SmackDown Live Women's division erased the legacy of the first brand extensions, non-title existence, revive the emotions and attention around new title creation. Now they start to build a strong legacy of highly technical and high quality matches, new intensive storylines and a lot of oportunities for every single lady in the locker room awaits them.
This weekend we will see another display of two totally different competitors, with totally different wrestling styles, fighting for the top of the division. But while in RAW, there are not obvious underwater rocks, here we have a real iceberg that can smash the winner's title reign boat , in a seconds. Yes, we are talking about the third shadow behind these two amazing women - Miss Money In The Bank Carmella, who can sink the celebration for any of these ladies!
Let's make our preview:
THE GLOWING CHAMPION:
NAOMI - JUST FEEL THE GLOW!
From Funkadactyl to two-time SmackDown Women's Champion - this is another long journey. Another story of twists and turns. In my and other people opinion, Naomi was able to be a Champion, years ago. She was a really serious threat for the reign of AJ Lee at the time. But it wasn't meant to be. Now she is SDL and she is in the place that she deserves.
NAOMI'S CHARACTER:
Naomi proved to be one of those Superstars, who can be good or bad at ease. Of course she is far better as a face. Especially with her new GLOW entrance and philosophy. The light in the dark is like a beam of positivism in our darkest days. Of course turning back to her dancing roots, from the Funkadactyls era was a good idea, too. The mix of dance and light is really, really good!
Naomi is symbol of everything shine and positive. She is more stable role model, than she was like Funkadactyl, more developed and powerful. Her inner glow is reflected in her outside fluorescent appearance and it attracts people, like a nigh lights attracts night butterflies, this time, without the suicidal element!
FAN'S REACTION:
Positive of course. From the glowing light show to the title around her waist - WWE Universe is totally supportive of Naomi. All of us know that she deserve her spot and she waited quite too long to be here, where she is today.
SKILLS:
Naomi is total high-flyer, who use a lot of interesting powerful moves and submissions as well. She is very agile and athletic. There is no doubt that she is one of the best in WWE right now and her legacy will remain as a memo for the following generation. Her arsenal is really well balanced - her finishing submission maneuver is really spectacular, next to her moonsaults, crossbodies and Rear View. Her wrestling skills are just "Amaaaaazing!'
She's good with promos too, and she definitely can cut good ones. As she said in the first season of Total Divas, she prefer to 'walk the walk', instead of 'talk the talk', but she is good enough and with the speaking element of the wrestling business, so there is no need for concerns, when she grabs the mic to talk or sing!
THE AMBITIOUS CHALLENGER:
NATALYA - THE TRADITIONAL VETERAN
Natalya Neidhart debuted in WWE in 2008. She will make 10 years in WWE next year. For this 10 years, she won WWE Divas Championship on one occasin (defeating Lay-Cool in a Handicap match), competed in the first ever Tag Team Tables match, introduce to us the Double Sharpshooter and had a really intensive rivalry with Charlotte Flair and Becky Lynch. She also had her lows - like her farting angles, absurd romance on screen with The Great Khali and some naively stupid funny moments in Total Divas. But at top of everything positive and negative Nattie Neidhart is one of the greatest technical wrestlers in WWE. She is someone on who you can count for a well worked match.
She deserves her #1 Contender spot, after a long waiting.
NATALYA'S CHARACTER:
Evil dominatrix alike! Natalya has a lot of transformation, many transitions from heel to face, and back. These days she is tired of being underrated heel, who is ready to beat down her teammate (Nikki Bella), just to take her place. Nattie's new persona is jealous and rely on her pro wrestling heritage. She can't accept that a newcomer, can take her spot and she thinks that SD Women's title is her own, by right! She is totally overwhelmed by her ambitions and desire to be on her rightful place.
This character and heel persona is far good than her farting self and foolish woman, who looked kind of naive. Natalya is perfect wrestler and perfect representative of her dark, envy Black Queen of Hearts. This total twist and separation from the good blond young woman, wearing pink, is really working turn for her career. Now we'll wait for the next step and the pay off.
FAN'S REACTION:
Hm! The audience often booed her, which is logical and means that she is doing her job well. But the last few years, the group of people who respect the talent, behind the gimmick is kind of growing, so now you can see people applauding her after a vicious win over a good girl, like Becky Lynch. Fans started to appreciate these women's work for real. It's not beauty face and tiny shorts loving anymore. Now many people in the audience and in WWE Universe opened their eyes and saw that this ladies, know how to sell a move. Sometimes even better that a man.
I think that Nattie is one of the well respected out of the gimmicks, talents and if she win this Sunday, there will be a lot of happy people for her!
SKILLS:
For the second and third generation of Superstars is extremely hard in the wrestling business. They must escape from the shadows of their fathers, uncles, grandpas, etc. For the women it's even harder. Almost 4 year had to pass for Charlotte Flair to put her wrestling roots on display. There is no difference for Natalya or Tamina, or Tessa Blanchard. All of these women had to work twice hard, despite the fact that they are extremely and kind of naturally talented, just to prove themselves.
Natalya's technique is really perfect. I enjoy watching her putting her diverse arsenal o powerful suplexes and stunning submissions in use. She innovated her family's Sharpshooter, using it to lock two opponents in the lock. But Nattie is known and as someone who is willing to pass her knowledge, for those who she find worthy for it. She is kind of good tutor.
Natalya doesn't have a problem with the segments and she knows how important is to be on the screen even in an absurd angles. She had her periods of hiatus and we are sure that it was not easy for her to be out of any kind of action in WWE. She is good in cutting her promos, without losing her goal to compete in the ring. When the lines are well written and she looks good saying them and vice versa. But it's important that she can deal with the ring action and with the talking angles with an ease.
WHO WE WANT TO WIN: WE ARE DIVIDED BUT WE PICK NAOMI
Naomi is a really good Champion and finally she has another real challenge in the face of Natalya, after her warming up time with Lana is over. She really deserve this spot as we have said many times, and we think that she may have a lot more to show.
Natalya deserve a title reign two and we hope to see it happening soon. It will be nice to see her dealing with Tamina and Lana, or Carmella and Ellsworth. She can even revive her rivalry with Nikki Bella or Charlotte, even to turn face.
But we want to see Naomi wining it!
WHO WE THINK WILL WIN: CARMELLA
The Princess of Staten Island will not be a great choice for champion, in a normal situation. Not because she can't wrestle or something. No, she is good in the ring. But as long as she has James Ellsworth, helping her, every one of her accomplishments will be corrupted.
Carmella is good for the role of the transitional Champion - someone who won the belt, and soon is defeated for it, by another, more suitable wrestler. I think that this is the perfect situation for her. Winning the belt with some dirty help from James Chinlessworth and losing it, thanks to him! So this is how we see it. After a hard fight where Naomi is winning, Carmella cash in and with Ellsworth's interference won the title!(and retain it against Tamina, but drop it to Natalya after a great Double Sharpshooter, executed on her and Ellsworth)
