Raw Redux (December 27th, 2010): What Goes Around, Comes Around
After a sudden attitude change and a memorable slap to the Divas Champion on last week’s edition of Raw, Melina finds herself in a tag match teaming with Alicia Fox facing off against Eve and Gail Kim. Apparently, Natalya hasn’t learned her lesson, as she’s parked her third generation butt at the announcing table to call commentary on the match. Will the tension between the former champ and the current champ come to a breaking point this week? Will Natalya pay Melina back for the vicious slap she got last week? Check out the match below:
Back from commercial, Cole and Lawler introduced Natalya, who is looking stunning. Alicia and Melina are already in the ring discussing their strategy. Out next is the team of Eve and Gail, in matching gear, no less. While the babyfaces are headed to the ring, they cut to a replay from last week, detailing Melina actions after her match. Even a week later, that slap is still epic. As Natalya tells the folks how she felt about the slap, Melina shoots optical daggers her way. If looks could kill, poor Nattie would be six feet under.
Meanwhile, the official signals for the bell, and Alicia and Eve start things off for their teams. Alicia goes in on the offensive with a kick to the gut, followed by a few forearms and knee to the jaw. Alicia whips Eve off the ropes, but Eve rolls over her back, avoids a clothesline and strikes back with a flurry of her own. Eve tries to finish Alicia off with a standing moonsault, but Alicia gets her knees up, leaving Eve writhing on the mat. Alicia tries to take advantage, but only gets a two count.
Not giving Eve any time to breathe, Alicia drags her to her corner by the hair and tags in Melina. Melina slams Eve to the mat, goes for the pin, and gets a nearfall. Frustrated, Melina whips Eve into the turnbuckle and comes charging with double knees, followed by a few vicious forearms. The referee pulls Melina away, which gives Eve enough time to strike back with a jump kick to the side of Melina. While Melina is still reeling, Eve crawls to the corner and tags in her fresh partner, Gail Kim.
Gail Kim comes in like a house of fire, laying Melina out with a shoulder block, followed by a nasty dropkick. Gail scales the ropes and blasts Melina with another dropkick, but before she can get the win, Alicia breaks up the pin. Eve makes the save for her partner and the two roll out of the ring fighting. Gail tries to finish Melina off with Eat Defeat, but Melina counters with a vicious clothesline. While Gail is still out of it, Melina pulls Gail to her feet and finishes her off with the Sunset Split for the win.
Post-match, Natalya gets in the ring to confront the #1 contender. Melina tries to explain her actions and apologize, holding out her hand. However, as soon as Natalya takes it, Melina shoots a sneaky grin at the camera and goes for another slap. This time Nattie sees it coming, block and slaps Melina down. Melina retreats with a evil grin on her face to conclude the segment.
Honestly, I really enjoyed the match. I thought all four ladies were on point and the action was worlds better than last week’s #1 contender’s match. Hopefully, WWE can continue this trend in the weeks to come.
As for the post-match confrontation, I really enjoyed it. Like I said on the Post Raw Show, I think it’s time Melina gets on the mic and explains her actions. It’s no secret that talking is Melina’s strong point, so a well done promo is just what Melina needs to add some spice to this budding feud. Hopefully, WWE chooses to go this route next week, because the next step in this rivalry could make or break it.
All in all, the Diva action this week was one of the bright spots in a otherwise boring Raw. With any luck, Melina and Natalya can take the ball and run with in the coming weeks on Raw.
jdcabltv
December 28, 2010 at 10:47 pm
i just cant see natalya as champion, she just doesnt have charisma like Melina, and doing her dad’s schtick is dumb….just an observation…LOL
ROFLcopter
December 28, 2010 at 10:48 pm
Gail was clearly the star of the match.
seasons-of-love
December 28, 2010 at 10:51 pm
I hope Natalya’s references to Melina having a ‘bipolar meltdown’ and her noting that she’s worried about Melina’s mental stability actually had some relevance with regards to this storyline. Unhinged Melina worked in a face role back in 2008, and it should work in a heel role. I’d love it if they actually went down a bipolar route with her…perhaps she could be happy and smiley to the other divas one minute, and even have a few cute segments with Morrison, but snapping at random times and throwing everyone off guard. That could be fun.
