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The debate on Maxim model, one-time #1 contender to the NXT Women's championship and newest member of the Total Divas team for WrestleMania 32, Eva Marie, isn't if she can get crowds to react, but whether or not the boos and jeers she generates are the 'right kind of heat'.
Unless you're a member of WWE's main roster Creative staff, apparently.
According to Dave Meltzer on the latest Wrestling Observer Radio (subscription required but recommended), Vince McMahon and the gang expected her to receive a hero's welcome from the Brooklyn crowd when she ran out to assist Natalya, Alicia Fox, Paige & Brie Bella, evening the odds in their fight against B.A.D. & Blonde's Lana, Tamina, Naomi, Emma & Summer Rae last night (Mar. 28) on Raw.
The thinking apparently was the mainstream WWE Universe is a totally different animal than the NXT crowds who blew the roof off venues voicing their dislike of All Red Everything; that some combination of her 'reality' show fame and helping the babyface side of this feud would earn Eva a positive reaction.
While it's hard to surprise me when it comes to the company being out-of-step with how their loudest and most loyal fans will respond to gimmicks and stories, I kind of doubt this one, for a couple of reasons.
1) Eva was rolled out in NXT as a face, or at least a neutral character. We all know how that worked out. Vince may not be an avid NXT watcher, but I think someone in his inner circle must have been aware of that push and how it worked, so Brooklyn raining boos on their girl wouldn't be a complete surprise.
2) Even if the powers-that-be were shocked, the performers knew what was up. Non-verbally, Eva worked the delusional heel act that made her a love-to-hate favorite on Wednesday nights, and the other members of her team responded accordingly, in the ring and in Brie's Fallout video.
What do you think, Cagesiders? Is WOR's source right, or is thinking the wrestling hipsters at Barclays Center would cheer Eva Marie too off-the-mark for even WWE?