Don’t adjust your computer screens: I’m actually writing a Redux for the first time in forever! Let’s hope I don’t pull a muscle.. I’m filling in for Jack this week, as he’s off having what those Brits call a “holiday”.
Without further delay, let’s jump into this week’s action. With Father’s Day just a week from tomorrow, it’s appropriate that on this week’s WWE Superstars we’ve got a matchup between two famous daughters: Natalya (daughter of Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart) and Tamina Snuka (daughter of Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka). Who will make daddy proud with a victory? Will Natalya be distracted by her deteriorating friendship with Kaitlyn? Will the announcers make their requisite reference to these Divas’ heritage? Let’s watch:
Khali’s squeeze gets the upper hand to start, knocking Tamina flat on her face before getting her in a front face lock. Tamina finds a way out of it quickly, charging Natalya into the corner and ramming her a few times for good measure. Matt Striker mentions that Tamina likes to eavesdrop on her fellow Divas and spread gossip about them. Hm.. someone needs to tell Alicia Fox that Tamina’s trying to steal her gimmick.
Natalya soon battles back and attempts to put an early stop to this, prepping Tamina for the Sharpshooter. Tamina instantly wriggles for the ropes, wanting none of that. Once she’s free of Natalya’s grip, Tamina slips out of the ring for a breather. Nattie follows, and gets rammed into the ring apron for her trouble. Tamina blasts her with a chop to the chest before tossing her back into the ring.
Tamina keeps on Natalya, locking her in a sleeper hold. As soon as Natalya starts to battle out, Tamina slams her to the mat. She irish whips Natalya into the corner before running in, slamming into her head. Natalya’s probably seeing stars, but it’s not enough to pin her, as Tamina’s pin attempt only elicits a two-count.
Snuka doesn’t give Natalya a bit of rest, immediately locking in another submission, planting a knee into her spine and wrenching her arms back. Natalya makes good use of her arm muscles–which should be the biggest on the Divas roster, if I’m not mistaken–and powers out of the hold, only to be sent down to the mat, back on her aching head. Tamina gets cocky and tries to plant her knees on the prone Nattie, but she moves out of the way. Her knees are smarting, but Tamina manages to take Natalya down with a clothesline.
She delivers a leg drop and tries again to pin Natalya, who kicks out at two. Tamina attempts another submission, but Natalya battles out of it immediately, pummeling Tamina’s stomach, hitting her with a forearm and then, for flavor, a slap. Both Divas get to their feet at the same time and go running at each other, but they have the same idea, clotheslining one another.
Natalya soon gets whipped into the ropes, but blocks a back body drop and tries to go for her Discus clothesline. Tamina telegraphs it, though, turning it into a neckbreaker. She tries again for a pin, but Natalya resiliently kicks out.
Tamina’s obviously getting frustrated, and she hoists up Natalya for a Samoan Drop, but Natalya slips out of it over her shoulder, getting her in perfect position for the Sharpshooter. Natalya locks in her legs, and it’s all over but the crying. Tamina taps, and Nattie is your winner!
Thoughts: This was a solid match between two underutilized Divas. I’ve always thought that was the major strength of shows like WWE Superstars: highlighting Divas that don’t always end up in the ring on Raw or SmackDown. Tamina and Natalya are a good match, as their styles are pretty similar: grounded and submission-heavy.
I definitely think Tamina needs something extra to add spice to her character and ring style. As she is now, she’s treading dangerously close to “generic heel” territory. Natalya seems right at home with her babyface persona, but I still miss the tenacity she had as a Diva of Doom. Hearing a swell of cheers for the Sharpshooter will never not be awesome, though..
