6. Kaitlyn vs. AJ Lee
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x11kw6w_wwe-payback-2013-kaitlyn-vs-aj-lee_sport Sometimes, the quality of an in-ring product can be chalked up to the fact that those Superstars or Divas sharing the ring are close friends behind the curtain. That was certainly the case when Kaitlyn and AJ Lee feuded in the summer of 2013, working three straight pay-per-views with each other and delivering every time. It was their familiarity with one another and their determination to make each other look as good as possible, not to mention their drive to prove that women could deliver an excellent match regardless of gender when given the opportunity, that led to the quality of their series. At Payback in June, Kaitlyn and AJ wrestled a match that surprised the wrestling world. It was passionate, it was energetic and it was hard-hitting. The sequencing and reversals were top notch and the finish, which saw AJ trap her friend-turned-enemy in the Black Widow until Kaitlyn had no choice but to surrender the match and Divas Championship, was outstanding. Their rematch at Money in the Bank lacked the same intensity and drama, probably because the women had worked together before and fans had seen the contest just a month earlier, but it did not adversely affect the overall quality of the bout. It still was a worthy followup to their stellar first contest. They would cap off their rivalry at SummerSlam as Kaitlyn teamed with Dolph Ziggler and AJ partnered with Big E in a huge Mixed Tag Team match. Time constraints limited the match but the Divas against proved quite aggressive every time they shared the ring and the match benefited as a result. They would meet on several other occasions throughout the rest of the year but none of those matches meant as much, nor were they as good, as the pay-per-view wars waged by the former NXT competitors.
Erik Beaston
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Erik Beaston is a freelance pro wrestling writer who likes long walks in the park, dandelions and has not quite figured out that this introduction is not for Match.com. He resides in Parts Unknown, where he hosts weekly cookouts with Kane, The Ultimate Warrior, Papa Shango and The Boogeyman. Be jealous.
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