Recently, Giulia, once a prominent star in Stardom and Marigold, has been teamed with Kiana James on WWE’s SmackDown midcard. Despite Giulia holding the WWE Women’s United States Championship for a second time, it was Giulia who took the pin during their challenge for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships against Rhea Ripley and IYO SKY. This outcome suggests a change in how WWE is positioning these wrestlers within its ranks.
Experts Observe a Clear Favoritism Toward Kiana James
During an analysis on Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer and Bryan Alvarez discussed the match‘s result and recent WWE decisions involving the two competitors. Their commentary indicated that WWE appears to be promoting Kiana James over Giulia at this stage in their careers.
“I think that they have kind of come to the idea that Kiana James is actually the bigger star than Giulia,”
Meltzer stated.
Alvarez reinforced this observation, explaining James’s recent achievements.
“She got that big win a couple of weeks ago. She got the pin in the match to get them this match.”
He further noted James’s treatment in another key event, saying,
“She was also…I think she was treated better in the Rumble too,”
adding weight to the argument that James’s stock is rising.
Comparing Their Performances in the Women’s Royal Rumble
Their performances in the recent Women’s Royal Rumble match further underscore WWE’s focus on James. While Giulia eliminated one more opponent than James, her time in the ring was significantly shorter, lasting just over fifteen minutes before being eliminated by Lyra Valkyria. In contrast, James entered third in the match and lasted twenty-seven and a half minutes, only being eliminated by Raquel Rodriguez. Among the thirty participants, only a select few such as Charlotte Flair, Sol Ruca, Lash Legend, Rodriguez, SKY, and eventual winner Liv Morgan outlasted her.
Implications for WWE’s Future Talent Focus
The ongoing positioning of Kiana James over Giulia signals that WWE may be redirecting its developmental focus toward James as a rising star. Given her recent wins and extended showing in major matches, this push could lead to more prominent opportunities within the brand. Observers of WWE will likely watch James’s trajectory closely to see if she continues to climb the ranks, potentially reshaping narratives in the women’s division.