Albert Castaneda
December 28, 2010 at 10:54 pm
I like Nattie and all I dont really think she should be wearing heels though something about it lol… or is it the dresses, It doesnt really suit her character. Though i love that theres a storyline developing ;)
Macho Madness
December 28, 2010 at 11:06 pm
I hate that now that Melina is a heel she is suddenly friends with all the heels, so not believeable. Also, Melina’s does not look devesdating at all. It’s kind of a joke that she beats people with that. I liked that one finisher she used to use where she would be on someones back and flip them around.
Great to see Gail, who was looking smokin’ hot! What little she did I really enjoyed and was the star of the match in my eyes.
Nice slap by Natalya! She is a great talker, I love listening to her on commentary.
SherriShepherdWWE
December 28, 2010 at 11:06 pm
i agree with Steven, i really enjoyed the match, all girls did really well, eve could have been better in the corner, but she did good, Gail was the star in the match, but the after match confrontation between melina and nattie, was awesome, and i think melina is gonna be a amazing heel just like she was a few years ago
Why didnt you post anything on the Tamina and Maryse, i like this feud as well, and there kinda building up to a match between the two of them :), but Tamina has def been showing her skill, diving head butt, superkick, samoan drop, Superfly Splash, which not to many divas do, so i am loving her :)
Blowbangfan
December 28, 2010 at 11:12 pm
I absolutely adore Natalya and totally consider her a Goddess but I do agree she lacks charisma. She is awful on the mic and is a boring character overall. She is such a skilled and strong wrestler and a beautiful woman but I think her championship reign will be brief because she’s not good at doing promos. She sounds so forced and unconvincing. I’d like to see her in the ring more instead of doing commentary but it sure was nice to see her getting some payback against Melina. Mark my prediction though; Natalya will lose the belt before Valentine’s Day. I suspect a Beth Phoenix betrayal or Melina forging an alliance with Lay-Cool perhaps…
Goodnightddtmnm
December 28, 2010 at 11:23 pm
So Happy Melina is once again A Heel , its been a while since she used her sunset Spilt finisher. All in All the match was very good all divas on point.
I love Alicia’s Red Hair it just Makes her look more sexier…LOL ( well it does)
The Foxy Red Head !!! Melina & Alicia make a awesome team….
Mr. AJ Lee
December 28, 2010 at 11:41 pm
I enjoyed the match. I just think eve was off at a couple of moment. I really like Natalya on commentary. I feel she adds to the match. Unlike Michelle or Layla on commentary. Melina as a heel is amazing. Can’t wait 2 c this story line progress. I just don’t want Natalya 2 lose the divas title rite away just cause Melina is a heel again. Hopefully they get a nice long match at the royal rumble. Like Melinas match against the glamazon 2 years ago. That match was amazing!!
sugarrush28
December 29, 2010 at 12:01 am
I’m still trippin over the fact that Melina and Alicia Fox were tagging together. With all their history they should’ve showed alittle hate towards each other. The match was okay though. I didn’t love or hate it.
Holbrook
December 29, 2010 at 12:06 am
@seasons-of-love
thats exactly what i was thinking!
Jordan
December 29, 2010 at 12:10 am
Great redux Steven!
I really liked this match this week. It was pretty smooth throughout, it wasn’t anything memorable, but it was a short, but sweet match. I think Alicia & Eve were a lot cleaner this week and less sloppy. Gail just cleaned house, and they think she still can’t go at her age, please.
The aftermath was perfect. I love the fact that it was done slow and build up to the slap. Natalya’s expression just shows she doesn’t have to play the nice, boring face. She did great on commentary again, not taking away from the match, adding to it.
Great RAW this week!
Envy
December 29, 2010 at 12:13 am
Yeah, defs agree. I don’t think she should be teaming up with the heels just yet but w/e. Good match, and I agree also that they should probably go somewhere with this bipolar thing.
