Smark Out Moment

Each week, DIVAS DEBRIEF runs down the events that transpired in women's professional wrestling from the past couple of days. From the WWE Divas to the TNA Knockouts including some other companies as well, Smark Out Moment attempts to keep you up to date on all things going on with the ladies of the ring.



PCB vs Team Bella

First off, is it just me or was there supposed to be a Divas title match n this card. I get that house show cards are always subject to change, but I probably would have preferred the title match instead of PCB vs Team Bella for the umpteenth time. We go to the ring and out comes Nikki Bella, Brie Bella and Alicia Fox for six-Divas action. Paige is out next and Eden introduces her as a member of Team PCB. She heads to the ring by herself. Becky Lynch is out next to another pop. WWE Divas Champion Charlotte is the last Diva out and her pop was nothing special.

Becky starts off with Alicia as we see the steel cage hanging over the ring. Back and forth to start with some trash talking from the apron. There's tension between Paige and Becky. Becky drops a few leg drops and Paige tags in. Paige with a knee to the face on Alicia. Paige screams this is her house and hits the running knee in the corner. Paige with more knees in the corner. Paige with a kick to the face and a two-count. Alicia gets up and slaps Paige. Becky tags in and goes at it with Alicia as fans chant for Lana.

Nikki comes in and works Becky over as there's also tension between Paige and Charlotte. Becky gets double suplexed by Nikki and Alicia for a two-count. Alicia with a knee to the back now as Charlotte tries to rally. Fox slams Becky by her hair and in comes Brie for some double teaming and another two-count. Brie with forearms as she keeps Becky grounded. Brie gets hype and hits the running knee to the face for a two-count on Becky. Nikki comes in and nails Charlotte on the apron. Charlotte comes in but the referee backs her out. Nikki is distracted and Becky rolls her up for an unsuccessful pin attempt. Charlotte tags in and unloads on Nikki with chops. Charlotte with a neckbreaker and a spear for a big pop. Charlotte goes for the Figure Four and locks it in but Paige tagged herself in. They argue as fans boo. Paige turns around to a big forearm from Nikki. Brie tags in and covers for a two-count. Brie takes Paige to the corner and in comes Fox. Alicia then hits a suplex and a two-count. Alicia keeps Paige grounded now.

Paige tries to fight up and out but Nikki keeps control. Paige kicks Nikki in the mouth and they collide with clotheslines. Paige jumps for a tag but both Becky and Charlotte jump off the apron and stand on the floor with their arms crossed. Paige and fans are shocked as they stare back at her. Nikki hits the Rack Attack on Paige for the win.


Paige vs Natalya

Team B.A.D. vs Team Bella

This match starts off quickly with a lock up and then Natalya pushing Paige into a corner and landing a lot of punches. After a couple of reversals by both women, Natalya connects on a drop kick. Natalya takes control but then chases Paige out of the ring who hits a big kick. After getting back in the ring Paige locks in a leg scissors in the middle of the ring. She then turns Natalya around and gets a headlock combo with it. Natalya uses her strength to get to her feet, but Paige hits a DDT for a two-count. Abdominal stretch by Paige, but its turned right into the same move for Natalya. Paige elbows out of it and gets the upper hand again. Natalya starts landing some clotheslines and a side Russian leg sweep. After a big move Natty gets another two-count. Going for an Irish Whip Paige turns it around into a move of her own for a two-count. Paige picks Natty up and goes for a slap but Natty reverses it and lands a big kick for another two-count. Natalya goes for a big slam but Paige tries a roll through pin but ends up in a sharpshooter. Paige reaches the ropes, and makes Natalya pay with a clothesline. Paige gets another two-count. Paige goes for a kick and gets caught in another sharpshooter and taps out.

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This match starts with Nikki and Naomi. Naomi gets the upper hand with a drop kick, and tags in Banks. Banks then drives Nikki into the corner and lands even more kicks, Nikki comes out elbows blazing and hits several elbows and tags in Brie. Brie lands several kicks of her own, but then gets two knees driven into her stomach via The Boss of WWE.

We come back from break with Alicia Fox beating on Naomi. Alicia quickly tags in Brie who lands a bulldog for a two-count. Naomi goes for a tag but Brie stops and then mocks Banks. Brie hits her running knee, and gets a two-count. Brie tags in Nikki who hits a bulldog of her own and hits Banks off the apron and pins Naomi for a two-count. Naomi finally fights out of her slump, but then eats a clothesline via Nikki Bella. Nikki tags in Alicia Fox who hits an arm bar slam, and then another big slam for a two-count. She then locks in a really weak looking chin lock. Naomi fights out and lands a couple knees, again getting so close to a tag but cannot reach. Brie is tagged in and hits her husbands style of kicks. Naomi tries again to fight out of it, but is stopped. Alicia is the legal woman again and locks in another terrible looking chin lock. Naomi tries to fight out but continues to struggle. Alicia goes for a slam in the corner, Naomi dodges and tags in Banks. Banks cleans house, and then gets a two-count that's broken up by Brie. Banks then locks in the Bank Statement on Fox for the win.




