To the pleasant surprise of many, Nikki A.S.H. took less than 24 hours to cash in her Money in the Briefcase contract and won the Raw Women's Championship to close out Monday's episode of Raw. Considering A.S.H. developed this new character just weeks ago, some are suggesting it seems quick to put the title around her waist.
If you're like many and asking why would WWE do this, there are a few reasons.
First off, Vince McMahon is apparently a big fan of the new gimmick. He's loving the new look and feel of the character and when Vince gets behind something, it tends to go places and rather quickly. Second, Nikki is beloved by everyone in the locker room. She's a hard worker, doesn't complain, gets along with everyone. Third, this was Nikki's gimmick.
Cross took the time to come up with and pitch this character change to WWE. She hired someone to work with her on the concept art and then make the idea a reality. That goes a long way in WWE and when it works, Vince isn't shy about rewarding people for good ideas, thus dangling a carrot out to other WWE Superstars that they should be taking notes.
Vince McMahon is happy that Nikki really thought outside of the box and she's being rewarded for it. According to WrestlingNews.co, “Vince loves the gimmick and feels that she has opened up a world of opportunities to sell more merchandise and for her to do some community outreach with the kids. She took the initiative and she got rewarded last night.”
Strike While The Nikki A.S.H. Gimmick Is Hot
One of the other things to consider here is that this character probably has a shelf life. It's over with the fans now and people are fully behind Nikki Cross getting her opportunity, but superhero gimmicks rarely last a long time. They're entertaining while they're hot, but they become stale after a while.
The best thing to do is get the title on her while WWE can maximize the popularity of the character, sell the most product and ride the wave of the gimmick until fans are tired of it. The hope is that Nikki can pull it off for the long haul, but the odds aren't stacked in her favor.