The WWE seldom tried to highlight it, but the recently released Lana was one of the hardest workers they had. She also was a shining beacon of the positive vibes that the company purports to love to give the audience. For over a year, it seemed like she was going to be a breakout star.
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When that didn’t happen, Lana spent the next several years just sort of hovering around, amassing husbands, female paramours, and most likely a bajillion splinters from table spots. Amongst the most recent shocking list of new releases, it’s most likely all academic to see her alongside Miro once again, for the first time in AEW.
Rusev Crush!
The night after WrestleMania XXX, Rusev and Lana debuted on the main roster. Rusev might have looked impressive in the ring, but plenty of eyes of the WWE Universe were turned to his manager, The Ravishing Russian.
Clearly a take on Ludmilla and Ivan Drago from Rocky IV, the duo made it work wonders, especially when it was time for The Accolade, leading to Lana bellowing “Crush!” throughout arenas. Lana's short business skirts, boss-lady demeanor and Rusev's dominance was all they (but especially Lana needed to get over) with the WWE Universe.
We Want Lana
With Lana’s growing popularity in mid-2015 and chants of “We Want Lana” ringing out across arenas, it was only a matter of time before the WWE broke her and Rusev apart and began the match towards making Lana the biggest Diva of this current generation. But after creatively neutering Rusev, Lana didn’t have a lot of direction, either.
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So the pair broke up and Lana went with Dolph Ziggler. Offscreen, however, the pair couldn’t have been more together and got engaged. That engagement supposedly caused a ton of heat; apparently WWE brass didn’t like two characters feuding onscreen and loving offscreen.
Lana Is The Best Day
When creative doesn’t have anything for you, some superstars create a buzz for themselves. This is what happened when Rusev starting proclaiming every day was Rusev Day. After she was floundering as well, Lana was put back with Rusev and Lana Day was born as well.
Unfortunately, much like anytime anyone in recent years gets over when they’re not supposed to, Lana being the best didn’t mean squat.
Hard Working Wrestler
Even before Rusev was released in 2020, Lana had been doing her best to get better and better in the ring. That meant working a lot with the BOAT herself, Natalya. But no matter how good she was getting, her place from a booking perspective was regulated to cannon fodder. So much so that week after week, she was smashed through a table by Nia Jax. That might not have been so bad had her redemption been slightly more than eliminating her in the Royal Rumble. She then went on to form a tag team with Naomi, playing off their real-life friendship and dancer experience. Clearly being released ended any possible momentum of both ladies delivering the glow. This also puts Naomi once again without a direction, but that's a whole other problem.
Lana was a wildly talented superstar with the literal discipline of a Russian ballet dancer. Her unique skill set and dedication should have been heralded and celebrated by WWE, but seemingly the moment she got engaged mid-angle against Rusev, it also was the end of any real sustained push. She was never booked to be a believable or credible threat to anyone. Out of all of the recent releases, Lana seems like a shoo-in to get signed by AEW and be reunited with her husband. They were on the cusp of greatness once, it’s time to pick up where they left off.
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