Becky Lynch’s long-awaited and much-anticipated return has been rumoured for months. Ever since reports broke that Lynch was training at the Performance Center her comeback seems imminent. Photos of Lynch looking in perfect comeback shape emerged recently, which further fueled the fires of speculation. According to PWInsider “The Man” is scheduled to be at Sunday’s … Read more
NXT UK’s newest superstar Blair Davenport debuted for the brand last week and instantly put the women’s division on notice. In a recent interview with Alex McCarthy of talkSPORT Davenport spoke about her journey to get to WWE. Davenport revealed how WWE’s Senior Director of Talent Development, Canyon Ceman, contacted her several years ago. “NXT UK … Read more
On last night’s episode of NXT Mandy Rose made her surprise return to NXT. She appeared on the entrance ramp during the match between Sarray and Gigi Dolin. The appearance was a major talking point coming out of the show with many fans asking why was she there. According to PWInsider fans are going to … Read more
Mickie James certainly hasn’t pulled any punches when talking about her former employer, WWE. Since leaving the company James has spoken out about their short-sighted booking and how she pitched to have an all-female branded show and was told it will never happen. James was a guest on The Wrestling Inc. Daily and the conversation … Read more
Alexa Bliss is the talk of the wrestling world right now. Her twisted and horror movie-esque persona is a polarizing act, but on that is as creative as it is inventive. Bliss is a decorated WWE Superstar. She is a multi-time champion and the first wrestler to win the RAW and SmackDown Women’s Championships. Throughout … Read more
NXT Women’s Champion Raquel Gonzalez has a new challenger and that is Xia Li.
Prior to Li stepping up to Gonzalez, the champion was at ringside supporting her tag team partner Dakota Kai as she faced Ember Moon. Moon is now officially a singles competitor again as Shotzi Blackheart has now moved on to SmackDown with Tegan Nox.
Kai and Moon put on another clinic of a match and Kai was able to pick up the win. Afterward, the lights went out and Xia Li emerged.
Li tells Gonzalez that she is standing in her way. Gonzalez accepts the challenge and says she hopes she shows up this time and tells her to take a good look at the belt. Li then left the ring and the match is booked.
Next week Li challenges Gonzalez with the NXT Women’s Championship on the line.
If there were two surprises on this week’s NXT, the credit goes to Mandy Rose and Aliyah. First, RAW Superstar Mandy Rose appeared during the scheduled match between Sarray and GiGi Dolin. Dolin was having her first singles match since joining the company and having Rose come out on the stage certainly wasn’t what anyone … Read more
This week’s NXT has two women’s match set and ready to go. First, as was revealed yesterday on social media, Sarray has found herself an opponent. Since arriving in WWE and on the NXT brand, Sarray has been undefeated. She is actively looking for competition and she wanted Toni Storm. Storm declined the offer saying … Read more
Today marks the sixth anniversary that Becky Lynch, Sasha Banks and Charlotte Flair debuted on WWE television and changed the wrestling landscape. On July 13 2015, WWE introduced all three women to the main roster in a move that revolutionised the women’s division. Months before their debut, WWE hardly featured the women’s division on its … Read more
If you are a fan of the WWE Hall of Famer Beth Phoenix then you will enjoy the possibility of her lacing up her boots once again. The Glamazon recently spoke with Renne Paquette on her Oral Session podcast and provided some details about her love for wrestling and how she doesn’t feel as though … Read more
Monday’s RAW didn’t just signify the go-home show for the red brand when it comes to Money in the Bank but it was the last show of the ThunderDome era. This show was pre-taped and fans will be returning regularly to WWE shows starting with this Friday’s SmackDown.
With that being said, a Fatal 4-Way match took place between the four women representing RAW in the Money in the Bank Ladder Match which will take place this Sunday, July 18. Naomi, Alexa Bliss, Asuka, and Nikki A.S.H. all wanted to get a leg up heading into the event by pulling out a win.
A match that started out as a Fatal 4-way became a Triple Threat after Bliss disappeared. Earlier in the night, Eva Marie and Doudrop came to Alexa’s Playground. And although Bliss and Doudrop seemed friendly, Bliss wasn’t keen on the fact that Eva tagged along when she wasn’t invited.
During the Fatal 4-Way, Doudrop and Eva made their way out to the ramp. A distraction caused Eva to be scared by Bliss and she tried to use her shoe to shoo her away. Doudrop then dumped Bliss over the barricade and that is where she disappeared from the match.
