This past Monday saw the start of an 8-Diva tournament for the Divas Championship, with Maryse advancing into the second round. The tourny continued tonight on WWE Superstars, pitting Gail Kim against Jillian. Who will get one step closer to holding that butterly belt? Watch and see:
Jillian comes down to the ring, headset on. She says how excited she is about this tournament and that she has a good feeling about her chances to go all the way. This reminds her of that Black Eyed Peas song that’s overplayed on the radio to the point that it has surpassed the category of music and and has transformed into an acute form of torture–that song being “I’ve Got a Feeling”. She, of course, butchers it, and Gail’s entrance music eventually puts a stop to it. Kim makes her way to the ring and the match is on.
They start with a tie-up, Gail taking advantage and wrenching Jillian’s arm. Jillian escapes this by rolling forward and sweeping Gail’s legs. She goes for a pin, but Kim doesn’t even let the referee get a 1-count down. Jillian picks her up and holds her in a side headlock. Gail forces Jillian back into the ropes and shoves herself free, making her run the ropes.
On the return, Jillian shoulder-blocks Gail, but Gail grabs her feet before she can go anywhere, making her fall flat on her face. Gail bridges into a pin, but barely gets 2. Kim delivers a few blows to her face and goes for an irish whip that Jillian reverses. Gail ends up in the corner, but skirts through the ropes when Jillian charges toward her. Jillian blocks a punch and lands one of her own, then going for a shoulder blow to Gail’s midsection, but Kim hoists herself up, landing in a seated position on Jillian’s back. She heads to the top rope, hitting a lateral press on Jillian and going for the pin, getting a 2-count.
Jillian gets to her feet, only to be taken down again with a frankensteiner. She tries to regroup in the corner, dodging an attack by Gail and sending her flying through the ropes. Gail manages to hang on, though, and Jillian grabs her by the hair, knocking her head against the steel post and allowing her to fall to the outside.
Jillian spears Gail against the ring apron and tosses her into the ring, attempting an unorthodox pin that Kim kicks out of. She picks Gail up and slams her back down with a sidewalk slam, going for another pin that results in another kick-out. An irish whip into the corner sends Gail into the turnbuckle and down to the mat, as she’s unable to stay on her feet.
Jillian grabs her by the hair, pulling her head back and counting along with the referee’s protests before breaking the illegal hold. She then locks Gail into a seated half nelson, but Gail quickly powers out, delivering a few shot to the stomach before backing Jillian into the corner and freeing herself. Kim makes a catlike jump to the turnbuckle, attempting a flying dropkick that’s halted by a kick by Jillian.
Jillian looks to capitalize on this, going for the pin, but the referee calls for a rope break in a move you usually only see in the video games. (Like, your wrestler pins someone too close to the ropes and their foot accidentally slips under the rope. Dammit!!) Jillian, clearly not intending to break her own pin, argues with the ref while Gail scoots away to gather herself. Michael Cole shows Sherlock Holmes-like powers of observation by guessing that Gail’s arm had hit the ropes, even though she would have had to be Inspector Gadget for that to be physically possible. GO GO GADGET ARM!!
Gail find refuge in the ropes, and Jillian tries to separate from them, but no dice. She tries again to drag her by the feet, this time actually lifting her, but Kim uses her ninja-like prowess to counter it into a small package-like pin. The referee counts to 3 as Jillian, mid-pin, screams in disbelief at being duped. It’s touches like that that sell such a sudden pin as being effective–and inescapable enough–to defeat her. Gail wins and advances in the tournament!
The match first half of this match was interesting enough. I loved a lot of the moves by Gail, and Jillian’s “go for the pin every second” strategy seems like something a heel would do when they realllly want to win the match. The second half, however, was super slow-paced, which doesn’t benefit either girl, especially Gail. I understand that Jillian’s strategy was grounding Gail, but it made for a pretty dull match in itself. There just wasn’t wasn’t anything engaging about it (aside from maybe a few moves from Gail that we’ve seen in most of her matches), and lacked a certain fire that you should feel in a match where so much nags in the balance. Sadly, it didn’t do much to add excitement (or a feeling of importance) to this tournament. It certainly didn’t feel like an important match to me.
It’s still not clear whether Gail and Maryse will duke it out or if they’ll face the other two quarter-finalists, but I hope it’s put together with a bit more spark than this because right now, it just feels like a simple succession of “meh” Divas matches. Is it too much to ask for a little excitement?
