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In an interview published Friday in the International Business Times, a routine chat with former NXT Women's and WWE Diva's champion Paige took an uncharacteristic turn when discussing the WWE Developmental program's Network show and, specifically, the woman who succeeded the Brit as champion there, Charlotte:
She's good. She's still new, so I feel like at one point people want to see her, but they're kind of rushing it. I think she could do with some more time, but I still think Sasha Banks is the one that I personally want to come up and who I think is completely ready and the full package, boxed up and ready to go. I feel like she'd be absolutely perfect up here. Charlotte is good, but (needs) some more time.
The answer is frank, but not inflammatory. The question itself, basically "what about Charlotte?" after standard queries about "who would you like to work with in the future?" and "what makes NXT different?" looks strangely specific in retrospect, but not anything that set off the IT'S A WORK alarm in this mark's brain or anything.
Ric Flair's daughter hasn't formally responded anywhere, but did Favorite two tweets from fans that referenced the interview (props to 411mania.com as the place I read this news...I'm old and don't know how to track down who Favorites what 140 character messages):
the reason @RealPaigeWWE doesnt want @MsCharlotteWWE coming up to the main roster before sasha is because charlotte is a bigger threat.
@RealPaigeWWE has been talking smack huh? Well, Do it with #Flair shut her down. #RunIn #FastLane #DivasTitle.
The Total Divas star, who has a date lined up for tonight at the Fastlane pay-per-view (PPV) where she'll try and reclaim the butterfly belt from her 'reality' show co-star Nikki Bella, fired back with a couple of Tweets of her own:
Some ppl need to be humbled.. Keep favoriting those tweets sweetie. Took me nearly 10 yrs to get here, blood, sweat and tears. #SelfMade
— PAIGE (@RealPaigeWWE) February 21, 2015
I love how people instantly jumps to conclusions too. It's literally the most entertaining thing.
— PAIGE (@RealPaigeWWE) February 22, 2015
No idea if the second message from Paige is a shot at Charlotte, her fans or dirt screeners like yours truly alleging this is ground work for a main roster program between the two legacy wrestlers. The 'Reality' Era is so confusing!
They wouldn't need to do much to set this up as a hot feud, though. The Anti-Diva never lost the NXT Women's title - she was forced to vacate it when her surprise, post-WrestleMania 30 appearace on Raw ended with her holding the main roster belt.
Ric Flair's daughter then won the tournament held to crown the second queen of the division.
What do you think, Cagesiders? Some legitimate heat? Or WWE reproducing a currently successful tweener vs. tweener feud with Paige in the Daniel Bryan role against Charlotte in the Roman Reigns role?
Will it result in a main roster program either way?