Raw: Brie Bella vs Paige

Raw: Brie Bella vs Paige

On Raw we got Brie vs Paige. It feels like I'm saying the same thing every week. In terms of storyline development, what difference is Paige vs Brie, to Paige vs Alicia Fox? There is no difference. They're basically just giving us the same match up. Their overall aim is clearly to try and get the audience behind Paige, and to do this they have to build up 'Team Bella' as dominant, but there are better ways of doing it. If I was writing this storyline, there would be backstage segments portraying the Bella's as catty heel characters, and even though this is cliché, it's better than the writers relying on what's happening in the ring to tell the story. In order to get over as heels, the Bella's need to talk. They need to do something. The casual fans probably don't know if they are heels or faces, so why would they care who wins and who looses? because in all honesty I don't even know myself. 

It feels as if they are trying to re make the Mickie/Laycool feud. Well one thing that is missing from this storyline that was present in that one, was consistent characters. Laycool would NEVER switch from heel to face. Everyone hated them. Everyone knew exactly who they were and what characters they were. For whatever reason, everyone wanted them to loose. The audience, because they were heels, and the IWC because they were over pushed for a very long time. That is what they need to figure out. They need to find a character that everyone hates and that is not the Bella's. The Bella's are holding this storyline back. I know it's not their fault, but it's them either way. It's too late for them now. They need a fresh face in the title picture. I think a perfect candidate would be Cameron. She's decent in the ring, presents her character very well and is disliked by the IWC. Paige vs Cameron as a feud for the title would be much better than what we're getting now.

The match began with Nikki, Brie and Alicia already in the ring, and once again Paige gets an entrance, whilst the divas champion doesn't. We then got a quick reminder of the events of last weeks Raw, and the match started. The two quickly locked up and ended up on the floor, attempting to out strengthen each other. They both got back to their feet and Paige got Brie into the corner, and began with some kicks to the stomach, and ended with stomps to the chest of Brie. Paige then ran into an elbow to the face and was thrown over the top rope by Brie, who managed to avoid a slap from Paige, and gave one in return. Paige was then knocked down to ringside and thrown back in by Brie. Brie went for the pin, and Paige kicked out at two. The camera then went on to Tamina and Naomi backstage watching the match, which was interesting (They both looked great by the way). Back to the match, and Brie had Paige locked into a unique rest hold, which she was trapped in for quite a while, until she rolled Brie up, but Brie kicked out at two. Brie then went for a clothesline, after which, Paige attempted to crawl to the ropes, until Brie caught up with her, and choked her over the second rope. Whilst the ref was busy, Alicia slapped Paige from the sidelines. Brie then screeched "Brie Mode" and went for her knee to the face, but Paige quickly moved and it ended up hitting both Nikki and Alicia, who both fell to the ground. Brie being distracted, was then rolled up by Paige for the two count, but Paige quickly got to her feet and kneed Brie to the head, and went for the pin, which again Brie kicked out at, at two. Paige then threw Brie into the corner, and follwed it with a clothesline, more knees to the face and then more clotheslines. Brie tried to fight back, but received a kick to the face. Paige then attemped to go for the PTO, but it was countered by Brie, who flung Paige into the ropes. Brie then walked away and Paige followed her and threw her into the corner again. As Paige approached Brie, she received a double kick to the face and an attempted drop kick, but Paige avoided it. Nikki then got up onto the apron in order to distract Paige, but Paige using Brie as a barricade got rid of her, and later kicked Alicia to the face, knocking her off the other side, but out of nowhere, Brie hit the Bella Buster and got the win. The three members of team Bella then proceeded to attack Paige after the match.

There was also another diva segment later in the show, between Lana and Summer Rae, but neither got to to talk on the mic so I won't address it.

Overall, this Raw match was disappointing for obvious reasons. The match wasn't bad, but we are getting the same thing every week. With the rumours of it being Nikki, Brie and Alicia Fox vs Paige, Charlotte and Sasha Banks at Summerslam, it doesn't look like there will be a change in storyline any time soon. I will give this match a score of 5/10.

Thank you for reading.

--@DivaFreakk