Unlike the major companies such as WWE, AEW, and IMPACT throughout the current health pandemic, wrestling has been on hiatus for most independent promotions. With indie shows requiring a crowd in order to put on their shows, the safety precautions as a result of COVID has drastically impacted them from happening.
SHIMMER has announced on their Twitter account that shows won’t be able to happen at their home in Berwyn, Ill. but they are looking to have a show in another state. The most recent SHIMMER shows were scheduled in April but had to be canceled.
It looks like it’s going to be a while before returning to Berwyn becomes an option (likely next year, realistically). In the meantime, we’re getting a little something together for later this year in Indiana, which will also be an iPPV. Details soon!
Realistically, they stated that shows at the Eagle Club in Berwyn will not likely return until next year. However, they will be trying to put something together in Indiana later this year.
SHIMMER’s last show took place in November with Volume 117. The main event was the SHIMMER Champion Kimber Lee retaining her title against Havok.
Lee has been SHIMMER Champion since winning the title from Nicole Savoy at Volume 116 on Nov. 3. She has recently signed with IMPACT Wrestling officially announced on Aug. 4.
Check back in with Diva Dirt as indie shows from SHIMMER start back up again.
This week on AEW DynamiteBritt Baker is set to make her in-ring return to face Big Swole.
The match came about after Swole defeated Baker’s long-suffering assistant Reba/Rebel on Aug, 5 to receive the opportunity to face Baker in a future match.
This week Swole gets her chance, however, Baker will be teaming with Rebel and Penelope Ford to take on Big Swole in a 3-on-1 Handicap Match.
Baker and Swole have been in a feud for some time, but due to Baker’s injured knee, the two are yet to get physical. Baker has been out with an injury since May but has appeared regularly on the show. Tensions between the two began when Baker interrupted Swole during an interview. This led to Swole being suspended for “kidnapping” Baker on Jun, 17 episode of Dynamite.
Most recently, Baker would distract Swole during the Women’s Tag Team Tournament – The Deadly Draw match. This distraction would cause her and partner, Nicole Savoy to lose the match.
This match and stipulation are to add further obstacles between Swole and Baker. Expect minimal contact between the two as AEW build their one-on-one match for All Out.
What do you make of the match? Let us know in the comments below. As always stay tuned to Diva Dirt for all of your AEW news, reviews and updates.
An improbable pairing, Shayna Baszler & Nia Jax will be the opponents for Sasha Banks & Bayley‘s Women’s Tag Team Titles. This match will happen at Payback, and that takes place this coming Sunday on Aug. 30.
The Golden Role Models announced last week they would have to defend their tag titles at Payback but their opponents were never announced. The unique pairing of Baszler & Jax came from a match that took place between Bayley and Baszler.
Prior to that match, Jax was seen backstage as Sarah Schreiber was looking to interview her. Remember, Jax was suspended by attacking WWE official Pat Buck a few weeks ago. She explains she is no longer suspended as she apologized to Buck. Baszler runs into her and the two exchange some words. Jax tells her to give her a call or a text if she needs any help against Bayley.
Before the match begins, Jax makes her way out on the stage to watch. She would eventually get involved causing the match to stop. She attacks Baszler who was sent out of the ring. This causes Baszler to win via disqualification. The two then get into the ring and have a brief encounter as Jax gets some hits on The Queen of Spades.
The pair then realize that Bayley & Banks are a common enemy and they end up staring down the champs who were at the top of the ramp.
The Boss came back one year ago today, in theory, the day after Summerslam 2019. Fans at the time did not know whether or not she would ever come back, and she was pretty much counted out. I myself had said she’s done, go to AEW, ROH or TNA, so you can imagine my surprise hearing her entrance music.
Upon her return, she ditched her lackluster face character and changed up her attitude and her look by snatching off her own wig and debuting a new blue one instead. She asserted herself straight away by beating the brakes off Natalya and then giving Becky Lynch a thrashing with a chair we won’t ever forget, neither did fans, either. The video of her return scored the most views the night it came out.
It was Boss Time, but she didn’t come back as watered down Sasha. She came back as The Boss.
She had a new lease on life. She had swagger, she had attitude, she was as impressive and aggressive as we’d seen her. She delivered in an outstanding match at Hell In A Cell with Becky Lynch, and her teaming up with Bayley has given us some of the best mic and ring work we’ve seen on RAW and Smackdown. She was appointment television.
As months went on, she gathered meaningful wins, and became one half of the Women’s Tag Champions, again breaking her streak of unsuccessful first defenses. She and Bayley ruled the Women’s Division in the absence of Charlotte and Becky Lynch. She turned in good mic work, good commentary and in-ring work, and barring Bayley herself and Asuka, no woman since Summerslam last year has consistently had the goods.
While I didn’t necessarily agree with her taking the RAW Women’s Title, it also helped move her in the story we are all hoping leads to great matches and a huge payoff. Even though she lost her match last night, it was easily the best of the night, and there’s no denying that Sasha has had her personal best year, rolling that is since she came back.
I look forward to seeing how The Boss closes out the year. A feud literally years in the making with Bayley is imminent, but will we see the other women, who admittedly have been largely given the short end of a long stick, mix it up? Will, we beseeing her mix it up more with Asuka? Bayley? A returning Charlotte? Will we be seeing her go at it with Naomi? Alexa? Shayna? With The Boss, the sky is the limit.