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38 Comments
i found Jillian singing i got a feeling really funny XD for once
especially when she did all the howling bits XD
the match was a bit dull for me, i didn’t like the pin at the end it looked a mess
the match was too safe. nothing there stood out for me and tha’s a shame as it is gail in the ring. regardless, it was still a solid outing by both ladies, even if the winner was too predictable (that’s where the ko tourny was clever, if you didn’t read spoilers, you couldn’t have guessed who’d win and when).
and i agree with theregoeskitty, the pin at the end was just awkward looking. i hope that isn’t a sign of gail’s future – roll-up queen.
putting it into perspective, if this was a RAW match, it would’ve been almost perfection. i think that because it’s on superstars (where they’re generally given much more time and almost a mini story behind each match) is why it’s not as wow.
hmm i didnt really like this match, it seems a shame i would of liked jillian and gail to go throught to the nexted round, shame tho, but i think we all know that maryse is gonna win the championship so i cant get into it and with mickie or beth set to beat michelle a heel is going to win and i dont think wwe is going to give it to jillian or alicia yet which is a shame, wwe needs to send gail over to smackdown to complete for the womens championship and maria over to raw because all the divas on raw are ones that are ready to be divas champion but not womens if you get where im comming from where as smackdowns got the divas that can be womens champ like layla she improves everyweek and by having her with michelle is a good idea i like it but not the current storyline
That actually wasn’t that bad. It followed the tradition match formula: fast action to start putting the heroine over, then the costly mistake by her, the slowdown which the heel takes over, and then the big comeback. A bit of story there. A couple minutes longer to flesh everything out and this would’ve been really good.
I loved this match both divas looked awesome, but like you said there didn’t seem as if there was any importance if you ask me i have a feeling wwe are going to really focus the tournament on Maryse. I would like Gail to win but i dont think she will i see the finals being Maryse vs Gail Kim but in the end Maryse will come out on top.
Must say Jillian added some comedy to this match, she is very watchable. Also Lawler and Cole no doubt ‘bigged’ her up by saying how impressive she was, i loved the part when Jillian had Gail in a illegal submittion and was counting along with the referee! haha.
Plus, that pin made by Gail Kim was awesome! It came out of nowhere and i was shocked, what an amazing pin for Gail and a great way to win the match.
I thought the match was overall a lot better than what is written up here. Seems that Ms. Kim is leading the voting over at WWE.com not only for this match but who will be the winner of the Diva Championship. Sure hope this is Gail Kim’s time to shine, but then it is the WWE after all so who knows. Well the writers do, and they are not talking.
I totally agree with Erin, started out well and then got slow. Gail looked on-point, she really stood out perhaps moreso than usual. I think the end hurt Gail though, it just came across as such a flukey way to win and doesn’t suggest to me that Gail will be a strong contender going forward in the tournament, especially as Maryse was able to take out Brie [well Nikki] on Monday night with a finisher. I wouldn’t be surprised if Kelly makes it to the final, no doubt she’ll likely win in less flukey fashion with her K2 or something when she has her opening match. Though I did like the innovative way Gail went for the pin at the end.
It was an OK match overall, better than the one on RAW. The problem, as mentioned, is that when Jillian took control it just slowed the match down and got a bit boring. They should have let Gail Kim control the match more with Jilllian grounding her with power moves and restholds. When she was in TNA I remember her carrying a lesser worker like Velvet Sky to a pretty good match that way.
Anyway glad Gail got the win. Don’t know her prospects in the next round. There’s 4 more women still to have their first round match. Eve, Kelly, Alicia and Nikki, but that means there’s only one heel left. With the rumours of Katie Lea starting on RAW perhaps Eve or Nikki won’t be in the tournament.
OMG! When Jillian was done singing, my DOG started to cry! It was so funny.
I really jope that either Gail Kim or Kelly gets it. Gail has come to WWE after ther TNA contract has expired. Since then, she has been working at a lower level then she was ant TNA. Gail has talent and WWE doens’t reconize that. That should be her prize.
Kelly Kelly should because she’s been with the WWE for almost FOUR years. She’s really improved from being a Stripper to a Wrestler. Sure she botches a couple of moves, but so what? Trish wasn’t exactly the best when she won her 1st WWE Women’s Title. I don’t want Kelly to be another one of a Torrie Wilson.
^I doubt Kelly will be treated as another Torrie Wilson. She’s still very young and I trust that WWE has big plans for her in the future. Like you said she’s improved a lot and is popular with the fans.
This match was very great to me alot better than any Tara vs ODB match, kudos to Gail and Jillian.
It was decent, probably Jillian’s best showing in a while. I wish they’d just give her the title, tbh. She’s a decent enough wrestler, she’s funny, and she and Kelly are the only ones who can actually get a reaction. That includes Maryse.
The match kinda seemed a bit slow at times, but it was pretty decent overall. TBH, I really expected more from a ‘Gail vs Jillian’ matchup on paper.
gail got a “lets go gail” chant? woohoo :)
Loved the match ! The ending was great imo
I might be the only one that really enjoyed this match, I think both women worked well together, and Gail seems to be growing on the WWE universe and crowds which is even better, that might have been the first Gail chant ive heard since she’s been back.
