Eva Marie: A Detailed Look at Her Wrestling Career
Eva Marie, born Natalie Marie Coyle, is an American professional wrestler, model, actress, and reality television star. Best known for her time in WWE, Eva Marie has been a polarizing figure within the wrestling industry. Her entrance into the world of professional wrestling came with much fanfare but also heavy criticism due to her perceived lack of in-ring skill early in her career. However, over time, she worked hard to evolve as a performer and became an integral part of WWE’s Divas division.
This article takes an in-depth look at Eva Marie’s wrestling career, including her in-ring techniques, career highlights, and her impact on the WWE landscape.
Early Career and WWE Debut (2013-2014)
Eva Marie’s entry into WWE came in 2013 when she was announced as a participant in the inaugural season of Total Divas, a reality television series that followed the personal and professional lives of WWE’s female performers. As a model and fitness enthusiast with little-to-no prior wrestling experience, her signing drew a lot of attention. WWE clearly saw potential in Eva due to her striking looks and marketable personality, which they hoped would translate to success in the Divas division.
In July 2013, Eva Marie made her WWE television debut on Monday Night Raw, aligning herself with the Bella Twins (Brie and Nikki Bella), who were two of the division’s top stars at the time. Initially, she was more of a valet and television personality rather than an active in-ring competitor. However, it was clear that WWE was positioning her for bigger things within the division.
Eva’s early in-ring work was met with harsh criticism. As a newcomer to the business, her lack of wrestling experience was apparent. Her moves looked awkward, and she struggled to perform at the same level as other, more experienced competitors. However, her appearance on Total Divas made her a household name, and her natural charisma helped her maintain a strong presence on WWE programming.
In-Ring Techniques: Early Struggles and Growth
Eva Marie’s initial lack of experience showed in her wrestling style during her early matches. Her offense primarily consisted of basic wrestling maneuvers like hair pulls, slaps, and forearm strikes. These moves are often used by performers with limited in-ring ability to maintain safety during matches. She was often paired with experienced wrestlers, like the Bella Twins or Naomi, who could help carry her through matches.
Eva Marie’s early struggles in the ring were heavily criticized by both fans and wrestling analysts, with many citing her as an example of WWE prioritizing looks over wrestling ability. However, Eva was not blind to the criticism. Recognizing that her in-ring work needed improvement, she began training more rigorously to hone her craft.
In 2014, Eva took steps to improve her wrestling skills by training with WWE Hall of Famer Brian Kendrick. Under Kendrick’s guidance, Eva began developing a more technically sound wrestling style, incorporating new moves like suplex variations and submissions into her repertoire. Despite the visible effort she put into improving, it was clear that she still had a long way to go.
Feud with AJ Lee and the Divas Division (2014-2015)
As Eva Marie became more involved in the Divas division, she found herself competing against more established stars like AJ Lee and Paige. Though she was not yet competing for championships, she was frequently featured in multi-women matches, often relying on her charisma and storyline connections rather than technical in-ring ability.
One of Eva’s early standout moments came when she participated in the Divas Championship Invitational at WrestleMania 30. Although she didn’t win, sharing the ring with established stars was a testament to her growing presence in the division. WWE continued to position her as a focal point in the Divas division, even if her in-ring work was still a point of contention for many fans.
Eva’s most significant contribution during this time was her work on Total Divas. She was one of the standout stars of the show, and the exposure helped her become a mainstream name outside of wrestling. WWE capitalized on this by keeping her in the spotlight, even if her role as an in-ring performer remained limited.
Time Away from WWE and Return (2015-2016)
In 2015, Eva Marie took a break from WWE television to focus on her training and further refine her wrestling skills. During this time, she continued working with Brian Kendrick, with the goal of returning as a more polished in-ring performer.
When Eva Marie returned to WWE in mid-2015, she was sent to NXT—WWE’s developmental brand—to continue her in-ring development. Her time in NXT marked a turning point in her wrestling career, as she was finally given the chance to have more extended matches and showcase the improvements she had made.