It is time for the fall-out from SummerSlam and there are several things to unpack leading into tonight’s RAW. Most revolve around the Golden Role Models, as Sasha Banks lost her RAW Women’s Title to Asuka.
The tag team partners and best friends have seemingly not been on the same page as of late and after Banks losing her title without an assist from Bayley, where does this leave them?
They are still set to defend their Women’s Tag Team Titles at the Payback pay-per-view coming up this Sunday. As of the time of this writing, we don’t know who their opponents will be, so we may find out tonight on RAW.
We also have had Shayna Baszler stake claim that she wants to be the next in line to face Asuka now that she has regained the RAW Women’s Title. Nia Jax seems to also be involved in this as she too wants to be champion and has had her run-ins with Baszler.
Will Mickie James be able to bounce back as well from her controversial return match?
There is currently nothing advertised for the women, although there is plenty to show.
Feel free to use the comment section below to discuss tonight’s show.
This week’s edition of AEW Dark boasts another stacked card. The show will host thirteen bouts, three of which are women’s matches. The matches are another mix of main roster talent and local but AEW Dark regulars.
THIRTEEN MATCHES!#AEWDark is stacked for your viewing pleasure tomorrow night!
Ford returns to Dark to take on AEW newcomer, Heather Monroe. Monroe recently made her debut for the company on Dynamite in a match against Hikaru Shida.
Credit: AEW
Nyla Rose w/ Vicki Guerrero vs. KiLynn King
Rose hasn’t been in action since she and Ariane Andrew were eliminated in the first round of the Women’s Tag Team Tournament. Rose will be looking to get to winning ways, especially now that Guerrero is by her side.
Former Nightmare Collective member, Mel returned to Dark a few weeks ago after a lengthy absence. She was part of the Women’s Tag Team Tournament but eliminated in the first round. No doubt she’ll be looking to pick up a win against Red Velvet.
It is great to see more than one women’s match on Dark. Hopefully this can be replicated on Dynamite too.
What do you make of the matches and does it entice you to watch AEW Dark? Let us know in the comments below and as always stay tuned to Diva Dirt for all of your AEW news, reviews and updates.
SummerSlam the ThunderDome edition has come and gone. A highly entertaining show saw two women’s championship matches and a grudge match in which the loser had to leave WWE.
The first match of the night saw Asuka challenge Bayley for the SmackDown Women’s Championship. Asuka would also be out for revenge after Bayley attacked and essentially “ended” Kairi Sane‘s WWE career.
The match started with a fast pace as Asuka took it to Bayley, targetting her troublesome right arm and shoulder. Asuka remained in control with a diving DDT from the ring steps to the floor, as a concerned Sasha Banks watched on helplessly.
The two Grand Slam champions kept up the thrilling action with near falls, submissions and strong strikes. The champ seemed to have the match won when she hit a Bayley to Belly from out of nowhere only for Asuka to kick out at the very last millisecond.
Bayley targetted Asuka’s knees by driving them viciously into the ring apron followed by a kneebar. But Asuka managed to get to the ropes to break the hold.
Out of desparation, Bayley would break out the elbow drop from the top turnbuckle but Asuka would counter it into an armbar. Banks would get in close to the action to distract Asuka from making Bayley tap. The plan would work and Asuka would release the hold to kick Banks in the face.
Banks would take another bullet for Bayley when she was taken out by a hip attack from Asuka to the outside. The momentary confusion allowed Bayley to roll up Asuka in a schoolgirl for the hard-fought victory.
After the match, Sasha would leap into the ring and lay into Asuka with a barrage of fists. Bayley was not far behind and the Golden Role Models would make sure that Asuka’s second match of the night against Banks would be even more difficult.
This was a really good, strong match. Both competitors really laid it in and put in a hell of a performance. Bayley and Asuka’s styles mesh very well, whihc always makes for excellent im-ring action. And this match was no different and started off the show perfectly. The result may have been a predicatable but added further interest and intrigue to Asuka’s second challenge later on in the night.
Loser Leaves WWE
Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville’s grudge escalted to the point where Sonya made their match No Disqualification, Loser leaves WWE.
Sonya and Mandy wasted little time in beating the hell out of each other. Stiff shot followed stiff shot with Rose being the aggressor early on in the match.
Sonya’s superior technical skills would come into play and she would tie up Rose in a nasty looking Dragon Sleeper. Rose would persevered and countered into a pinfall casuing Deville to break the hold.
Mandy would end the match with a tri-fecta of running knee strikes for the victory and Sonya now has to leave WWE.
This was a good match. However, something just didn’t click and the violence didn’t match the intensity of the feud. Both Rose and Deville must be applauded for their efforts after what they went through in their personal lives. The result was the right one with Deville taking some much deserved and needed time away. Rose getting the win means she can finally move on from Deville after feuding for most of 2020.
Asuka’s Challenge Pt 2.
Asuka’s second match of the night came next and she came in wearing the battle scars of her previous match with Bayley. Banks was cocky and confident would instantly target injured her knee. Asuka would fight back with kicks and submissions of her own.