Now with only three women left, things really picked up in the match and it was Nikki who picked up the win after she pinned Asuka. Leading up to the pin, Naomi hit a swift kick from the ring apron to Nikki over the top rope. Asuka then delivered a codebreaker to Naomi in the ropes causing Naomi to fall to the outside taking her out of the equation. After a few pin attempts by Nikki, Asuka tried to lock in the Asuka Lock but Nikki had a unique roll through in order to get Asuka’s shoulders on the mat for the three count.
After picking up another victory in the Fatal 4-Way Match, Almost a Super Hero @NikkiCrossWWE is ready for the Money in the Bank Ladder Match. pic.twitter.com/uyqcKtLQhg
Elsewhere on RAW, we saw the build continue towards the RAW Women’s Championship match between the champ Rhea Ripley and challenger Charlotte Flair. The two will battle it out at Money in the Bank with the gold on the line and with Ripley trying everything she can to best The Queen. Flair has been using Flair’s tactics against her for a number of weeks now. In fact, it helped her retain against Flair at Hell in a Cell when she disqualified herself in order to keep the title.
In a refreshing match, Ripley faced one-half of the Women’s Tag Team Champions, Natalya. The two put on a stellar match that highlighted both women. Natalya was added to the Money in the Bank Ladder Match by WWE Authority Sonya Deville on social media prior to RAW taking place.
Prior to Nattie’s match with Ripley, she and Tamina continued to have issues with Mandy Rose and Dana Brooke backstage. The verbal assault turned physical after Tamina shoved Brooke before the tag champs walked away. Rose and Brooke are still gearing up to take the tag titles from the champs, they are just waiting for the match to be set.
Ripley ended up pinning Natalya and as to be expected, Flair jumped Ripley from behind with a chop block to the knee. Flair made sure that the champ and her opponent come Sunday wasn’t going to walk out of the last ThunderDome easily. She continued delivering the pain to Ripley’s knee as she wrenched it on the ring apron.
In a backstage interview with Flair, she makes an emphatic statement that she will become RAW Women’s Champion and that it is game over for Ripley. As Ripley tries to continue her championship reign since dethroning Asuka at WrestleMania, Flair will try to win the RAW Women’s Champion for the first time since 2016.
What did you think about this week’s RAW? Are you excited to get fans back?
Check back in with Diva Dirt for all your news on the women of WWE and coverage for Money in the Bank this Sunday on July 18.
Sonya Deville has been thriving in an authority role on both SmackDown and RAW. Deville made her return to WWE to kick off the new year on the Jan. 1 episode of SmackDown. Her absence from WWE programming started at SummerSlam in August when she lost in a Loser Leave WWE match against Mandy Rose. … Read more
NXT has a doozy of a match set for tomorrow’s episode as Gigi Dolin stepped up to take on Sarray. Sarray challenged Toni Storm for a match but the Aussie denied her request believing Sarray was not on her level. During an interview with WWE digital Sarray stated that despite Storm’s refusal she still wanted … Read more
Welcome to the final RAW before Money in the Bank and the last time we see the Thunderdome as WWE goes back on the road this week. This show was pre-taped. WWE announced today via Sonya Deville that Natalya has joined the upcoming Money in the Bank Ladder Match that will take place this Sunday … Read more
One-half of the WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Natayla is the seventh competitor in the women’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match. The WWE legend was added to the match by Sonya Deville and will take on Asuka, Alexa Bliss, Naomi, Liv Morgan, Nikki Cross/ASH and Zelina Vega who will battle it out to become … Read more
Naomi has deactivated her Twitter after falling victim to a torrent of online abuse following her husband Jimmy Uso’s recent DUI. Uso was arrested last week for another DUI, which led to a vocal minority of idiot Twitter users sending abusive messages to her. Since Naomi deactivated her account, fellow WWE Superstars have come out … Read more
SmackDown Women’s Champion Bianca Belair and “The Boss” Sasha Banks are now ESPY award winners. In the category of WWE Moment of the Year, their WrestleMania main event match took the prize. The award was fan voted. There were four nominees for this award and Belair herself was nominated twice in the category. Her second … Read more
WWE is moving out of the ThunderDome after a near 12-month residency. The last set of tapings took place this week before the promotion go back on the road starting July 16 in Houston, Texas. Bayley took to Twitter to commemorate the time she spent at the WWE ThunderDome. Here’s what the former SmackDown Women’s … Read more
Bayley’s injury that was reported earlier on Friday shook the SmackDown women’s division and put a wrench into the Money in the Bank plans. Bayley was set to face Bianca Belair for the SmackDown Women’s Champion at the July 18 event but due to an ACL injury during training, she is now out of action for at least nine months.
WWE Authority Sonya Deville had to find a suitable replacement for Bayley now that she is unable to compete. Prior to Deville making her announcement, Bayley had some words to give to the WWE audience.