TBH, I kinda’ got a bit excited by the end of the match when Michael said Gail would make a great Diva’s Champ. I probably was looking into it too much and it doesn’t mean anything, but it would be great if it was a sign or something? I mean, I really want to see Gail vs Alicia, or Gail vs Kelly at the end (considering those are the top three who I want to win; and have never held the title)
haha i seriously love Jillian Hall her singing always makes me laugh
great match imo
im glad they actually got some time to tell a story
i liked how they considered both of them “veterans”
or was it just Jillian? either way wow
i also liked how Gail got the win very innovative
the crowd was really behind her in this match
hopefully she wins this tournament =]
OMG that was an amazing match, why do all of you have to be such haters about everything, like you could do better. This IMO is the best divas match we’ve had in a LONG TIME, some of you really need to lower your expectations
both girls did a fantastic job, Jillian and Gail have such amazing chemistry in the ring together, everytime these 2 face off, they always deliver
I loved how micheal cole was saying good things about Jillian like how she’s a great wrestler and veteran and i LOVE that they keep mentioning she’s a former divas champion
Melanie Reply:
January 8th, 2010 at 8:36 pm
RKOyou — Who’s hating? Stop throwing your toys out of the pram just because others don’t share your opinion.
Cool match
The crowd seemed really into it :^D for a divas match anyway..
this was such a fun match & gail did a great job! jillian is great in the ring but she has never been an exciting wrestler to be fair so its expected it’d slow down when she takes control. great match though!
rkoyou are you 2? i loved the match but ppl are entitled to their opinions. it’s entertainment and its tv and just like everything else on tv, ppl have their critiques and opinions doesnt mean they should go out & prove “they can do better”. what a silly thing to say.
the worst thing anybody could do is be forced to lower their expectations. it was still a solid match, for what it was. unfortunately, i know that these two could do better.
k sorry everyone
IMO, this match was pretty damn good. I don’t know how the best diva matches is on SUPERSTARS now and not RAW.
I actually quite loved this match,but Gail’s fastpaced style meshes perfectly with Jillian’s so I don’t know why they sowed down.
I thought it was a decent showing by both women but I felt the ending could be stronger. It made Gail look like she only won by the skin of her teeth. So far, Maryse has been the only woman to look strong, after her match, especially when you consider that she basically beat two women on Monday. Hope that changes as the tournament goes on.
Does anyone else not get WGN America or is it just me not being able to find the channel? Good match though!
Well That Leaves Four Divas.. Hopefully Its Eve vs Fox And Kelly vs Nikki/Katie Lea.. Either Way We Are Going To See Singles Matches We Haven’t Seen Before.. Hopefully Gail Defeats Maryse En Route To The Final To Face Eve
xxChristinaxx wrote:
“I don’t know how the best diva matches is on SUPERSTARS now and not RAW.”
It’s very simple, WWE has always said that RAW was more focussed on “entertainment”, while ECW and Superstars are more about “wrestling”.
I thought the match was great. Nothing was rushed and they had time to put on a good match. Superstars is the place for the Raw women cause most if not all their matches on that show have been good.
I don’t think Gail and Maryse will face each other. 3 years ago, Mickie and Lita were the first two to advanced and they faced each other at Cyber Sunday.
That was good match. Plain and simple.
Let’s hope Gail vs Maryse isn’t in the quarters as I hope that will be the tournament final. Not a bad match and I’d love to see her go all the way. The crowd chant she got during the match hopefully makes WWE put a bit more faith in her and not someone like Kelly.
I liked this match.Maybe the second part was too slow but it wasn’t bad in my opinion.Gail is great,I truly hope she’s gonna win the title,even if it’s clear that it will be Maryse to get the final victory…However never say never ;)
Hey Melanie, I’m not sure if you’re going to look at this, but I post it anyways. I just want to flip the other side of the coin with the “flukey finish.” I think it helps Gail that she can put away her opponents away in such a spontaneous manner. A finish like that makes sense for Gail given her unpredictability in the ring. Having the “Eat Defeat” and these odd smaller ways is a definately an asset in my view.
An okay match, but Jillian is decidedly not up to Gail’s level as a wrestler or even someone who can sell her spots. I imagine this is down to the fact WWE have sanitised her for the sake of putting over less gifted performers. The end did look a lot less creative than it was supposed to be, but the innovative thinking is what sells Gail Kim as a performer. I would like to see her and Alicia Fox swerve Maryse in the tournament, but that isn’t going to happen. I don’t fancy Gail’s chances against either Fox, Kelly or Eve in the next round. Since Maryse’s win seems inevitable, the runner up is pretty much a meaningless throwaway.