Sasha would take control of the match when she hit Asuka with a disgusting powerbomb to the outside.
Asuka would comeback slamming Banks face first followed by a beautiful transition from a kneebar to an ankle lock.
A Codebreaker from Banks would see momentum shift once more bit a missed Frog Splash would allow a fantastic sequence of submission holds as Banks would counter the Asuka Lock into the Banks Statement and vice versa.
Bayley would return the favour to Banks and eat a spinning back fist. Another Banks Statement attempt was countered by Asuka into the Asuka Lock for the submission win and RAW Women’s Championship.
This was another brilliant match. Intense action, close falls and great submssion sequences made for encapsulating viewing. The result makes sense as it puts the belt back on Asuka while furthering The Golden Role Models “will they won’t they” dynamic.
Now the action is over, lets get to the winners and losers.
Winner: Asuka
Not one, but two tremendous performances from Asuka. Despite losing her first championship match, Asuka fought and battled her way to walk away with the RAW Women’s Championship. The win now gives her that meaningful title victory and once again prove that she one of the best wrestlers in the world.
Asuka will have little time to celebrate with Shayna Baszler staking her claim to be next challenger. As two absolute killers in the ring, this potential match up will be incredible. Much looking forward to it.
Winner: Bayley
Bayley was on top form at SummerSlam. Her in-ring skills were top-notch and her heel work was excellent. After winning the match she celebrated by kicking out at the virtual spectators, which was hilarious and further testament to her MVP status.
Credit: WWE
Bayley retaining the SmackDown Women’s Championship was the right call as she has been phenomenal as the champ plus it further complicates her and Banks’ relationship.
Winners: Sonya Deville & Mandy Rose
After what these two went through this week what they did at SummerSlam was nothing short of incredible. Their feud has been one of, if not the best thing on WWE programming all year. And while the match may have not the send it off it deserved, it was still a fitting end.
It will now be interesting to see where Mandy goes from here and how she be used going forward. She has massively improved in the ring and it will be great to see her continue to do so in another purposeful and meaningful feud.
Hopefully, Deville rests and recovers after her ordeal and returns to carry on where she left off when she good and ready.
Loser: Sasha Banks
Five RAW Women’s Championship reigns and not one successful defence. While it may not by a record befitting someone with a legacy of Sasha Banks, it does make for further dissension between her and Bayley.
Bayley not assisting her as she did for Bayley during her match will no doubt be the next chapter in their 3/4 year impending feud. Hopefully, when she captures the SmackDown Women’s Championship from Bayley, she will be able to complete her first successful defence.
Final Thoughts
A cracking event that saw the end to one of the best feuds of 2020 while giving us two excellent title matches. Storylines were furthered and new challenges introduced, which is exactly what we want out of a PPV.
What did you make of SummerSlam? Let us know in the comments below. As always stay tuned to Diva Dirt for all of your WWE news, reviews and updates.
Asuka had perhaps everything to gain and nothing to lose at SummerSlam. She was booked in two championship matches and had a chance to become a double champion. Something that few people are able to accomplish.
She first faced Bayley as the first match of the night. Asuka did what she could to win the SmackDown Women’s Title, however, Bayley with the help of Sasha Banks continues her dominance and retained the title.
Now we are later in the night and it is time for Banks to defend her RAW Women’s Title against the woman she defeated for it. During the match, Bayley had the same opportunity that Banks had earlier to help her retain. Bayley would however move out of the way from a hip attack and moments later Banks would find herself tapping out to the Asuka Lock after a failed Bank Statement attempt.
In the aftermath, we saw Bayley trying to talk to her best friend and tag team partner. Banks wasn’t having it as she was reasonably irate.
Asuka is now a two-time RAW Women’s Champion.
What did you think of this match and its outcome? Leave your thoughts in the comment section below.
It was previously reported that there was a rumor that Renee Young had turned in her resignation notice to WWE and would be leaving the company.
Triple H later mostly confirmed her exit, however, he left it up to her to say it on her own terms. On the SummerSlam KickOff show, she did just that. At the beginning of the show, she said this would be her final work with the company.
Young had an eight-year career with WWE as she started in 2012. She wore many hats and quickly became the main female correspondent. Through backstage interviewing, pay-per-view KickOff host, and hosting her own shows, Young became a fan favorite.
Her broadcasting chops led her to become the first and so far only woman to be a permanent commentator on RAW for a full year. At the end of the SummerSlam KickOff, Young signed off with the company as she thanked WWE and the WWE Universe for all their love and support throughout her career.
Diva Dirt thanks Renee for all of her contributions to WWE and we will miss seeing her. We wish her good luck in everything she does in her future.
SummerSlam is upon us and as one of the “big four”, it offers up three very interesting and exciting women’s matches.
Tonight’s show is very enticing for a number of reasons. This is the first WWE PPV to take place at the polarizing ThunderDome. Secondly, all three matches have very high stakes attached to them.
Asuka is on double duty as she challenges Bayley for the Smackdown Women’s Championship and Sasha Banks for the RAW Women’s Championship.
Sonya Deville and Mandy Rose‘s grudge match is no longer a Hair vs. Hair match. Deville upped the ante on SmackDown making the match a No Disqualification, Loser Leaves WWE match.