Naomi vs Nikki Bella

Charlotte & Becky Lynch vs Brie Bella & Alicia Fox

The match between Naomi and Nikki Bella began with the two of them locking up with Nikki getting the upper hand until Naomi is able to push Nikki to the mat and hits Nikki with her knee. Nikki then hits Naomi with a spinebuster for a two-count and then a suplex a little later on. This match so far has been pretty slow and sluggish as Nikki then hits on a snapmare, but Naomi then escapes Nikki and goes for the leg drop but misses as Nikki goes for another pin attempt for it to be a two-count. Nikki then works Naomi's left arm and with a lengthy hold and elbow strikes to the area. Naomi then manages to toss the former champ and hits her with several low kicks and a dropkick and manages to throw Nikki out of the ring and jump over the top rope to land on Nikki. Brie then tries to distract Naomi by yelling on the mic "We want Sasha!" and Sasha Banks takes out Brie, but Nikki takes advantage with an elbow blow and then the Rack Attack to get the pinfall victory.

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This tag-match begins with Brie and Becky squaring off with the NXT alum in control already. She goes on and Charlotte tags in for some double teaming. Brie nails Charlotte and knocks Becky off the apron but turns around to chops from Charlotte. Charlotte unloads and hits the neckbreaker. She knocks Alicia off the apron and spears Brie to a pop. Charlotte goes for the Figure Eight. Nikki and Alicia get on the apron. Natalya comes over to stop them but Paige gets up and has words with Natalya. Paige shoves Natalya into the apron and Brie kicks her in the back of the head. Natalya goes down. The match ends with Brie hitting a missile dropkick on Charlotte for the pin.





Brooke Adams vs Gail Kim

Awesome Kong vs Madison Rayne

With the recent announcement of the World Title Series to announce a new TNA World Heavyweight Champion, they gave several women the opportunity to compete for a chance to become the next champ. Tonight featured Kim, Adams, Kong, and Rayne competing in matches to advance in the Series.

Kim and Adams start things off with a lock up and Kim gets the standing headlock but Adams manages to escape. Kim goes for the twirl scissors but Adams is able to counter it. She gets a two count. The two continue to brawl and Brooke gets a broke toe hold and an wrench. The Knockouts champion is in control of the match at this point as she escapes a facebuster and connects on a elbow to Adams. She goes for the Eat Defeat but Brooke doesn't fall for it so Kim goes for a submission, but Adams counters with a small package and gets the pinfall victory. Did not expect that to happen, but not really complaining as it not only adds intigue into this portion of the tournament, but could also affect the Knockouts Division (Yes, I know that these matches were taped over the summer, but I can still see Adams and Kim being the next big title match).

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The second match was not exactly a technical classic and was pretty short. Rayne dominates the early portion of the match as the announcers keep selling Kong's stamina after Bound for Glory and the match took a turn in Kong's favor once she kicked out of a top rope dropkick from Rayne. AS Rayne goes for a suplex, she is not able to do so, which opens up a Kong comeback beginning with a quick spinning backfist and finishes her off with the Implant Buster to give Kong the win and three points to have a share of the group lead with Brooke Adams.




Gail Kim vs Awesome Kong (Knockouts Title match)

Kim goes down first to start this match. Kong drops her with a shoulder. Gail charges, but Kong knocks her out of the air with a knee. Gail misses a big splash in the corner and Kong knock her down. The camera focuses on Gail Kim's husband, Robert Irvine, at ringside seeing Kong slowly take control of the match as Kim is on the floor. As Kim tries to escape, Kong reaffirms her dominance and then applies a cross armbreaker. Kim was able to turn the tides and gets a submission of her own applied on the mat. Kong powers up to her feet and looks to slam Kim but she applies another submission hold. Kong powers out and sends Kim to the mat.

Kong goes to the top rope but Kim quickly gets up there as well and goes for a hurricarana but Kong has a different idea. She stays put on the top rope as the champ falls to the floor on her failed hurricarana. Kong then goes for a splash and a pin attempt, but that only goes for a two-count and the match continues. She then throws Kim out of the ring and into the floor and follows suit, grabbing chairs from under the ring and leaving them on the floor. She then has a verbal exchange with Irvine while referee Earl Hebner gets in between the two of them to split them up and continue the match. Irvine then yells at Hebner which allows Kong to slam the champ on top of the chairs and then brings her to the ring for a pin attempt but only gets a two-count. Kong then tries to end it by going for a powerbomb, but Kim was able to counter and go for an unsuccessful pin attempt of her own.




