive in the ring. The time on her own had done Nikki wonders, as it had for Brie last year.
Nikki would claim the championship at Survivor Series, using her sister’s shocking heel turn to win the belt from AJ in easy fashion. She retained the title at TLC in a similarly sneaky way, spraying a mystery substance in AJ’s eyes when Brie had the referee distracted.
Nikki leaves 2014 as Divas Champion, miles away from the woman she was this time last year. She’s a heel, fully confident in her character and in the ring, reinvented for the next chapter of her career. She’s fearless. She’s cruel. She’s determined. Most of all, though, she’s in control.
Stay tuned for more Writers’ Choice Award reveals throughout the day.