Asuka looks to get some retribution on Bayley and Sasha Banks by dethroning them of their respective titles.
Banks and Bayley have been on a tremendous run and hold of the gold available to them. Despite this dominance and success, there remains an undercurrent of animosity between the Golden Role Models. This could be a factor in the outcome of their respective matches.
Asuka is looking for revenge on both competitors as they cost her the RAW Women’s Championship and attacked Kairi Sane on her final appearance for WWE.
Asuka is been on a very good run and goes into the match with all of the momentum and appetite for vengeance. Whereas, Bayley has been on an uncharacteristic losing streak, that has seen her grow frustrated and paranoid. While Sasha Banks has never successfully defended a singles championship. Could this spell the end for the Golden Role Models run as double champions or will they both successfully defend?
Loser Leaves WWE
Next is the grudge match that has been building since the beginning of the year. Ever since it was exposed that Sonya tried to stop Mandy and Otis becoming an item, Deville has been intent on ruining Rose’s career.
Most recently Deville attacked Rose and cut off her hair. This resulted in a Hair vs. Hair match but this past week Deville raised the stakes and made the stipulation to a No DQ, Loser Leaves WWE match.
Will we see Deville get her wish and remove Rose from her life? Or will Rose be able to vanquish her bitter enemy and move on with her life?
Sister Bliss
Will we see an appearance from Alexa Bliss during the match between Braun Strowman and The Fiend?
Bliss has been involved in the feud when she appeared as a “ghost” to distract Braun during Extreme Rules.
Since then she was attacked by The Fiend and then seemed to tame him. Braun said he doesn’t care for Bliss and attacked her himself when she tried to reason with him.
There are so many layers when it comes to angles involving The Fiend. Bliss could be in cahoots with Braun to take down The Fiend. Has Bliss “softened” The Fiend or will the identity of the mysterious Sister Abigail finally be revealed?
In an interview this week, Nikki Cross said that Bliss has changed and she scared something terrible is going to happen. Whatever that something is no doubt Bliss will be involved.
Credit: WWE
There tonnes of questions to tonight’s show so check out our SummerSlam Preview and Predictions video below;
Who is leaving as the RAW and Smackdown Women’s Championships and who will be leaving WWE? Let us know in the comments below. Feel free to use them throughout the show.
Io Shirai is still the NXT Women’s Champion after her successful win at TakeOver: XXX. What can be said though is her win certainly wasn’t easy. Dakota Kai took the Joshi Judas to her limits and even with the help of Raquel Gonzalez it wasn’t enough.
In a match that lasted over 17-minutes, saying that Kai pulled out everything in her arsenal is an understatement. There were many moments throughout that the challenger almost won her first title in WWE. She pulled out her kicks, the Kairopractor, and even had an armbar locked in so tight that it was shocking that Shirai was able to force a break and not tap out.
Towards the end of the match, the referee was knocked out. This allowed the equalizer of Gonzalez to enter the ring and layout Shirai. She pulled Kai on top of her and pulled the referee up to make the count. Somehow, Shirai was able to kick out. She eventually was able to hit her moonsault and get the three-count to retain her title.
After the match, Gonzalez re-entered the ring and went on the attack. Rhea Ripley‘s music would then hit and The Nightmare made her way to ring. In an interesting turn of events, instead of Ripley going after her old foe Shirai, she instead would lock her eyes on Gonzalez. The two stared at each other face-to-face before Gonzalez left the ring with Kai.
As Shirai then celebrated her win, Ripley was seen watching her from the ramp.
What did you think of the title match? What did you think of the aftermath between Ripley and Gonzalez? Leave your thoughts in the comment section below!!
It has been made official, the NXT UK brand is finally returning from its hiatus. The brand has been away since around March as a result of the worldwide health pandemic. The NXT UK Twitter account announced moments ago that they will be back in September. Did you miss them?
NXT UK has been airing past matches and events during its time away. Recently they had the women of talk about their favorite moments of the Women’s Evolution as it hit its five year anniversary in July.
Recently we have seen rumblings of the brand to hype up its return. We have witnessed a new promo for Jinny that was aired last month and just the other day a video showcasing all the talent that has their eyes set on Kay Lee Ray and the NXT UK Women’s Title.
Ray is nearing the 365-day mark as champion, so with that being said, there is a long line of women to try and make her reign end as soon as possible.
Alex McCarthy of talkSPORT has some further information on NXT UK from a conference call with Triple H. The next TakeOver event is planned for Dublin, but that may be pushed back again. It was originally scheduled for April 26, and now is set for Oct. 25. So we will have to wait and see if it will happen on that date.
Mike Johnson asks Triple H about NXT UK (it was my British right to have that question, Mike!) and Triple H says the TakeOver in Dublin may be pushed back AGAIN.
Tonight’s special Saturday episode of AEW Dynamite hosted the finals of the Women’s Tag Team Tournament – The Deadly Draw. The finalists were The Nightmare Sisters, Allie and Brandi Rhodes vs. Diamante and Ivelisse.
Credit: AEW
Both teams claimed their place in the finals when they won their respective semi-final matches earleir this week. This was the first match of the tournament to take on Dynamite.
