3 Ups & 5 Downs From WWE SmackDown (16 Oct - Results & Review)
Ups...
3. Nikki Bella & Paige = Surprise Package
Score this down as a positive few could've reasonably expected.
Paige vs. Bella was surprisingly good compared to their match in Mexico City on 11 September and expectations going into this repeat. Their exchanges were slicker, and they actually benefitted from some more time to work with. Paige going over is a questionable result for sure due to Nikki’s impending title challenge, but this writer hasn’t been keen on that anyway so it’d be churlish to complain about this match when it was so well-worked.
The bout was a solid addition to SmackDown, and that didn’t seem like it’d be the case on paper. Late on, Nikki deployed a Cena-esque STF, which was a neat nod to her past and a nice move for her to use as a heel. Paige also did the, 'You Can't See Me' gesture, so it appeared everyone has turned into R-Truth by dragging JC into proceedings.
WWE bosses handed these women around 10 minutes to work with. There was a commercial break midway through to threaten their momentum, but Paige and Nikki captured the audience's attention early and didn't lose the fans before the finish. All things considered, that's a win when their feud appeared to be on life support beforehand.
Now, it'll be interesting to find out what happens next. Is Paige due a title shot vs. Chelsea Green because she's beaten the clear number one contender? Or, will it turn into a Triple Threat so creative can power through the sagging Bella agenda against Chelsea?
That's all food for thought. Green is ticking down the minutes until Tiffany Stratton's heel turn anyway.