TheJesterEmperor
December 29, 2010 at 12:22 am
I immensely adores this match. Nonetheless, I think the holistic of Melina as a heel is fundamental. Bring back the Vintage attire, and the vivacious, superfluous red and brown hair extensions, and there you have the quintessential Melina heel. I just wish that the WWE would switch up the Rating. PG limits the actions of the wrestlers and thus makes it less exciting.
lalala
December 29, 2010 at 12:40 am
maybe melina went nuts cause she was never given the chance to fight for the title again after michelle unified the titles and natalya became the next contender and then she got jealous of her lol
wl75
December 29, 2010 at 12:45 am
I think Melina needs to get some mic time next week- it’s not make or break, but she needs to get her rationale out there as to why she’s been slap-happy.
bortman
December 29, 2010 at 12:50 am
i agree with someone who said melina is all the sudden buddy buddy with the heels.. i mean! its kinda weird seeing melina teaming with a fox! especially with all the feud and matches they had, its going to be also awkward if melina team up with laycool.
but in the bright side, melina is just sooo good as heel! that evil smirk look she had when shes about to hit natalya again was genius. little thing like that makes such a big impact.
also wwe seems to be giving the divas fans what they want. melina vs natalya then theres beth vs laycool. yay!!! i wanna see a melina vs gail or gail vs natalya or even better a 3 way dance.
Spideywebby
December 29, 2010 at 1:45 am
Yea i do agree Natalya doesn’t have the charisma. We’ve seen her as a heel & now a face, she doesn’t leave any deep impression as a either one, at least to me.
Please do give Melina some mic time. At least make her an interesting heel to hate so i can really put some interest in this feud.
LaceyVonErichFan
December 29, 2010 at 2:20 am
Well, Melina has been both heel & face and they’re probaly trying something different with her. They can probaly give her some kind of little mental psychotic character. You can tell also with the way the announcers were talking on commentary & when she was shaking hands w/ Natalya she turned around but gave some kind of creepy smirk and whipped back to try and hit her but was blocked and then when she was knocked down by Natalya you can actually see her laughing then she had a straight face and then went back to giving some kind of creepy smile.
Natalya doesn’t get much mic time but she’s improving. She has probaly been on the mic about a total of 7 times which isn’t much compared to most of the divas, she’ll get there. She is champion for her first time, you can’t rush her. I remember when trish stratus won her first womens title, she was god awful on the mic and improved a lot more on the road.
adifferentsame
December 29, 2010 at 2:26 am
Natalya looks like she ran out of fake bake in that photograph. In question to her lack of character, there are wrestlers whose ability within the ring defines their persona. Like Manami Toyota and Hamada, Natalya’s wrestling does all the storytelling for her. All she needs to do is assert some dominance in her promos – a virtuous don’t-fuck-with-me attitude. Easy.
Spideywebby
December 29, 2010 at 2:44 am
Dunno, i think Beth is currently using that don’t-fuck-with-me attitude. I don’t think i wanna see too much similar looking characters around. Unless the two of them starts feuding.
Ozzy Valentine
December 29, 2010 at 3:11 am
@ ADifferentSame – Very good point. You know some people though, they’ll turn on them when they get the Title. It’s become normal haha.
I like Natalya. She’s not as charismatic as Melina or Mickie James, but she’s definitley got something going with her quirky self. I like it a lot. Love her jokes. They’re lame, but I can’t help laughing at them. Probably because they’re so silly.
There’s no make or break danger yet, as the story is just getting off the ground. They can keep it going with a match next week, although ofcourse, a promo is always welcome with the divas.
I don’t want Melina to have a psycho character or for it to be a one dimensional “jealous” angle either. They’ve been done too much over the past couple of years, I’m hoping for something better. Either way, the girls will make the best of it and I look forward to some good quality matches between the two.
adifferentsame
December 29, 2010 at 3:32 am
Another thing that should spur Natalya on is that a heel Melina can eviscerate anyone on the mic. Expect extreme aggression and drama when these two finally square off one on one.
samtherofl
December 29, 2010 at 3:35 am
She’s boring and makes me cringe, The lack of charisma comes off as corny-ness.
People say Michelle McCool and Beth Phoenix lack charisma, They’re Trish Stratus compared to Natalya, Hahaha.
fanboy
December 29, 2010 at 3:58 am
I dunno why people are saying the the girls were sloppy.. I think they were pretty great… I like how Melina looks physcho after the match… I just hate how Melina and Alicia are now friends and Gail and Eve seem like they never tagged with Melina… just hate it… Natalya on commentary was cute… she was flirting with Lawler.. I found that adorable