Ivelisse and Diamante took the match to Allie and Brandi from the get-go. Fierce and stiff strikes are their forte and they used them to maximum effect. The Nightmare Sisters managed to get offence in on Diamante during the commercial break. This continued until a failed distraction from QT Marshall allowed Ivelisse to eliminate Brandi from the match and score the pinfall victory on Allie.
Hopefully this mean that Diamante and Ivelisse will become offical members of the AEW roster. AEW really need to attend to their women’s division and along with Thunder Rosa’s appearance it seems as though we are finally getting it.
Futher focus was added to divison when Anna Jay of the Dark Order visiously took out Brandi Rhodes at the end of Cody’s match with Mr. Brodie Lee. Jay a very promising prospect and has done very well during her short time in AEW. A feud with Brandi is a good way to shed more light on her.
What did you make of Diamante and Ivelisse winning the tournament and Anna Jay’s attack on Brandi? Let us know in the comments below. As always stay tuned to Diva Dirt for all of your AEW news, reviews and updates.
NWA Women’s World Champion has challenged Hikaru Shida for the AEW Women’s World Championship at All Out. Back in July, Shida issued an open challenge to anyone willing to step up and fight her. Since then the only person to step up was Diamante. But now Thunder Rosa has offically answered her challenge.
You asked for it. You got it. The @nwa Women's World Champion @thunderrosa22 has stepped up and made it clear that she wants @shidahikaru's #AEW Women’s World Championship.
In a fiery promo Thunder Rose not only demanded the AEW Women’s Championship but to take the women’s division to the next level and get the respect it deserves.
Thunder Rosa is one of the best and most revered women’s wrestlers in the world and will definatley bring much needed legitimacy and competition to AEW’s women’s divison.
What do make of Thunder Rosa’s challenge to Hikaru Shida? Let us know in the comments below. As always stay tuned to Diva Dirt for all of your AEW news, reviews and updates.
NXT TakeOver XXX is upon us. This monumental event has a rather tasty match for us to look forward to. Dakota Kai challenges Io Shirai for the NXT Women’s Championship.
Credit: WWE
This match has been building for some time.
After Io’s first successful title defence vs Tegan Nox a few weeks back Kai blindsided the champ with a boot to the face putting them on a collision course.
They met in a tag match the following week. This match would further set up the championship match between them. Kai was on the losing team when she essentially walked out on her match leaving LeRae to take the pin. In an interview, Kai says that she is “not a team player anymore” and tired of jumping through hoops. She wants Shirai and the title. Rhea Ripley would have something to say about this, which set up a number one contender match.
In another great match, Kai would persevere and withstand Ripley’s assault. Mercedes Martinez would take out Ripley and give Kai hit GTK for the victory and the number one contender spot.
Kai and Shirai cut some really great promos, in which Kai boasted that she was in Shirai’s head. But Shirai would reply that the only thing Kai had done was piss her off!
Kai would cut another scathing promo after she defeated Jessie Kamea. Shirai attacked and just as Kai was in trouble Raquel Gonzalez showed up and absolutely destroyed Shirai.
This gives Kai the upper hand going into the match. The addition of Gonzalez gives her an advantage. But will it result in Kai becoming the new NXT women’s champion? Kai has the momentum, advantage and the skill to pull it off but Io Shirai is a killer and won’t be losing the title so soon.
Expect a highly intense match from two highly skilled competitors who will be going all out to end each other. All of these ingredients will no doubt give us a thrilling and excellent encounter.
While there is only one women’s match on the show there is another woman who has been creating quite a stir. Scarlett Bordeaux will at ringside in the NXT Championship match between Keith Lee and Karrion Kross. Will she conjure up more magic fireballs to aid Kross to victory?
Tessa Blanchard is now a married woman. The former IMPACT World Champion wed Daga on Friday, Aug 21 in Tijuana, Mexico. The couple have been engaged since last November and tied the knot in a special ceremony.
Taya Valkyrie took to social media to share the news and congratulate the happy couple. Also in attedance was Impact legend Gail Kim and Alisha Edwards.
2020 has been a whirlwind year for Tessa. At the beginning of the year, she became the first women to hold the IMPACT World Championship. However, accusations of bullying tainted the occasion. More recently IMPACT Wrestling terminated her contract and stripped her of the title for failing to make appearances and submit promos. Since her release from IMPACT, there have been many rumours surrounding her future with reported interest from WWE. But now she has the rest of the year to look forward to with her new husband.
Congratulations and best wishes to the happy couple.
With Asuka getting a shot at two titles at SummerSlam this weekend, the most logical question is which match will she have first? Will she face Bayley for the SmackDown Women’s Title or Sasha Banks for the RAW Women’s Title allowing whoever goes second with the potential advantage.
There is tension between the two champions and best friends over who would go first. Banks started to get upset thinking that Bayley was trying to volunteer her to go first noting that she is trying to put her in a constant tough position.
The bickering came to a halt when Bayley threw out the claim that no one in the locker room could beat both her and Banks in one night. Not Asuka, not anyone. At that moment Naomi‘s music hit. Naomi challenged both Bayley and Banks to a match and wanted those matches to take place right then.
