Hello all, and welcome to this week’s edition of the SmackDown Redux! In a rematch from this past week’s Raw, Natalya and her new protege, Rosa Mendes go head to head against Layla and Summer Rae. Can Nattie shut Summer up once and for all? Check out the match below:
We kick off the match with both teams already in the ring, and Nattie is itching to get a piece of Summer. As soon as the bell rings, Nattie makes a beeline right for her archenemy, but Summer wants nothing to do with her and tags her partner in. Layla and Nattie lock up, and Nattie rolls Layla up with a school boy pin, looking for the quick win, but Layla kicks out at one. Layla hits a kick to the gut, followed by an arm wringer, but Natalya counters with an impressive reversal into an arm wringer of her own. Nattie goes for an Irish whip, which is reversed by Layla with a lucha style pin, but Nattie reverses once again and goes for the Sharpshooter, sending Layla scrambling to her corner.
Reluctantly, Summer tags in, but Natalya opts to bring her the hard way, and drills with a patented discus clothesline, followed by a picture perfect suplex. Summer retreats to the corner, begging for Nattie’s mercy, but as soon as she is within reach, Summer smashes her face into the turnbuckle, gaining the advantage. From here on out, Layla and Summer keep Nattie isolated on their side of the ring, utilizing frequent tags. The tide changes when Nattie avoids a legdrop from Summer and makes her way back to her corner. And comes Rosa…
Rosa Mendes comes into the match, taking the ‘Slayers’ out with a flurry of offense, but it is quickly staunched by a kick to the head from Layla. Nattie breaks up the resulting pin and neutralizes Summer, but gets kicked to the floor by Layla. Rosa tries to capitalize on the all these distractions, but Layla rolls her up to get the win for her team.
Thoughts: The match was honestly what I expected from our Total Divas match of the week, but I enjoyed Monday’s match much more. This match was going pretty well until the hot tag…
Now I know I’m going to get some heat by saying this, but here goes… Maybe it’s just time for Rosa to hang up the boots. Now that’s not to say that I think that she should quit, or be released. Not at all. I just think it’s time for her to find a role that’s more suited to her. As best said by my partner-in-crime, and fellow staffer, Cryssi, “Not every Diva needs to be a wrestler.”, and I believe this applies to Rosa. While she has tried the valet route before, maybe she just hasn’t found the right fit yet. She has plenty of personality and charisma, as exhibited on Total Divas, and it would be utilized to it’s maximum potential if she could be teamed with just the right Superstar. I’m sure Rosa can pave a path of greatness in this industry, but I just don’t think it’s going to be inside the squared circle. End rant…
Well, that’s all for this week, guys. Until next time… “STOP!!! JUST STOP, NATTIE!!!”
