We’ve got our first match here tonight, setup by that opening segment – Bayley defends her WWE SmackDown Women’s title against Carmella.
WWE SmackDown Women’s Championship: Bayley (c) vs. Carmella
We start with some chain wrestling, Bayley gets a shoulderblock and poses for jeers. Carmella takes advantage and clotheslines her down, quick cover and kickout. Carmella singles out an arm. There’s a very suspicious bit of satellite interference as Carmella takes her down and gets a kneedrop on her arm. Bayley ties Carmella’s arm up in the ropes, ref has to force a break. Gets some elbows in. Facewash, champ is mocking the challenger now. Says if she wants to be her friend, she better step up, sister. ‘Mella responds with a slap and a dropkick! But the champion stops that momentum with a knee to the gut and a hair trip to the mat. After a pause, she covers twice, for no reason.
Bayley takes her into the corner and stomps her in the abdomen, pulls her out, elbow to the back of the head. Carmella tries to fight out but gets a back suplex for her troubles, Bayley up top, crossbody but it’s avoided, superkick for a nearfall! Lengthy Mella-Go-Round, into a running dropkick and the champ has to bail! Suicide Dive from Carmella, did not expect that one! Throws her into the ring and goes to the top rope, crossbody for a nearfall! Bayley flapjacks ‘Mella right onto the announce table before the commercial break! Not a bad match at all to start with, better than expected.
We come back to see Carmella fight up out of a chinlock, Jawbreaker, Edge-O-Matic!
Gets the boot up off a charge, running clotheslines, ducks a shot for an atomic drop, drives her face into her boot in the corner! Crowd behind Carmella, bronco buster! Wants a superkick but Bayley hides behind the ref to evade it, comes up with a cheap shot but ‘Mella fights back, charging forearms! Hits the ropes, runs right into a Bayley-To-Belly, but it’s a nearfall?! Didn’t see that coming.
Bayley charges, ‘Mella evades and she hits the corner. Champ with a hotshot, goes up top, but Carmella cuts her off on the top rope – thrust kick to the side of the face as she’s up there! Pursues, Super Rana! Nearfall! Series of Oklahoma Rolls from the challenger, backslide attempted but Bayley reverses into an inside cradle for two, clothesline ducked, ‘Mella with a roll-up for a nearfall, nails a Superkick but Bayley bails to avoid the pin to some heat! ‘Mella pursues, throws her into the ring, drop toe hold, slips into the Cone Of Silence! Champ’s in trouble! But she’s able to take the elbow out from under her to break it! Carmella tries it again but Bayley’s able to position her feet on the ropes to stack her up and get the cheap win!
Winner: Bayley
Yeah, gotta say, didn’t expect a lot from this but this was a legitimately pretty good TV title match, in front of a hot crowd too. Bayley jumps Carmella afterwards but Naomi makes the save and her hair has never looked crazier! They both lay her out and stand tall.
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