SummerSlam - the biggest pro wrestling event of the summer is this Sunday and it will be warmed up by NXT's talent at Saturday, when they hit Brooklyn for a third time. Meanwhile, the road to SummerSlam (NXT Tekeover: Brooklyn III), becomes more and more intensively heated. #1 Contender was determined (RAW), other compete in a showdown, under the gaze of the Glowing Champ, until the wild card entered the hall with her white briefcase (SmackDown Live), while 'down there', where the yellow and black are trademark colors, two amazing female warriors signed their contract and engage in battle of words (NXT). And we had two matches, for ranking! At top of it the long awaited Mae Young Classic is on the horizon and it's Bracketology analyze will be presented immediately after SummerSlam!
Let's dive into this sea of events!
MICKIE JAMES VS. EMMA.
IT'S ALL ABOUT 'CHANCES'
Actually, these two are exchanging victories on Main Event from several weeks. This week after a nice, short angle, they finally got their spot on RAW. I enjoy watching these two different eras Superstars collide in battle. I love the idea of Emma, get more angry and angry, after every loss. It was nice as a booking, with some flaws technically. A little things, that if you watch it carefully, you will noticed, like not perfect selling, slowing downs in a moments, when they are supposed to be quick, but overall this is what we need - some fresh air, out of the constant Title quad "Alexa Bliss-Sasha Banks-Bayley-Nia Jax" (this, actually inspires me to bring back the question about Women's tag team title in WWE).
Everyone, who spend more than a 10 years watching, researching, following and analyzing WWE women's division, can see that girls like Emma, like Jillian Hall, like Nidia, even Stacy Keibler, several more, who always stood near or was good enough for a title shot, were talented, but somehow out of the radar. Jillian was awarded with under 5 minutes reign, Stacy (according to rumors) refused to become a Champ, stepping back for the other talented girls, while Nidia was somehow underrated in her last days at WWE RAW! What about Emma? Will she share the faith of these women? I hope not and I hope that in the following months, WWE RAW creatives will find her a allies (like the Iconic Duo), who will help her to reach the title picture or vicious enemy (like Paige) who to elevate her career. Emma deserves a lot more and WWE are the only who are able to grant it to her!
Mickie James return was a pleasant surprise. But if they don't return some of her old rivals , like Melina or Victoria, her fight as the representation of the Past against the Future is kind of odd and not the good way to lead her into the title picture. At this point I can't see Mickie as RAW Women's Champion, no matter how much I respect her! I just can't!
NIA JAX VS. SASHA BANKS,
THE WINNER WILL FACE RAW WOMEN'S CHAMPION ALEXA BLISS AT SUMMERSLAM.
REVENGE IS A SWEET GAME!!!
Bayley was revenged!
With the amazing RAW Women's Champion Alex Bliss, watching from a high 'Baywatch' chair, Nia Jax and Sasha Banks teared down the hall, in a match with high stakes. It was back and forth, (almost) life and death, vicious battle, with many twists and turns.
What can I say?! It wasn't just another Sasha vs. Nia match, it was competitive battle of David vs Goliath, in the usual glamorous but vicious manner. With some really hard falls and hits (like Jax hitting Banks' head in the barricade after unsuccessful Diving hurricanrana from the Boss). It was intensive and really worth it the reply! Oh, no we are still hoping to see Paige returning at SummerSlam (or the night after), but I think that Sasha really worked her way to that opportunity really hard and she deserve to be there for another round against the Goddess.
Nia Jax was great as always. From her mocking of The Boss, to every hit and slam, she throw in this match. I really hope to see her holding that belt until the middle of 2018! I really hope to see her facing Paige. I really hope to see her smashing Alexa Bliss at some point (despite their out-of-the-ring friendship). I think that she and the other NXT's drafts are improving with every appearence in the WWE's ring and I think that Triple H and their trainers and fellow Suerstars at the PC, are proud of them, like we (who watched them from the beginning) are!
The Boss was really into her top game. A lot of counters, a lot of agile and fast moves. Good selling. I don't know how this girl survive all of this falls and smashes!!! The end of the match was really impressive and she totally deserved her spot at SummerSlam. I hope that she will display the same innovative offense at the PPV against Bliss, and they will make it special! Sasha is really part of the core of RAW women's division and winning or losing, she will be the one that the fans support, because of her skills, charisma and fortitude.
NATALYA VS. BECKY LYNCH.
WHO WILL HAVE THE LAST LAUGH?
While RAW is the land of Women's division legacy, SmackDown Live really prove the GM's and Comissioner's statement that this brand is the "Land of opportunity"! While this week we didn't have Lana's match, she had just segment, it was really good episode for the cut-off short women's roster (after Eva Marie's release and Nikki Bella's absence). We have 7 hard working women who relly knows how to make a more than a showdown, who are serious about what they do and who are willing to steal RAW's legacy making spot!
