SmackDown Redux has moved to Fridays! I have always intended to have Redux on Fridays but realised WWE.com doesn’t post it’s digitals after the show airs in America meaning I couldn’t post till Saturday. Anyhoo, I’ve decided to make my own screen shots! The new, improved Redux will mean you Americans can watch the matches before they air in the States too… good times, right?
This week on SmackDown: The road to the Great American Bash is officially underway! Divas Championship contenders, Michelle McCool and Natalya teamed up with Cherry and Maryse respectively in a Divas tag match.
Thoughts & Reactions
It’s been a week for tag team matches on both Raw and SmackDown, but I’m pleased to report my experience was more favourable for Friday night’s tag team match. Even though I enjoyed this match I do have one epic complaint – this match was shorter than a freakin’ commercial! Just as we were getting into it, the match was over. Nonetheless, great work from all Divas involved, though background talent – Maryse and Cherry were both impressive in the ring. Maryse particularly showed some ring presence and agility in the ring with her cartwheel type thing.
All in all, this match really left me wanting more, it could have lasted a little while longer because the work was pretty darn good. Who’d have thought I’d be excited to see Maryse and Cherry in the ring? I felt the finish of the match was a little sloppy compared to the rest of the short match; Cherry tapped out far too quickly, it didn’t really sell the Sharpshooter. There was some awkwardness with Natalya jumping out of the ring and then jumping back in and attacking Michelle, but in all, I felt this was done really well and set up their Bash match nicely. Taking the action to the outside was a nice touch, it added some physicality and intensity, showing how much Natalya wanted the title – and how much she hates Michelle. Nice work from all the Divas, I wish it was longer!
For the second week in a row we got a “coming soon” promo for Maria, I really like that they’re building this up rather than throwing her straight into the mix. I think Maria’s move to SmackDown is a big deal and I think pushing her arrival sets her up as a top name, which I think she will be in SmackDown’s women’s division. I wrote last week that I had hoped they’d keep the “coming soon” promos coming for a little while to build up anticipation and thankfully, WWE is doing so. Perhaps having her debut after the Great American Bash would be a wise move because I would hate for her to detract away from the Divas Championship match-up. I am hoping that Michelle-Natalya will continue to feud after the Bash with a rematch, so while they’re tying up their storyline I would love to see Maria feud with Victoria. Hopefully we’ll see that happen, Victoria deserves some screen time and I think she could do a great job putting over Maria.
A fine night for the SmackDown Divas if a little short!
Individual Assessments
In this portion we will look at each of the Divas individually and the role they played, adding more thoughts yadda yadda:
Cherry: While I very much doubt Cherry will ever be a utility player or ever get a big push, she is fine for what she does and I somewhat like the friendship between Michelle and Cherry.
Maryse: While Cherry may never be a top Diva, Maryse is showing great promise. She was a little more daring, a little more flashy on SmackDown while she has all the essential basic wrestling skills. Could Maryse be a one to watch?
Michelle McCool: Michelle is growing more and more confident in the ring and is able to carry other less experienced Divas like Maryse and Layla in the past. I think she is going to only grow into a finer wrestler than she currently is.
Natalya: Natalya, as always, was fun to watch in the ring. For someone who debuted just four months ago, she’s come such a long way and could be a Trish Stratus type for the new generation!
Fashion Focus
The Good: None.
The Bad: None.
The In-Between: No one looked too bad nor too good.
Video
Watch the match below:
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19 Comments
I loved the match, although Cherry should DEFINITELY be on your bad list.
i cant seee the vid(my internet is not really the fastest) but i like the fact that sherry is using diff. colors lol and not just pink and black!
Now im not sure who I would like to win at GAB.
I really think Michelle will win, Though
ick this match wasnt that good
Maryse was quite bad. She almost fell… again. She has no coordination. She fell after kicking Cherry, she fell last week after a clothesline (which was not on purpose, you could tell), and she lost her balance tonight. She also placed herself completely wrong before Cherry did that flip while hooking the neck thing. Maryse needs a lot of work, but she’s doing well for a rookie and shows promise. I liked the match overall, and I’m looking forward to Michelle-Nattie.
dang cherry gave up way to easily
natalya is one tough bitch
I missed Smackdown, can you answer this for me? Was it the same promo as last week or did they use a new one?
Nothing special. Its interesting to see who smarks try to give the smark darling treatment t o.
Also it continues to show your blind hate for Kelly. Maryse does half a cartwheel where she almost falls and you act like she should be in the olympics. KK, does all sorts of real flips and you no sell them.
I really enjoyed the beat down Natalya gave Michelle. I REALLY, REALLY, REALLY hope Natalya wins the title. Michelle doesn’t deserve it. At least not yet. I’m not going to say she should never have the title but she still needs a lot of work before she becomes champ.
Guys, it’s Melanie and Erin’s blog. It’s their opinions and nobody’s forcing them down your throats. If you don’t agree with their opinions, then go on, write your own and see how annoying it is when people constantly come around and “try to” insult you for who you choose to like. Please…
mcdoodle sux
if she win the belt its cz that whore and of that old fuk taker
I’m going to be so pissed if Michelle wins the title. One of the only reasons she’s getting a big push and a title shot is because she’s screwing The Undertaker. Natalya actully has talent and deserves to at least be the SD’s Womens Champion first. I am seriosly thinking of not watching any diva action if Michelle wins the title. I’m so tired of Michelle.
Lol ‘blind hate’ towards Kelly, erm okay. Actually, I like Kelly but just because I’m not a mark with posters of her all over my wall… I’m ‘hating’. You can be a fan but also be critical. Plus ‘eare’ you lose all credibility with your comments because you’re the same person as ‘dadf’ in the Raw Redux post, who was a complete asshole tbh, which makes you an asshole by proxy.
Again, where’s the real proof of Michelle and Taker dating?
Wow, a couple sites report Michelle and Taker being together and everyone acts as if it’s written in stone. Even if it was true, Michelle was being pushed as top face before those rumors began and I didn’t hear too many people complaining about it back then.
I do, however, agree that Natalya should be first champ.
MICHELLE WILL WIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!SHES THE BEST DIVA BEST
Michelle was not being pushed before the rumors came out….i hope Nattie wins but it wont happen and we’ll be treated to a top face diva who gets barely any responses beating someone like Nattie in some really stupid way. the match will probably be like 3 minutes and Nattie will have to tap out quick to the heel hook. if the WWE was smart and wanted fans to make Michelle over, they should have her as a chaser..but oh well…personally Nattie shouldnt disgrace her waist with that ugly thing anyways
nice way of putting it christi,, the belt is horendous. But i relly want her to whoop the shiet of out michelle. I just dont like her, I did, before her giant push, before she became “superwoman” and started winning all her matches and never losing.