Asuka vs Dana Brooke

Bailey vs Sasha Banks (30-minute Iron Man match for the NXT Women's Championship)

NXT TakeOver: Respect will be known as the night the real "Divas Revolution" is in full swing. Of course, everyone will be talking about the main event, but there is another women's match tonight, one that should not be forgotten. I've written about Asuka in previous articles and I could not wait for her debut.

Emma and Dana Brooke are out first. Asuka is out next and fans start chanting "Asuka's gonna kill you" before the bell. Dana denies a handshake before they go at it. They lock up and trade holds. Dana taunts Asuka and slaps her. Asuka smiles and fans chant "you f--ked up" at Dana. Asuka unloads with kicks and strikes on Dana. Asuka with a Rear View. Asuka mocks Dana by doing her poses as fans pop. Dana talks trash and fights back but Asuka catches her in an armbar.

Emma ends up providing an assist and Dana takes control. Dana with a clothesline out of the corner. Dana with a body scissors as fans chant for Asuka. Asuka easily escapes the scissors and applies an ankle lock. Asuka with a big German suplex. Asuka with a jumping armbar to a big pop. She sits up on the hold but Dana comes out. Asuka immediately applies another hold. Emma gets on the apron and talks trash but Asuka decks her. Asuka goes back to work on Dana as fans chant "Asuka City" now. Asuka takes Dana down in what I think is a crossface chicken wing and body scissors combo, for the win. Really impressive debut. It may not be the absolute beatdown that a lot were expecting, but I saw a lot of good in her, and she is still in development. She is going to be a major player in the women's division sooner rather than later and I cannot wait until that happens.

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Well, the match that literally every wrestling fan has been anticipating since NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn has come. I hope everyone has their reading glasses, because this is going to be a long one. To start things off before the match, Bayley's family is at ringside with superfan Izzy (she's so adorable). Greg Hamilton does formal ring introductions as fans chant for Bayley. A big "women's wrestling" chant starts before the bell. They also chant "this is awesome" and "you deserve it" before they even lock up. They stare each other for about a minute, letting the moment sink in and build up the tension in the match. They finally lock up and Banks pushes Bayley off after tangling. They lock up again as chants for both wrestlers are easily heard. Both women exchange pin attempts in which both used the exact same pins which I love because it shows that both are truly equal.

More back and forth and pin attempts ensue and we get the first bit of real action about three minutes in when Banks hits a nice dropkick on Bailey. Banks goes on but Bayley catches her in a big hip toss and another that drops Banks on her neck and shoulder. Banks counters but gets sent to the apron. Banks then goes up to the top rope and then tosses Bayley across the ring. Bayley blocks a Banks Statement from Banks. Banks then blocks a Belly to Bayley. Bayley extends her hand and helps Banks up. They shake and fans cheer. They go to hug but Banks slams Bayley to the mat for a two-count. More great heel work from Banks. Banks runs into an elbow and gets tossed across the ring. Bayley with a splash and more offense. Bayley with a dropkick that sends Banks to the floor. Bayley dropkicks Banks under the bottom rope. And another on the opposite side of the ring. Bayley brings it back in the ring and trips Banks on her face. Bayley with a bulldog and a pin attempt that was not successful.

Banks gets a 2 count and argues with the referee. This leads to her blocking the referee's view and hitting Bayley with a thumb to the eyes for the three count and the first fall. Beautiful heel work from Banks as she gets really creative and draws heat to take a 1-0 lead. Banks keeps control until Bayley slams her head into the turnbuckles repeatedly. Banks turns it around and sends the champ face first into the turnbuckles. Bayley blocks the double knees and drops Banks chin first into the corner. Bayley gets the second fall after a Bayley to Belly.

They end up on the floor and Bayley gets dropped right in front of her family. Banks talks trash to her family and brings it back in for a two count. They go back to the floor and Banks sends Bayley into the LED board. Banks comes back to the ring and Bayley gets counted out, giving Banks the 2-1 lead in the match. Banks is running around with Izzy's headband on and we see Izzy crying (that is about as excellent heel work as you can possibly get). They eventually come back in with Banks in control. Bayley barely hangs on after another two count. Bayley kicks Banks off but Banks gets the Crab applied after stomping on her broken hand. Bayley makes it to the bottom rope and breaks the hold. Bayley gets a three count out of nowhere to tie it 2-2.