Corey Graves, who was doing the interview, suggested a Beat the Clock Challenge. Naomi agreed that she liked that idea, but still needed to know which one of the champions would go first. She would drop kick both women to the mat causing them to roll out of the ring. Banks would end up being the first to face Naomi.
As time started ticking away, Banks would make relatively short work of her opponent and provide a hard time for Bayley to beat. Banks defeated Naomi with the Bank Statement and completed this in 3 minutes and 39 seconds. The SmackDown Women’s Champion knew the stakes were high now, so she quickly pounced on Naomi who still hadn’t had a chance to get back on her feet. Bayley had to now win her match in less time than Banks did in order to not go first against Asuka at SummerSlam.
With still about 1:48 left on the clock, Naomi hits Bayley with a rearview and gets the three count defeating the SmackDown Women’s Champion. This quick defeat has made Bayley the first to defend her title against Asuka on Sunday. Banks was shown at ringside elated by the news before going into the ring to “console” her best friend from her loss.
Asuka’s music would then hit as the Empress made her way out to the ramp. She declares that at SummerSlam she will become the Empress of every title because no one is ready for Asuka. Banks goes after Asuka and gets a kick to the side of her head. She then runs into the ring and delivers a few kicks to Bayley before the Role Model retreats up the ramp herself. Bayley at first ignores Banks laying on the ramp before going to see if she is okay.
The third women’s match for this Sunday was originally supposed to be a Hair vs. Hair match between Sonya Deville and Mandy Rose. The stipulation changed after Rose attempted to make some sort of amends with her former best friend.
Deville wasn’t buying it and decided to up the ante. Instead of worrying about who would leave bald, the match is now a No Disqualification/Loser leaves WWE match. You can read more about this by clicking here.
Before Deville announced the stipulation change, she was approached by Dana Brooke backstage. Brooke who earlier joined Lacey Evans, Tamina, Naomi, and the men from SmackDown in fighting off the ever-growing RETRIBUTION faction wanted to lend a shoulder to lean on for Deville. She says she understands what Deville has gone through personally this week and that she was there to help if need be. Deville responded saying that it wasn’t anything she couldn’t handle and delivered a massive slap across the face of Brooke.
Moving on to Alexa Bliss, she has found herself smack dab in the middle of The Fiend’s feud with Braun Strowman. The two men go one-on-one at SummerSlam, but what will Bliss’ role be in all of this. After they showed a video package of what has transpired over the past few weeks with Bliss in this role, Nikki Cross was backstage to deliver some words of her own.
Cross says she has been friends with Bliss for quite a while now and she is very concerned. Bliss has been different. She may talk and act like herself but she isn’t herself. Cross has a bad feeling that something terrible is about to happen.
Let’s get into the final Winners & Losers before SummerSlam!
WINNER: Naomi
Naomi picking up a win against Bayley was what was needed. If she lost to both Sasha and Bayley back to back then that would have been total nonsense. As it is, I am not crazy about a short Beat the Clock Challenge. It just proved that the women had a 3-minute match and the time was right there in front of our faces. I get the point in all of it, and storyline-wise it was perfect for the Bayley/Sasha dynamic but that’s all. At least Naomi picked up one win during it and maybe if Bayley retains they keep that momentum going for her. They can use Naomi saying she beat her to get a title shot.
WINNER: Sonya Deville
Sonya continues to kill it with her promos. That is pretty much the top reason why she looked strong this week and that slap across Dana’s face…Woah! Now that was brutal. Dana took it like a champ also. It is highly possible she will be taking some much needed time off if she does lose on Sunday which seems to be the case. This may be the last winner’s column that Sonya is in for a bit.
LOSER: Bayley
Well, she has to face Asuka first on Sunday, so that can’t be the best position to be in. She lost in about two minutes the show before her big match, that can’t be the best either. Personally I have a feeling she is going to retain at SummerSlam because Asuka being SmackDown Champion doesn’t make much sense right now. I do enjoy Bayley, and she has been killing it for months, but I am ready for a new champion. Asuka just doesn’t seem right for it though. That is unless they really will give her both belts.
What did you think of this week’s SmackDown? What did you think of the new Thunderdome? Who were your Winners & Losers? Leave your thoughts in the comment section below.
Check back in with Diva Dirt throughout the weekend for any news, predictions, and results for SummerSlam.
The intense rivalry between Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville was slated to culminate in a Hair vs. Hair match at SummerSlam this coming Sunday. As of tonight’s SmackDown things have changed. Their hair appears to no longer be on the line as Deville announced a new stipulation. This fight will now be a No Disqualification/Loser Leaves WWE match.
Credit: WWE
Rose spoke freely as she attempted to make amends with Deville one last time before their upcoming bout. She wishes they could move past their troubles and get back to how they once were.
The thought of this seemed to have only angered Deville more and she no longer was interested in shaving Rose bald. She now no longer wants to see her face in WWE. The stakes have certainly been raised by this new stipulation.
WWE is bringing back Talking Smack and this time it will be hosted by Kayla Braxton and Xavier Woods. It will be on the WWE Network and will be available on the free version as well.
Talking Smack was pretty popular during its original run that started in 2016. It was a post-show for SmackDown Live at the time and was hosted by Renee Young and either Daniel Bryan or Shane McMahon. A similar show, RAW Talk has been airing currently as a post-show for the red brand.