I was pushed beyond my limit for all of you, as if I haven’t done enough for you. Have fun missing me. #SmackDownhttps://t.co/9bIJnL9cFz
Now, what happens with the SmackDown Women’s Title match? It is no longer on the Money in the Bank card but will be on the July 16 episode of SmackDown, the first show back with a live crowd. Belair will be facing and defending her title against a former SmackDown Women’s Champion and two-time Money in the Bank winner – Carmella.
The most beautiful woman in all of WWE will have the chance to become a two-time SmackDown Women’s Champion which means she will no longer be in the Money in the Bank Ladder Match. Before Deville could announce that last part, an irate Liv Morgan made her way to the ring. She was tired of seeing Carmella getting handing opportunities while she herself has earned them.
Deville then snapped back at her letting her know she should have let her finish. Because Carmella has been pulled from the MITB match, Morgan is now in. As Morgan leaves with a smile on her face, she says she hopes Carmella defeats Belair so that she can win the briefcase and cash in on her.
This of course caught the eye of Bianca Belair. She says that she will gladly take Carmella as her challenger. She sends a message to Bayley saying she looks forward to finishing their feud when she comes back.
The Money in the Bank Ladder Match participants is now: Alexa Bliss, Asuka, Naomi, Nikki Cross, Zelina Vega, Liv Morgan, and two more women to be announced.
Check out what else happened on SmackDown with the debut of Shotzi & Nox by clicking here.
Now dubbed as Shotzi & Nox, Shotzi Blackheart and Tegan Nox have officially made their debut on SmackDown. They faced the WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Natalya and Tamina in a non-title match.
Nox just made her return to NXT this past Tuesday after being out action for nearly a year. Sidelined with her third ACL tear, Nox was written off NXT television after she was attacked backstage by Candice LeRae. Nox distracted LeRae during her and Indi Hartwell’s NXT Women’s Tag Team defense which resulted in a title change. Io Shirai and Zoey Stark became the new champions.
As for Shotzi, she was in a well-established tag team with Ember Moon. The duo were former NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions and had a rivalry with Dakota Kai and NXT Women’s Champion Raquel Gonzalez. Shotzi is now with Nox as Moon is staying in NXT. Moon took to Twitter to congratulate her now former tag team partner.
.@WWE Congrats @ShotziWWE You will always be my ttp 4 life! Show them what you can do! The #FirePit is no more but I am immensely proud of you!!!! #TCB ???
— Athena is ROH and All Elite! (@AthenaPalmer_FG) July 10, 2021
As for the match between the debuting team and the tag team champions, Shotzi picks up a huge win for her team after pinning the veteran Natalya. With the lack of tag teams on the main roster (mostly as a result of the WWE releases), this is a good start.
Shotzi and Nox aren’t the only call-ups coming. A vignette aired for the former NXT UK Women’s Champion Toni Storm. Storm has worked a dark match with Nox recently and along with Shotzi and Scarlett have been rumored to be moved to the roster. There is no further news on Scarlett at this time.
Money in the Bank is a week from this Sunday on July 18 and WWE dropped some major news earlier today. News that no one expected to hear, Bayley will no longer be competing at Money in the Bank due to injury and will be out for approximately nine months. She was scheduled to possibly … Read more
WWE broke the sad news just hours ago that Bayley will be out of action for approximately nine months due to an injury. As a result, she is unable to compete at Money in the Bank and challenge Bianca Belair for the SmackDown Women’s Championship. That match was planned as an “I Quit” Match. Belair … Read more
WWE has officially announced that Bayley has sustained an injury while training for her upcoming Money in the Bank match. She was scheduled to take part in an “I Quit” Match against SmackDown Women’s Bianca Belair. A replacement for Bayley in the match against Belair will be announced tonight on SmackDown. The nature of the … Read more
NXT UK’s latest newcomer Blair Davenport made her impressive debut on this week’s edition of the NXT UK. The artist formerly known as Bea Priestley confirmed her arrival in NXT UK in a video package aired that last week. She made her presence felt instantly in the women’s division with a victory in her first … Read more
The longest-reigning SmackDown Women’s Champion Bayley spoke out recently on how she felt about the recent WWE releases. It is never easy to see someone lose their job, but with the most recent releases, Bayley has been hit hard by what has happened. While promoting her upcoming “I Quit” match with Bianca Belair at Money … Read more
Melina wants the current generation of female wrestlers to recognise the path her generation laid for them. In an interview with Metro, the former WWE Women’s and Diva’s Champion said that what women’s wrestling is today is because of what women like her did for them. Here’s what Melina had to say; “What the women … Read more
