We are starting with Sunday's SmackDown Exclusive PPV Battleground. We have three #1 Contenders determinate for the three brands. We know who will face who at NXT Takeover: Brooklyn 3 and SummerSlam. We have one wild card - Miss Money In the Bank Carmella!
The week was kind of extensive and with a lot of events. Even the short clash between Emma and Nia Jax, got its charm and OMG-moment.
Natalya outlasted Charlotte Flair and capitalize on Becky Lynch's clean up of Lana and Tamina, to eliminate and the Maiden Ireland.
We've waited for a sort of this kind of a #1 Contender. We supposed that one of the veterans is more suitable for a hard back-and-forth match at the Biggest event of the summer 2017. Natalya's victory means a lot for her career. These days she is a vital part of every SDL match or angle, and it was kind of logical and rewarding for her to win that match.
The rivalry with Naomi, got heated on Sunday, with continue at Tuesday Night's SmackDown Live. Who will won - The Veteran stuck in the Past (as Naomi pointed) who respect the Old values or The Glowing Champion who looks in the Future? Wait for the prediction article soon.
EMMA VS. NIA JAX.
DON'T MESS WITH THE RAW GM... RAW GM'S SON!
The Performance Center assistant head coach Sara Amato said about Emma, that she is hungry for competition , new moves and opportunities. We are totally agree with her! But the way that this week approach for opportunities by the Australian Superstar with "All about me" attitude, was kind of not appropriate.
I was happy to hear that she had a backstage angle, where she asked about opportunity and suggest to date Jason Jordan, RAW GM's Kurt Angle's (kayfabe) son! That didn't help in the way she planned!
The match was between squash and standard... there was one thing. One simple move, that change it all and made us scream "OMG!". Nia Jax's move-set evolution in a kind of acrobatic way. That senton that she made with roll-trough, after ropes rebound was epic! Well performed and amazing finisher, by Nia. Nice sell by Emma!
BAYLEY VS. SASHA BANKS, FOR #1 CONTENDER'S SPOT AT SUMMERSLAM.
FRIENDSHIP NEVER END!
Every sane competitor on RAW, wants a title shot and hands full with Alexa Bliss' hair, for an extra!
The line of hungry challengers is kind of long, but The Boss and her Huggable friend, top it, once agin and they have reached the point where only one of them must prevail to have the chance to fight against little Miss Bliss.
The match was above average and standard in many ways. Well, it wasn't like their epic fights in NXT, but it gave as a sweet taste of nostalgia and was a preview of what to expect in the future. Alexa was on the commentary and she was kind of quiet. Something new for her character. She was kind of respectful, even.
Bayley and Sasha were in their top shape. Athletic and ready for a quick twists, all over the place. The match was dynamic, the end was simple but effective. I think that there was no loser in this both. Bayley's victory was well deserved, but the effect will be the same if Banks was on the winning end.
BECKY LYNCH & CHARLOTTE FLAIR VS. LANA & TAMINA.
BROKEN ALLIANCE
Lana ended on the bad side of Tamina.
This tag team match was sort of revenge, payback for Lana and Tamina and the Ravishing Russian, lost that opportunity. Well, when you mess with the Queen of WWE Charlotte Falir, the best you can get is a Big boot in your head.
Overall, the match was dramatic (with Becky Lynch, fought to exhaustion and unable to tag her partner, until the end). It was technical. Lana did a suplex. Tamina fought viciously. Becky and Charlotte had far better tag team chemistry. At the end, the weakest link in the Samoan-Russian Alliance, cost the match.
The post-match anger of Tamina, was horrifying and at one poitn I have the feeling that she will jump in the ring and beat the hell out of Lana. Maybe next week we will have a chance to see a match between the two former partners. Actually, I hope to see Sage Beckett as Lana's bodyguard, soon.
Meanwhile, backstage Naomi was confronted by her #1 Contender Natalya and the wildest of the wild cards in WWE - Carmella, who is the first ever Miss Money in The Bank. Could we see a cash-in at SummerSlam?
EMBER MOON VS. LEI D'TAPA.
MOON MAY ECLYPSE THE SUN THIS TIME, AT NXT TAKEOVER: BROOKLYN 3
Good match. Good opportunity for Lei D'Tapa, who is familiar to me since her years in OVW, long before TNA and GFW. We are so happy for this Tonga's Amazon and her appearance in NXT TV show. She is a nice competitor and we hope to see more from her in the future.
Of course all of this was a prelude for the major topic, which was served after the match. Ember Moon challenged Asuka and her challenge was accepted by William Regal, who booked the match for Takeover: Brooklyn 3. That long waited sequel in these two women's rivalry is on it's way to happened. We desperately hope to see a new Champion, crowned, for obvious reasons.