I think that there is no real women's wrestling fan, who will not enjoy a match between Natalya and Becky Lynch. These are amazingly technical and their match was beautiful, pure technical bout, a celebration for the senses, without stunt-alike suicidal moves that almost break you in half or broke your head . Just pure battle of power, experience and skills. Nattie and Lynch are two competitors, that you can rely on for pure and interesting match.
And the match was great warm up!
I will not analyze them one by one, because they were all great with all of their moments. I think that Naomi's presence at the announcers table raise the heat. It was kind of distraction for the #1 Contender Natalya. The end was good, after The Queen of Hearts escaped several attempts for Dis-Arm-Her lock. For me both women were amazing. The post-match attack was just perfect addition for more heat to Nattie's heel character.
Then Carmella entered and add even more tension to the situation. Verbally attacking both competitors and leaving us wonder " is she going to cash in at SummerSlam? Of course she has her mean turtle friend James Ellsworth, who is totally stuck with the Blue brand women's division. He is a total difference maker. But we'll wait and we'll see what will happen this Sunday!
Actually we can't just pass by Lana and Tamina's segment this week! We know Tamina as mostly quiet and dangerous woman, but the last few weeks she prove to be a nice backstage segment worker, too and with Lana's fake, funny Russian accent, they are willing to deliver some nice action in the future. Their segment was kind of interesting, according to the twist in their relationships. There is a lot of tension, in there folks, but we can't wait tho see how The Ravishing Superstar will turn her 'plots and schemes' in motion ... and how all of this will end up!
ASUKA AND EMBER MOON SIGNED UP THEIR CONTRACT
FOR NXT TAKEOVER: BROOKLYN III'S WOMEN'S TITLE MATCH.
THE MOON WENT EMOTIONAL AND THE SUN LOSS ITS COOL!
OK! I think that all of you will agree that Asuka still has a bitter taste in her mouth (with some pain in her neck) after the surprising Eclipse, that she received a week ago! I really hope that taste to become even moooore bitter at NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn III.
No, I don't hate or disrespect the NXT Women's Champ. With almost 500 days reign, crashing records and opponent The Empress of tomorrow, really catapult NXT women's division straight into the stardom of professional wrestling! She raised the heights, she opened the door, for many indie talents, to enter the almost impossible to be reached WWE!
But sometimes, the Moon eclipsed the Sun! Maybe it's time, for a permanent Eclipse!
But let's go back to the contract signing, this week. There was no Eclipse (they were not dressed for the occasion). Just the ususal war of words and the Champ losing control and calm, exploding in a Japanese logorrhea (a communication disorder, expressed by excessive wordiness with minor or sometimes incoherent talkativeness- Wikipedia.org). It was great as a presentation of the two alpha warriors, fighting each other for a long time. Both are fan favorite (despite Asuka's heel characteristics). Both epic, enigmatic and totally charismatic! Ultimate talents, but there should be only one Alpha female in NXT!
Under the chant 'Asuka! Asuka!' Ember Moon made a short overview of the Empress journey and accomplishes. At the end she went emotional when it came to their painful history and promise to end her long, long, long reign of terror! Then Asuka losing her cool and exploding in Japanese was the final touch of this nice segment, while Ember showed some teeth against her! We can't wait for Saturday!
BILLY KAY VS. RUBY RIOT
THE ICONIC BULLIES GET WHAT THEY WERE ASKING FOR!
It was a matter of time, the diverse looking, colorful, inked Superstar Ruby Riot, to get under radar of the Iconic Duo. After last week accidentally interrupted their 'make up tutorial' video, Riot was booked to shut the Bullies of NXT, for good!
With Peyton Royce as a usual cheerleader, Billie Kay was able to put some good moves. I am so happy to see these two Aussies, developing more and more, releasing their total potential every time when they step in this ring. They built amazing heel characters and even was able to dominate the women's division in a tag team action. They are just Iconic!
But Ruby Riot is too big bite for them to swallow!
Ruby started with nice combination of pins, 'returning the favor' by mocking Kay and Royce taunts, surviving Eat Defeat. Her stunning kicks, cleaned the ring from Royce and secure her victory over Billie Kay. So this is far from over and we are sure that we will see Ruby Riot vs. Peyton Royce soon. This is kind of amazing secondary rivalry, emerging next to the title clash between Asuka and Ember Moon. Actually, NXT women's division has many rooms for nearly three active women's rivalry. But for now we had these two amazing storylines and matches!
Remember!!!
Don't miss
NXT Takeover: Brooklyn III
Saturday,
August 19, 2017
8 ET/5 PT
Live on the award-winning WWE Network!
WWE SummerSlam
Sunday,
August 20, 2017,
7ET/4PT
Live on the award-winning WWE Network!