Eva’s NXT run was built around her character’s arrogance and her belief that she was destined to be the face of the women’s division, despite her limited in-ring experience. This character work resonated with fans and added depth to her persona. Her matches, while still not at the level of NXT standouts like Sasha Banks or Bayley, showed clear improvement.
Her feud with Bayley over the NXT Women’s Championship was one of the highlights of her time in NXT. Although Eva ultimately came up short in her title challenge, her performance against one of NXT’s best demonstrated her growth as a wrestler. She began incorporating moves like the Sliced Bread (a finishing move popularized by Brian Kendrick) and various submissions, which helped elevate her in-ring credibility.
Return to the Main Roster (2016)
In 2016, Eva Marie was called back to WWE’s main roster as part of the SmackDown brand during the WWE Draft. This return came with significant fanfare, as WWE hyped her as a major star. Her new persona was that of a self-obsessed, glamorous villain who often found ways to avoid actually wrestling in her matches. This was a clever way for WWE to hide some of her lingering in-ring limitations while playing up her natural charisma and character work.
In one of the more entertaining storylines of her career, Eva Marie repeatedly found excuses to avoid wrestling, such as pretending to have injuries or wardrobe malfunctions before matches. This gimmick helped her generate significant heel heat from the audience, as fans grew frustrated with her constant avoidance of competition. This, in turn, made her an even bigger star, as her segments became must-watch moments on SmackDown.
Unfortunately, just as Eva was building momentum in her new role, she was suspended by WWE in August 2016 for violating the company’s wellness policy. Following her suspension, she never returned to WWE television, and in August 2017, it was confirmed that she had parted ways with WWE.
In-Ring Techniques: Late-Career Improvements
By the time Eva Marie left WWE in 2017, she had made noticeable strides in her in-ring abilities. While she was never known for being a technical wrestler or a high-flyer, her move set had expanded, and her performances had become more fluid. Her time training with Brian Kendrick had clearly paid off, as she had developed more confidence in the ring and was able to execute more complex maneuvers.
Some of her key in-ring techniques included:
- Sliced Bread: This move, which she adopted from her trainer Brian Kendrick, was one of her signature maneuvers. It involved running up the turnbuckle while holding her opponent’s head and flipping over to drive them into the mat.
- Running Senton: As part of her heel persona, Eva Marie used the running senton as a punishing move that demonstrated her improved athleticism and ability to incorporate impactful offense into her matches.
- Submission Holds: While she wasn’t known for her submission prowess, Eva began incorporating basic submission holds like chinlocks and headlocks to control the pace of her matches.
Despite these improvements, Eva Marie’s in-ring skills never quite reached the level of top-tier WWE performers. However, her ability to elicit strong reactions from the crowd through her character work and storyline involvement made her a valuable asset to the company.
Post-WWE Career and Return (2021-2022)
After leaving WWE in 2017, Eva Marie focused on her acting and modeling career. She appeared in several movies and TV shows, and her brand continued to grow through her work in fitness and social media.
In 2021, rumors began swirling about Eva Marie’s potential return to WWE. These rumors were confirmed when she made her return to Monday Night Raw in June 2021. Her return was met with a mixed response from fans, with some excited to see her back and others skeptical about whether she had improved since her previous stint with the company.
Eva Marie’s return storyline involved her aligning with Doudrop (Piper Niven), a wrestler who served as her muscle. Eva would often take credit for Doudrop’s victories and manipulate her into doing her bidding. This storyline helped build heat for Eva’s heel character, though she didn’t compete in many matches during this run.
Her second WWE tenure ended in November 2021, when she was released from her contract as part of WWE’s cost-cutting measures.
Legacy and Impact on WWE
Eva Marie’s wrestling career was marked by ups and downs, but there’s no denying that she left an impact on WWE’s women’s division. While she was never a top in-ring performer, her work as a character, especially in her heel role, garnered significant attention. Eva’s commitment to improving her wrestling skills after her early struggles showed her dedication to the business.
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