Falls Count Anywhere Match Set For Next Week's WWE SmackDown
Nikki Bella and Natalya will finally settle their differences.
Nikki Bella will take on Natalya in a Falls Count Anywhere match on SmackDown next week.
General Manager Daniel Bryan made the contest following another backstage brawl between the duo on last night's show, and it could mean the end of their rivalry.
Nikki is expected to team with John Cena to face The Miz and Maryse at WrestleMania 33, and Elimination Chamber sowed the first seeds. Maryse was left covered in powder after being inadvertently knocked during a backstage brawl between Nikki and Nattie at the pay-per-view, and WWE will want to conclude Bella's current feud before progressing to the next one.
Having wrestled to a double count-out at Elimination Chamber, the Falls Count Anywhere stipulation should make for a fitting finale to a chaotic feud. It forces WWE to reach a conclusive outcome by eliminating count-outs and disqualifications, and the wording on WWE.com's official announcement suggests finality:-
"After months of verbal assaults, blindside attacks and raucous brawls, Nikki Bella and Natalya will finally settle the score when they face off in a Falls Count Anywhere Match next week on SmackDown LIVE. The match announcement was spurred on by SmackDown LIVE General Manager Daniel Bryan after the two Superstars got into another scrap, this time in Bryan’s office. Realizing that this issue could not continue much longer without some serious and dangerous repercussions, Bryan scheduled for the two to compete in a Falls Count Anywhere Match next week on Team Blue."
Nikki and Natalya have been fighting since the latter was revealed as Bella's mystery Survivor Series attacker. There is no word on what's next for Natalya once the beef is settled, but Nikki is rumoured to be considering some time-off after WrestleMania: the former Divas Champion is said to be struggling with the after-effects of last year's career-saving neck surgery.