As I predicted, AJ and Paige carried most of the action, showing their best in-ring chemistry to date as Nikki Bella was protected in Rybackesque fashion by being tossed from the ring on numerous occasions after brief bursts of action. Nikki deserves credit for improving on her once nonexistent skills as she was able work with what Paige and AJ gave her.
(Heheh. The most memorable high spot from the NOC triple theat. Source: WWE.com)
In the end, the match itself was something a fan of women's wrestling could enjoy. We were treated to a well-told story between the ropes, that was allowed adequate time to unfold. The match did, however raise questions about WWE's creative department and wasted potential.
(Paige tastes some knuckles at NOC. Credit: WWE.com)
AJ regained the title, which was the first head scratcher. I've always agreed with Triple H's notion that the champion makes the title, not the other way around, but if booking of the male titles over the last 15-plus years has often shown, the protagonist's chase for gold makes the eventual victory all the sweeter for fans. AJ is the main roster's most important Diva, and the belt around her waist ultimately makes sense, but why this soon? Paige could have been strengthened as an antagonist with an opportunistic pin of Nikki to retain, and fans could have fed upon an escalating animosity between her and AJ leading to an eventual mushroom cloud of a match at Hell in a Cell in which Lee could finally vanquish the powerful upstart. Also, the raw hatred between the Bella twins mandated that Brie come down to ringside and, via outside shenanigans, serve her sister up on a silver platter for the champ. AJ scrambling into the ring a breath too late as Paige twists Nikki up in her scorpion cross lock (or PTO) and forces the submission win gives us a far better story for both feuds going forward.
(AJ fights to break Nikki's sleeper hold on the 9/24 Raw. Credit: WWE YouTube)
This past Monday's Raw gave us a solid match with the three time champ doing an excellent job of selling for Nikki to make her look more brutal, if not necessarily good. Paige sat at ringside and the ironic touch she has brought to the frienemy thing before the narrative derailed was back. Again, it would have been sweeter had she been the opportunistic champion looking on as a final showdown loomed in the distance, but at least she was not terrified of losing a skip-off. The match was fun TV, but earlier in the show we had to endure both Bellas talking to each other, as Nikki demanded Brie give up the Bella name. It a classic time to hit the thunder bucket with a copy of the Sporting News. It is a good idea at this point to separate the feuds once again, as the setup appears in place for the twins to clash at Hell in a Cell.
Unfortunately, whether on the mic or in the squared circle, both twins are at their weakest as an act when superior workers aren't there to carry them.
(Pow! Right in the baby maker! Credit: WWE.com)
The upside to this is that WWE wants the Divas title to matter. How much it will matter is up to them. Paige and AJ are only behind Natalya as the most polished females on the main roster and it may be a pipe dream, but having their rematch within the diabolical cage at HIAC would indeed make history. Given that the triple threat was the first real show of lengthy chemistry between Paige and AJ doesn't make this likely, though. Even if it does not, Paige has emerged as a player on WWE TV still and merchandising with her new gloves as well as her tee shirt indicate she won't sink into booking oblivion as other Divas have in the past when the creative team doesn't know what to do.
(Paige sports her new gloves, possibly available on WWE's shopzone soon. Credit: realpaigewwe instagram)
Going against screwed up booking, one of the most fundamentally sloppy divas on the roster looks dangerous, and Paige/AJ still has us wanting to see more--in spite of the narrative pratfalls they have to work with.
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