Lots more back and forth action for a few more minutes. Banks hits the knees in the corner for another close two-count. Banks ties Bayley upside down in the corner and charges but misses and hits the ring post. They fight on the floor and Bayley slams Banks' hand on the steps. Bayley brings it back in for a two-count. Bayley knocks Banks back to the floor by her injured arm. Bayley leaps off the steps with a big clothesline as fans pop. Banks kicks Bayley back into the steps. Banks leaps out onto Bayley but she catches her in a Bayley to Belly on the floor. A big "holy s--t" chant starts and I love every second of it. Bayley brings it back in for a  two-count.

Bayley takes Banks to the top but they're both dragging. Banks fights Bayley off. Bayley comes back and climbs up but Banks sends her back to the mat. Bayley runs back up and hits a super Bayley to Belly for a pin attempt but Banks foot was on the bottom rope. The pin does not count. More back and forth and close calls. Banks gets the submission locked in with two minutes to go but Bayley manages to get out. Bayley slams Banks' fingertips into the mat. Banks with another Banks Statement but Bayley counters with her submission with 15 second left. The bell rings with the submission locked in and Bayley wins 3-2.

WOW! What a match. I was worried that this was going to be a letdown, not a bad match, but a letdown after all the hype this match has been getting, but boy did this live up to the hype. was another step forward in the rebirth of Women's Professional Wrestling. I have said my fair share of criticism of WWE over their treatment of female wrestlers in past years, but tonight they allowed arguably two of the best women wrestlers in the world, Sasha Banks and Bailey main event a WWE special event for the first time in its history and they had one of the greatest wrestling matches I have ever seen. A lot of things about this match was perfect: The pacing, physicality, storytelling, psychology, and technical creative was perfect. Sasha Banks turned in one of the greatest heel performances I have ever seen.

Thank you WWE for finally reaching the 21st century and starting to give women equal amount of opportunity as the men do. Thank you Sasha Banks and Bailey for giving us an all-time classic for me to rewatch over and over again for the rest of my life. Mind you, the only reason why this does not get a 5-Star rating is because the technical aggressive was not as big as their first match, but it was still really good. I would give this a 4.5/5 for this reason, but by all means, give it five stars if you want. You won't get any arguments from me.




Bailey's first appearance since TakeOver: Respect
Nia Jax makes her debut

Bailey comes to the ring to "Match of the Year" chants to open up this week’s episode of NXT. She said that NXT made history last week, and not just her and Sasha Banks. She said the Dusty Rhodes Classic honored a man who put the NXT roster where they are now. She says she wants women's wrestling to be more important. She's interrupted by Alexa Bliss with Blake & Murphy. Bliss says that Bayley is an incredible champion and the future of the NXT women has no limit, then steals the NXT title from her and says they can share the success of women's wrestling, but not the NXT title. She tosses the title back to Bayley and leaves. Well, I guess this is the next feud for the title and I could not be happier. Bliss is the best worker in NXT after Bailey (Asuka is excluded since she’s been in only one match so far) and these two should provide for another excellent match that we come to expect from the women at NXT. Case in point, look up Bliss’ match against Sasha Banks when NXT filmed in Cleveland. You won’t be disappointed.

Nia Jax finally makes her debut against indie wrestler Evie whom I believe currently works for SHINE. There really isn't much to say about this match. It was a squash that lasted about five minutes. Nia Jax was fine in the ring, not wowing anyone, but nothing to really complain about. Her finisher is a modified spinebuster which is a believable enough move for someone of her size (6 ft 0 in, 200 lbs.) and it'll be interesting to see her progression in the coming months. She's not getting a big push right off the bat with Asuka doing so well at TakeOver: Respect, but I see her being in the title hunt at least a few months from now.








Charlotte vs Alicia Fox

The match begins with Nikki Bella distracting Charlotte which Alicia Fox takes advantage of and goes right on the offensive. She hits a backbreaker and after a pin attempt that went unsuccessfully, she has Charlotte in a sleeper hold. After holding it in for about minute, Fox throws Charlotte to the corner turnbuckle and connects on a bridging suplex for another two-count. Fox puts the Champ in a in a sleeper hold and looks to duplicate the same sequence of events from the start of the match, but Charlotte gets out of the backbreaker attempt and both women hit each other in the face with a big boot. Charlotte gets up first and starts her offense of the match with her signature chops and then hits Fox with a spear. Charlotte then puts Fox in the Figure Eight and Fox immediately submits. Team Bella, not happy with the match attack both Lynch and Charlotte until Paige comes in for the save (It's official, she's a tweener in my eyes. No one can convince me otherwise).



So there you have it, the breakdown for the week in women's wrestling. What were some of your favorite and least favorite moments from these women? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!