Hey, you guys! Welcome to this week’s SmackDown Redux! This week on the blue brand, The First Lady of The Hart Dynasty, Natalya takes on Layla, after a picking up a loss to her tag partner Summer Rae last week. Can the Queen of Harts redeem herself, or will The Slayers be able to add another win to their record? Check out the match below:
We kick off our festivities with Layla (along with Summer Rae), already in the ring. Nattie is out next to a great reaction from the UK crowd. After a bit of taunting between the two Divas, the official signals for the bell, and our match is underway.
Layla and Natalya start off with some flashy chain wrestling, ending with Natalya going for the Sharpshooter early, but Layla fights her way to the bottom rope to break the hold. Nattie back off of Layla, who rushes to her feet and slaps Natalya across the face, resulting in her eating a stiff forearm, courtesy of Natalya. Natalya tries to keep her momentum, but gets nailed with a kick to the face, sending her out to the floor.
Natalya rolls back into the ring just before a count of ten, and right an assault from Layla. Layla immediately puts the boots to her opponent and chokes her across the middle rope, earning a one count and a warning from the referee. Layla goes directly into a submission, but Nattie fights through it, only to get slammed back into the canvas.
Layla tries to keep the pressure on Nattie with a kick to the gut, but Nattie gets her second wind and unleashes a flurry of offense. However, her comeback is short-lived, as Layla takes control and sends Natalya outside the ring once again. Layla tries to get the jump on Nattie, but she evades the attack, slaps Summer Rae across the face, before throwing Layla into her. Nattie throws Layla back into the ring, now that Summer is neutralized (Not that she was really doing anything to interfere, but I digress), looking to finish her off. Layla lands a kick, but Nattie bounces right back, and locks in the the Sharpshooter to pick up the win.
Elsehwre, Stephanie McMahon pleaded The Authority’s case on the Highlight Reel with Chris Jericho and Triple H, telling fans why they – and the WWE itself – needs them:
Thoughts: Not a bad match from these two, which is isn’t surprising, as I’ve always thought they had great chemistry with one another. What bothers about this match is the story. Wouldn’t it have made more sense to have Tyson Kidd around to distract Nattie once again, causing an even bigger rift between them? Maybe have him flirt with Summer, or coach from ringside. Anything! The only storyline Natalya has right now is her crumbling marriage, and WWE missed an opportunity to further it this week, which is disappointing to say the least.
Well, that’s all for this week! Usually, I would end with a quote from this week in Divas, but it was slim picking this week. You guys leave your favorite Diva quotes from this week in the comment section! Until next time…