The reason why Young most likely isn’t returning as it is being reported that she gave her notice to the company and will be leaving shortly. Braxton currently has been utilizing her hosting duties as she already is the host on WWE’s The Bump.
The show will be on the WWE Network on Saturday.
What are your thoughts of Talking Smack returning? Leave those thoughts in the comment section below.
The last stop before SummerSlam this Sunday and we are poised for a new look for WWE. They have moved to Amway Arena in Orlando, Fla. and are launching the Thunderdome.
As for the women of the blue brand, many of them will be busy this coming Sunday. The Golden Role Models will have to defend their singles titles both against the same woman. Bayley will be defending her SmackDown Women’s Title against Asuka and Sasha Banks will be defending her RAW Women’s Title against Asuka as well in the same night.
We also will have a Hair vs. Hair match between Sonya Deville and Mandy Rose as they look to settle their long tortured rivalry.
What will these women cook up on tonight’s Friday Night SmackDown? Tune in to find out!
Leave your thoughts and discuss the show in the comment section below.
Check back in with Diva Dirt all weekend for your coverage, news, rumors, and predictions of SummerSlam.
Mickie James recently sat down with Ring the Belle to have an interview that went over her top five moments of her career. With a 20 plus year career and cementing her legacy in the wrestling business, this is hard to narrow down. During the interview, James spoke about her recent return to the ring after over a year of absence.
Her return last Monday on RAW has been riddled with controversy as the six-time Women’s Champion received the short end of the stick. Treating James’ in-ring return as an afterthought, she didn’t receive her entrance, she lost via count-out, and though the majority of the match, the focus was on Seth Rollins arguing with Samoa Joe at ringside.
The match was against Natalya who is a veteran in her own right and the two would have put on an amazing match if the fans were able to see it.
Her return was hyped up on social media and it was all for nothing after the execution. She had the following to say to Ring the Belle:
“They broke the internet for all the wrong reasons. Nattie is badass. I felt like we’re gonna have a great match, we’re gonna kick butt. I felt like there’s some genuine magic to be made there and to have to tell a really great story. It’s just unfortunate that nobody saw it. You know, it’s bullshit. I’m hot about it, but I am grateful to be back. It’s just unfortunate.”
She has spoken many times that she hopes with this new run with the company she can get back into the championship picture and win her seventh title. Since returning to the company in late 2016, James hasn’t had much of a push towards championship status. The following is what she has to say about what she wants in her future:
“I hope to remind [everyone] of who I am and why my name is Mickie James. And why I am the baddest bitch in the game. No, but seriously, I hope to remind them why I feel like I am the measuring stick.”
In the interview she also speaks about how she almost debuted as a team with CM Punk, her huge reaction when she came face to face with Trish Stratus in the Royal Rumble, and her infamous Piggy James storyline.
Credit: WWE
About her Royal Rumble interaction with Stratus, James said:
“You hope for those moments. You hope that people and the fans are going to remember and that they’re going to give you that same respect. Because you see it happen, and you see it happen for the guys all the time, and it’s so great. I still get chill bumps on reactions like that. But then for it to come to happen for us I think, it was like whoa, That was cool. It was like, ‘yeah we did our part.’”
Many will remember the controversial storyline that James found herself in with LayCool. This was the “Piggy James” storyline in which James was bullied, insulted, and fat-shamed. She commented on how she felt during that time and the message it presented.
“It was hard at the moment, and I think it was hard for everyone in order to do it. There would be times I was like, ‘oh I think this might be a little too far.’ But I will say the end goal was to get Michelle and Layla over as monster heels and as the big heels, and I think it was very successful in that retrospect. And I think that for a generation of people especially now with like speaking out and anti-bullying, it’s given people the power of their voice because words are so powerful.”
For the full interview and the break down of the top five moments can be viewed in the video above.
All credit, including transcriptions, goes to Ring the Belle.
The man who had bad intentions against Sonya Deville, real name Daria Berenato, has been denied bail according to Tampa Bay Times. A South Carolina man, Phillip Thomas II was denied bail from his arrest after the attempt to kidnap Berenato on Sunday from her home.
Credit: WWE
A plan that was said to be eight months in the making. There were also messages stating he wanted to harm/kill Berenato’s family and friends including Mandy Rose who was with Berenato during this horrific incident.
Countless messages were sent to Berenato leading up to this invasion of her privacy through social media. Messages she didn’t realize were there as they went to the spam folder of her accounts.
Berenato went over details of the event that can be read here.
Tampa Bay Times stated that Hillsborough Circuit Judge Catherine Caitlin found that Thomas, “is a threat to the safety of the community and denied the defense’s motion to set bail.” He faces charges of aggravated stalking, armed burglary of a dwelling, and attempted armed kidnapping.
The bail in question by Thomas’ representation was argued at $2 million and that authorities could keep track of him with an electronic monitoring device. To that the Judge had the following to say:
“I don’t see any way we can protect our community in Hillsborough County if we give him bail,” the judge said. “A GPS on him gives me no peace of mind. A GPS monitor does nothing for me.”
Berenato was present and testified against Thomas.
