Becky Lynch and Natalya are of course set to compete for RAW Women’s Championship at SummerSlam 2019. This past Monday on Raw, Natalya brought up that she’d like to challenge Becky to a submission match but felt she would not accept it, so there wasn’t any point. That’s of course silly nonsense, with Becky being more than up to it. Today the stipulation has been made official. So when Becky Lynch defends the RAW Women’s Title against Natalya, the match can only end by submission.
These two women are of course both known for their submission holds. Becky Lynch has frequently made other women, and even some men, tap out to the Dis-Arm-Her in recent months. And Nattie, being a Hart and frankly just being a Canadian, is naturally famous for her use of the Sharpshooter. This will be especially prevalent given that this match will take place in Toronto.
So the story of the match will basically be the two of them fighting to see not only who is tougher, but who has the better signature hold. I’ve been wanting to see stories like that again for a long while, honestly. You don’t really see a lot of submission matches these days, but personally I always think it’s a good idea. With how much pride the both of them have espoused, it’s a nice edge to know that the two of them will be trying to force each other to submit.
But this does raise some problems.
I do feel like this basically dooms Natalya though, if she wasn’t doomed already. Becky Lynch has been put over for months as this ultimate badass female Steve Austin, essentially. Nevermind the fact that she’s a power babyface, there’s just no real way that this kind of character could, should or would tap out. I don’t think even the power of being a Hart in Canada would give Nattie what it would take to get this submission.
There’s the rub, though. Natalya obviously is being set up as the babyface in this particular match. She’s the hometown hero, a massive underdog, and she’s been booked to be much more likeable in recent weeks. And the match will be built around the Sharpshooter! In Canada! There’s no booing that.
So you’re putting Becky in a scenario where she’s nearly destined to get booed. Take one of Canada’s theoretically favored children and make her tap out. Should things go to plan, Becky will end up destroying a local hero here.
I’m not really sure that’s the best way to go about things. The crowd isn’t gonna be happy seeing Natalya forced to tap out. Atleast, the idea is that they wouldn’t be, right? The whole point of putting this match together is that she’d hopefully get a huge reception and have their support. If her tapping out does go over well, wouldn’t that be a disappointment?
It’s a bit of a silly thought when you get into it, but you can make it work. If she has a courageous match and in the end the two make up and shake hands, that can go over well enough.
RESULT
Becky struggles for a while before forcing her way over to the ropes and breaks the hold by climbing outside. Back inside, Becky counters into a Dis-arm-her and before long Nattie has to tap.
Winner: Becky Lynch
Kinda short really, considering what kind of match we were having. But a good technical bout there, fun submission exchanges. Nothing complicated but good stuff. Becky continues to be booked strong.
