In what seems like pretty random social media disagreement, Lacey Evans and WWE Hall of Famer Sgt. Slaughter—as well as Slaughter’s daughter—have been going at it. The reason: Evans is in the middle of another repackaging and there’s some callbacks to the former World Champion.
Legit Marine Lacey Evans Battles Sgt. Slaughter and His Daughter on Twitter Over WWE Running a New Slaughter-Inspired Repackaging
There are a few things to note—a few of which Sgt. Slaughter should be familiar due to his time in WWE. First is that WWE makes the on a superstar’s direction and the final decision on how to get there. It could be a series of particular matches, a name change, some feuds/rivalries or even a whole gimmick change.
In Evans’ case, WWE sees potential in the Marine and is keeping at it—it’s just that nothing seems to really catch on for long. This means WWE is constantly going through ways to get her over and keep the momentum. It would also help to get in on some interesting storylines or introduce a rival or nemesis but maybe WWE will get there this time.
Second, Evans is a legit Marine doing a military gimmick at a time when military gimmicks aren’t particularly over. Booker T weighed in saying:
“It doesn’t matter. I don’t think Sarge has any say in whether someone has a certain gimmick or not, if they wanna do an army gimmick or not, if they wanna do the Cobra Clutch or not. That’s just not the way the business works. On the other hand, some things [are] almost like [too] sacred to be rehashed or anything like that. I just don’t think, where the world is right now, we’re gonna need a savior like Sgt. Slaughter coming in to ‘save America.’” (h/t: Wrestling Inc)
For the part, Booker T isn’t wrong. Also, in 2023 Slaughter gimmick is pretty generic and requires certain opponents to really work as a babyface. As a heel, the military gimmick has more mileage but is still pretty basic. Now, Evans gimmick is obviously biting from Sarge’s when it’s the hat and the Cobra Clutch.
One or the other—more so Evans just having the Cobra Clutch—could be seen as WWE trying something. This is blatantly dusting off something old and trying to repackage it for a new generation. WWE just didn’t change her name to Lacey Slaughter.
Honestly, if WWE came in with that from the jump, had Slaughter give the nod and even “teach” her the Cobra Clutch this probably would’ve worked out very well. There would’ve been a build and background to the gimmick. Slaughter would’ve been involved to a degree.
The real issue here is that Slaughter—who doesn’t make creative decisions in WWE—wasn’t given the courtesy since he got the gimmick and the hold over in WWE at a particular time. However, perhaps he dodged a bullet since if the gimmick flops, he’s going to appear more favorably and WWE gets flak for attempting it in the first place and with a Hall of Famer’s iconic gimmick.
With that said, it has to work and honestly, this is the most interesting version of Lacey Evans. Let us know what you think of this dispute and of Booker T’s take on it.
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