For any further information on this news story, check back in with Diva Dirt.
The NXT UK brand has been hit with the biggest blow in WWE from the ongoing worldwide health pandemic. Since preventative measures were place for the UK, there hasn’t been any episodes of NXT UK to showcase their female talent.
This coupled with many allegations from the #SpeakingOut movement led to many fans thinking this brand may not continue. Although there is no official word on when tapings for the brand will resume, their Twitter account continues to highlight past moments and future opportunities.
Kay Lee Ray has held the title since August 31 of last year and is about to hit the year mark. Although it is true she hasn’t been able to defend the title for months due to the hiatus of the brand, there are many challengers waiting for her when the bell rings again.
In the Twitter post above, NXT UK has listed all the competitors of the brand that are vying for a chance to claim the cherished NXT UK Women’s Title. A title that has only been held by three different women since its inception. In this list are women who have been with the brand since day one up to the most recent signings.
A name that was left off this list was Toni Storm. The reason for this was based off her last encounter with the champion. In an “I Quit” match in February, the stipulation was if Storm lost then she would never be able to go after the NXT UK Women’s Title again as long as Kay was champion. So keeping to that promise, she was not included on the above list.
With the solid roster that NXT UK provides, who do you think will get the first crack at Ray’s title once the brand starts back up?
Would you want it to be a newcomer like Amale or Aoife Valkyrie or would you prefer someone such as Piper Niven or Jinny to finally win the title?
NXT TakeOver: XXX is right around the corner, so commemorate this landmark occasion we have compiled a list of five of the best women’s NXT TakeOver matches.
From what began as a Wednesday night live special at Full Sail built up to become fully-fledged WWE PPV-level events in sold-out arenas. NXT TakeOver has come full circle (due to COVID) and back to were where it all began for its momentous thirtieth event.
Over the years NXT TakeOver events have offered up excellent match up after excellent match up. It was these matches that put NXT on the map and spearheaded the Women’s Revolution.
Check out the list and let us know if you agree or disagree in the comments below.
NXT’s women’s division had been making some noise for a while. Each and every week the women of NXT were taking the opportunities given to them and thriving. This match was no different.
This was the match that showed everyone what the Women’s Revolution was all about. Four wrestlers, on the precipice of greatness. All ready to show the world why everyone was talking about NXT’s women’s division. A perfect dynamic with Charlotte as the confident champion, Banks, the heel challenger, Bayley the plucky babyface and Lynch, the spirited underdog.
Each competitor played their part perfectly, which made for an excellent match. Their chemistry and styles gelled making for some dramatic, intense, and incredible action.
NXT had been growing a strong women’s division for some time and this match was the result. It is simply a joy to watch.
Former six-time TNA Knockouts Champion, Angelina Love has achieved a huge milestone this week – Twenty years in professional wrestling.
Congratulations to my favourite all time TNA Knockout for 20 years in the business, the leader of the Allure & The Beautiful People – ANGELINA LOVE! #Holla#Slay@ActualALove thank you for giving us such memorable moments ?? pic.twitter.com/hJWvGI2kDP
Love made her wrestling debut in 2000 at the age of 18 in her native Canada and has worked for a number of major companies since.
Love is best known for her time in TNA where she is a former multi-time Knockouts champion and one-time Knockouts Tag Team champion. It was during her second run with the company that she formed the successful mean girl stable The Beautiful People with Velvet Sky.
Love is currently signed to Ring of Honor where she is a former Women of Honor champion. She is also the leader of The Allure, with Velvet Sky and Mandy Leon.
The Allure made their shock debut for ROH at G1 Supercard last year. They attacked then Women of Honor champion, Kelly Klein.
Klein and Love would feud over the title that resulted in Love capturing the championship at Death Before Dishonor. Love would only hold the title for fifteen days before dropping it back to Klein at Glory By Honor NOLA.
Credit: ROH
Love was due to feature in ROH’s reboot of their women’s division. Earlier this year ROH announced a tournament named Quest For Gold to crown the first ROH World Women’s Champion.
The tournament was set to take place on April, 24 but was canceled due to COVID. There has been no word when it will be rescheduled.
All at Diva Dirt would like to congratulate Angelina Love for her 20th Anniversary in professional wrestling and look forward to seeing her back in the ring soon.
One half of The IIconics, Billie Kay, has launched her own YouTube channel and is urging fans to subscribe. The name of her channel is “J.McKay Does.” She has posted her first video letting everyone know what to expect and question those that haven’t subscribed yet. If you haven’t subscribed yet then -You Gotta Be Joking Me!
Thank you to everyone that has already subscribed ? you guys are the best & I’m excited to start this, going to be a lot of fun ? https://t.co/BjoKGGgXhK
She declares in her first video that this channel will be one thing and one thing only and that is FUN! Fun, fun, fun!! She wants to make everyone smile and laugh. Perhaps some food content, pop culture, and even some special guests!!
Concerned about those who haven’t subscribed yet, she employs the help of her colleagues to get the word out. Check out the first video below as Kay and her cohorts have just one phrase to say to you. You Gotta Be Joking Me!
https://youtu.be/3OOJMdLQsac
So what are you waiting for? I have subscribed already, have you?!
