For the last few weeks we were offered an emotional backstory as Lacey Evans gave several heartfelt accounts of what it was like growing up an abused child with a father that was also addicted to drugs.
Each week on Smackdown she added to the previous week’s story with a new chapter, and last week she even came out to a hero’s welcome by the WWE faithful in attendance.
It was a near perfect moment for her return following giving birth and she was built into a face we could all be proud of and get behind.
WWE Changes Plans for Lacey Evans, Turns her Heel
Then on this week’s edition of Raw (5/9), she recovered her final chapter on Smackdown and we took it as she’s being switched to the red brand.
Mike Johnson on PWInsider.com reported on her switching to Raw, which makes sense since her vignette appeared there after being solely on Smackdown for weeks.
But the possible heel turn is what make us apprehensive.
Why the turn?
It seems the WWE expects fans to feel betrayed after so many reached out and praised Evans for making it through her struggles as the phrase “making fans show you the right respect” has been going around.
This is a phrase used largely in the 1980s by heels claiming fans needed to appreciate them more, and if this is true it could be one of those moments when the WWE does it to themselves again.
Fans are emotionally invested in Evans now, and we think the WWE will be banking on that so when she comes out as a heel it’ll anger fans and get us to turn on her.
In short, it doesn’t follow and logical or storytelling that makes sense as it’s a cheap play for emotions and this is basically why the WWE has been struggling.
In many ways, it would be a great move to really get fans to turn hard on her, but she’s been a heel before and this buildup could’ve made her the top face in the women’s division and maybe even the company.
Since she was on Smackdown, that meant she and Ronda Rousey would’ve have run ins, but moving her to Raw would mean she’d be across from Bianca Belair.
So the heel switch could simply be because they don’t want to draw fan support from either of them.
Fans have shown time and again that we can cheer for multiple faces at the top, but the WWE rarely listens to fans anymore.
To us, a heel turn will squander Evans’ return following so many emotional vignettes, but we could be wrong.
What do you think? Should Evans turn heel or stay a face as she was presented? Let us know in the comments below.
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