The WWE Divas finally return to pay per view tonight and what a comeback match we have; SmackDown’s Women’s Champion Melina defends for the very first time against Michelle McCool. Neither Diva is a stranger to The Bash, though they’ve had varying degrees of luck at the event. Melina competed for the Women’s Title in 2007, in a losing effort to Candice Michelle. Meanwhile, Michelle McCool became the first ever Divas Champion at last year’s show. Can lightning strike twice?
Our Diva Dirt writers weigh in:
Erin: If Michelle wins, she becomes the WWE’s first-ever Diva double champ (yeah, sorry about lagging on that Diva Dirt feature, by the way, dear readers), so it’s not something to be taken lightly. Is the WWE ready to crown a double champ? I’m sure the higher-ups haven’t even given the “double champion” thing a thought, which is why I don’t think that when Michelle wins, they’ll do much more than mention the mere fact. I feel that it’s Michelle’s time to take the Women’s Championship and run with it. Melina’s done well on SmackDown, but a babyface with a championship is almost like a swimmer treading water – there’s not much to do than thwart the heel’s attempts over and over. Most agree that a babyface is better in the “chase” position (Exhibit A – Trish Stratus), so if the WWE wants to get some legs out of this Michelle/Melina feud, it’d be best to give Michelle the title and let Melina chase for a while. Even if Michelle, with her newly-won title, moves on to different feud, it’s beneficial for SmackDown in its new position as the “show to watch” to keep things fresh and new. A heel champ should spice things up a bit, if only a little. Melina can survive without the title – she’s popular enough – so it only makes sense to let someone else shine…
Melanie: First of all, the uprising against Michelle becoming the first ever Divas & Women’s Champion is ridiculous. I don’t really care who the first ever double champion is to be honest, it’s only a bragging right. To me, it’s a storyline device and nothing more and I liken the situation to when Santino won the ‘Miss WrestleMania’ title, it was a storyline device. I was upset about that, but now I’m ‘older and wiser’ shall we say lol and can see what WWE will be looking for in it’s first Divas & Women’s Champion — not much. It’ll be a storyline device and not neccessarily for the ‘Diva who has deserved it most’, as most people seem to think Michelle doesn’t deserve it over Mickie James. As a heel, Michelle needs to be bragadocious and this is the perfect storyline device to do it, by getting bragging rights on being the first ever double champion. It’s Michelle all the way on this one. There’s more to be done in terms of storyline with Michelle as a boastful champion and Melina as an underdog chasing the title.
Steven: As I said in my audio bulletin, I really think that Michelle McCool has this match in the bag. I normally would have bet against her being that she won on SmackDown this past Friday, but WWE has really shoving the whole ‘Michelle as double champion’ thing down our throat as of late. I feel WWE is trying to make Michelle the new face of the Divas division and this is the perfect opportunity. Expect McCool to come out of The Bash as Champ and a ‘Michelle McCool haters’ rally to ensue afterwards.
Tiffany: I’m almost confident that Michelle will be taking this one. It’s been made very clear that WWE intends to have Michelle snatch the accolade of “firstst ever Diva to hold both titles.” She already has the bragging rights of being the first Divas Champion, which is a testament to WWE’s confidence in her. Melina has been champion since January, and it has sadly become apparent that WWE does not feel obligated to feature the Divas on PPV unless it’s for some kind of purpose. At the last PPV, Melina won her title, and I think she will be dropping it at this one. Most would interpret McCool’s win over Melina on SmackDown as an automatic win for the current champion, but I think it is important to recognize just how strongly Michelle has been pushed in preparation for her next title run. Michelle has been picking her spots and has been dominating on Smackdown, and I don’t see why that momentum can’t follow her into The Bash. I think, in Michelle, we’re looking at our next Women’s Champion.
Don’t forget to join us for our live blog tonight from 7.45pm ET/12.45am UK.
