Hello everyone, and welcome to this week’s edition of the SmackDown Redux! This week we’re treated to a Divas tag match, as Divas Champion AJ Lee teams up with Tamina Snuka to take on The Funkadactyls (Naomi and Cameron). Can the Total Divas pick up a win going into Sunday’s premiere or will the champ and her heavy put them in their place? Check out the match below:
We kick off the match with The Funkadactyls mid-entrance. AJ and Tamina are out next and they are not impressed with their opponents’ dancing. After a short backstage vignette from AJ, the referee signals for the bell and our match is underway with Tamina and Cameron starting for their respective teams.
Tamina and Cameron go for a lockup right out the gate, but Tamina uses her strength advantage and tosses Cameron across the ring and into the turnbuckle. Tamina tries to follow-up, but gets nailed with as few forearms to the face and Cameron takes her down to the mat with an impressive rope-assisted headlock takeover.
Tamina grabs a big handful of hair and uses the distraction to whip Cameron across the ring, but she doesn’t realize Naomi has made a blind tag and runs into a double dropkick. As Naomi and Cameron celebrate their successful maneuver, Tamina charges and goes flying over the top rope. With her opponent reeling, Naomi tries to confuse Tamina by flipping off the ropes. Unfortunately for Naomi, has her scouted and pulls her to the outside, before leveling her with a brutal clothesline. Tamina throws Naomi back in the ring and goes for the pin, but only gets a one-count.
Frustrated, Tamina tags in AJ, who locks in a guillotine choke, looking for a submission victory. Naomi does her best to fight out of the submission, countering with a back bodydrop, but AJ float and picks her ankle, only to get dropped with a enziguri to the face. Naomi rushes to her corner and tags Cameron, who comes in with a flurry of offense, ending with a crossbody for a nearfall.
With the champion reeling, Cameron rushes her in the corner, but AJ evades and makes a tag. Tamina tries to get the jump on the less experienced Funkadactyl, but Cameron executes a picture perfect wheelbarrow bulldog for another nearfall. Cameron tries to finish off the match with a huuricanrana off the second rope, Tamina catches her and nearly powerbombs her through the mat. Tamina goes for the pin, but Naomi breaks it up and takes out AJ, but runs into a big Samoan boot. With Cameron all by her lonesome, Tamina tags in the champ, who locks in the Black Widow to pick up the win.
Thoughts: Very good match from the Divas tonight. Everyone involved did amazing AND it got a good amount of time. The only problem I had is that it did nothing to progress the Divas Championship storyline, which is very unclear right now. I’m guessing we’ll get some progression come Monday night.
While I think everyone in this match did well, it’s obvious who the star was: Cameron.
I will be the first to admit that I was never the biggest fan of Cameron’s ringwork, but lately she’s stepped up to the plate big time. She has found a middle ground between the flashy style of Naomi and basic fundamentals and she is making it work for her. Is she still rough around the edges? Of course, but she is gradually developing from that girl we all laughed at on Tough Enough to a impressive in-ring competitor and I couldn’t be prouder. Keep this up and I’ll never make another ‘Melina vs Alicia Fox‘ joke again.
Well, that’s all for now guys. Until next time!