RSS
Email
Twitter
Tumblr
Facebook
YouTube
12 Comments
im not so sure about her going over tonight, i see them trying to milk this fued out to at least night of champs, when michelle finally wins, i mean melina’s been dominated by her the past couple weeks, so give her the win, she’ll lose at night of champs (when mickie might also become the new divas champ) and then at summerslam we’ll see maybe a triple threat of michelle/gail/melina or possibly with both mickie and michelle becoming double champ the same night, they’ll have a battle just cause they like doing interpromotional matches at the big 4
Im hoping that Michelle wins too :)
After she wins the women’s championship (if she does…), who will be the next contender?? Gail Kim?! Eve Torres?! Maria?! :O Thumbs up to Gail :P
Ok,I REALLY don’t want Michelle to be champion,and yes,it is because of the whole ‘double-champion’ thing.I mean,I truthfully don’t want Mickie to be double-champ either.I guess I don’t know why I see it as an ‘honor’,but whatever the reason may be,I don’t want Michelle to win.In a sense,yes,it is a bragging right,as Melanie said,but,I guess that’s why I don’t want her to win.I don’t want to know that McCool is able to brag about that.When I go to sleep,I don’t want to dream about Miss McCool saying,with her sort of annoying voice(Yes,that was a cheap shot,I admit it),”I am the FIRST EVER woman to hold both the Women’s and Diva’s Championships!”.I don’t want her to win,but,I think that she WILL win.
Also,I don’t know why everyone says that face champion’s are kinda boring.They’re only boring when they’re not used.They can have awesome fueds too(For Example:Trish vs Mickie,the psycho fan fued).
Melanie,how would Melina be the underdog if she was chasing the championship from McCool?
To begin with, I thought ‘there’s no way Michelle could win after being booked so strong’, but now I’ve been thinking about it more I believe she could take it at the Bash. The build-up is almost the same as when Candice defeated Melina for the title, with Michelle replacing Candice by taking win after win over Melina. Then if she does win, Melina gets her rematch at the next PPV (Night of Champions). So it works really. I hope she does win, as I’m a major McCool mark. If she doesn’t, I won’t be fussed. I’m loving their feud. :D
All I’ll say is no one cares who is First, only who’s best. That accolade will go to Mickie.
I believe Melina is winning, cuz its my birthday and thats what I want LOL. But honestly, if Michelle wins, besides Melina who else has been pushed to be a contender? Same goes for Melina, but I think the wWE has given more attention to RAW in giving Kelly a nod and keeping Mickie in the picture.
Melina is nicely over and has really been built extremely weak against Michelle. If she loses, she loses more than the title.
It may be cooler to watch her chase the title, but it will really only be because most fans dont want Michelle as champ
I remember at the last bash we all thought natalya would win as it made the most sense. That didn’t happen. Michelle will probably win, but I wouldn’t be surprised either way.
I so hope Melina retian’s her title , i hate McCool with a passion, so i hope the fact that she is sleeping with the Undertaker does not make her the first ever Double Champion. Am hoping that Hounor goes to Mickie at Night of Champions when she takes on Maryse for the Diva’s title.
i really hope Melina retains tonight. As you all know I dont like Michelle and if she wins you damn right Im gonna kick up storm. In the end if Michelle does win it dosent matter b cuz Melina will always be the better competitor and she dosent need the Womens title to prove that to Michelle. But I really hope Melina retains.
Melina FTW
If Melina wins, there are more contenders possible :)
1.Gail Kim (2nd top face on SmackDown!)
2.Alicia Fox (2nd top heel on SmackDown!)
3.Layla (pinned her on divas tag team match!)
If Michelle wins :
1.Gail Kim :P
The attitude towards this one has been odd. Reading columns/blogs at sites like 411 Wrestling and The Baltimore Sun’s wrestling blog, when discussing this match, people seem to be showing indifference/apathy to this match despite saying it’s likely to be solid from a wrestling standpoint. I’ve read a lot of statements along the lines of, “This should be decent, but whatever” or “This should be solid, but I’d rather see Maryse vs. Mickie for the Divas title”. It’s not people saying the match will be bad but a lack of interest and/or wishing that the other match had made the card.
This is a hard one to predict, but McCool is likely to be the first double champion, even if it’s not tonight. WWE definitely isn’t setting up Beth to do it, and Cole and Lawler talk more about Mickie vs. Maryse than Mickie wanting to be the first double champion. With McCool, it’s mentioned all the time. If she doesn’t win the title tonight, it wlll happen at NoC, where I’m expecting a second McCool-Melina match as I don’t think Gail will be added since she lately has been losing or not appearing on TV.
Michelle will win, No Doubt. :D. Im sorry Melina but your time as Champion is OVER!!!
michelle will win. it’s destiny. and neither belt has changed hands in a very long time, so a bit overdue.