recursal/Fanatic-Fandom huggingface dataset:
Candice LeRae

## Bio

Candice LeRae is as tough as they come.

A longtime revolutionary of the independent women’s wrestling scene, LeRae made a name for herself with an uncanny ability to endure punishment and never stop fighting. Standing at 5-foot-2, the scrappy underdog has no problem stepping toe-to-toe with any opponent thrown her way, having even held her own against the likes of Kevin Owens and Cesaro in the past.

The tough Superstar got her first taste of WWE when she competed as one of the top fan-favorites in the inaugural Mae Young Classic tournament, battling her way to the Quarterfinal Round. She signed with the WWE Performance Center in January 2018 and soon after made her presence felt in NXT when she jumped the barricade during her husband Johnny Gargano’s NXT Title Match, taking out Andrade “Cien” Almas’ business manager Zelina Vega with a flurry of punches.

With a never-say-die attitude, an explosive and high-risk offensive arsenal and unrivaled grit, LeRae is primed to raise the level of competition within NXT’s Women’s division.
Total Divas: November 24, 2013

Seeing Red

Brie Bella has a difficult time accepting Bryan's notoriety. Natalya feels that Eva Marie is trying to get too close to TJ. Nikki Bella has to cope with John's demands.

## Recap

In this edition of “Total Divas, we open with Nikki Bella stewing in her Maserati of emotion after speeding away from John Cena in the waning moments of last week’s episode. She later sequesters herself in a hotel waffling over how to respond to The Champ’s co-habitation agreement. Brie Bella, for her part, is outraged over Cena’s request, while Mama Bella is somewhat more measured in her response; the underlying advice they both give, though, is that Nikki should, y’know, talk to the guy.

Nikki agrees to a sit-down and, duly humbled by the situation, Cena lays his cards on the table: There was really no easy way to broach the subject and he didn’t want to rain on Nikki’s parade while she was actually moving her boxes, so he waited until after. Plus, given that he still provides for his family, Cena doesn’t want to jeopardize his capabilities as a breadwinner if things go south with Nikki, so he needed to look after his own in the event of unlikely disaster. Nikki seems satisfied with this, and The Champ breathes a sigh of relief.

Less elated is Brie Bella, whose quality time with Daniel Bryan is rapidly dwindling as his star rises in WWE. Sudden work-related commitments prompt the bearded wonder to duck out of not one, but two, dates with his gal pal, and Brie, to put it lightly, is not pleased. Nikki opines that Brie’s subsequent blowup is probably bringing undue agita onto an already stressed-out Bryan, and Brie relents. Their makeup is, true to form, adorable.

Eva Marie, looking to emulate Natalya’s in-ring style, turns to Tyson Kidd (TJ) to pass on his wisdom as he was the one who trained her idol. Unfortunately, the sight of Eva and TJ’s legs entwined in an Indian Deathlock drives Nattie mad with jealousy, and she decides to repay the favor by grappling with the first bit of beefcake she can find. Happily, an unsuspecting Fandango is lying around, and the sight of their training session is more than TJ can bear before he loses it, too. Pretty soon all four of them are at loggerheads, though TJ and Nattie ultimately kiss and make up because, really, this was a silly argument to begin with.

And finally, Cameron. Well, uhh, Cameron and Vinny are having problems in their love life. They go to a relationship therapist (of sorts) to tackle their issues, and by the episode’s end Cameron has, with Vinny’s help, gotten her groove back. Celebration ensues.
Brie Bella

## Bio

As one-half of the dazzling Bella Twins, Brie debuted on SmackDown in 2008, defeating her first opponent, Victoria, by way of “Twin Magic” — a move in which she and her identical sister, Nikki Bella, secretly switched places during matches. In 2011, the sneaky tactic helped Brie defeat Eve Torres to win the Divas Championship.

Every bit as cunning as she is cute, this half-Mexican, half-Italian beauty, along with her doppelgänger, truly blazed a path for female athletes to follow over the years, both inside and outside the squared circle.

Outside the ring, Nikki & Brie have thrived as the center pieces of the hit E! reality show “Total Divas,” alongside the likes of Paige, Natalya, Eva Marie, Summer Rae, Rosa Mendes and Alicia Fox. Life as a reality star didn’t dull Brie’s abilities in the ring; alongside sister Nikki, she quickly staked out a spot at the top of her division. Even though she has retired from in-ring competition, “Brie Mode” will be the default status on the WWE Universe’s lips for a long, long time to come.
SmackDown 961: January 23, 2018

Naomi looks for payback against The Riott Squad's Liv Morgan, but she ends up in the middle of a Royal Rumble Match preview with the rest of the Team Blue women.

## Liv Morgan vs. Naomi

With all eyes on the historic first-ever Women’s Royal Rumble Match this Sunday, Naomi took on Liv Morgan as the war between The Riott Squad and the rest of the Team Blue women raged on.

As Morgan and The GLOW battled it out in the ring, Natalya, Carmella, Lana and Becky Lynch made their way out to the square circle one by one, joining Ruby Riott and Sarah Logan, who were in Morgan’s corner. Naomi and Liv went back and forth, but experience won out, as Naomi claimed a pivotal victory with a rollup after a pinpoint accurate kick.

After the contest, the WWE Universe was treated to a preview of the first-ever Women’s Royal Rumble Match when chaos broke out. Near the end of the pandemonium, Lynch looked to make a bold statement ahead of Sunday by tossing Naomi over the top rope, though Naomi held on and landed on the apron. As Naomi began to re-enter the ring, SmackDown Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair arrived to remind the entire division that, regardless of who wins on Sunday, they would inevitably bow to The Queen at WrestleMania.

## Results

* Naomi def. Liv Morgan (w/ Ruby Riott & Sarah Logan)
SmackDown 971: April 3, 2018

The Princess of Staten Island interrupts a match between SmackDown Women's Champion Charlotte Flair and Natalya to try and steal The Queen's title.

## Charlotte Flair vs. Natalya

After scoring a somewhat controversial win over Charlotte Flair two weeks ago, Natalya looked to continue depriving the SmackDown Women’s Champion of her momentum as she heads toward her title defense against Asuka at WrestleMania 34.

With each competitor being so familiar with the other due to their classic encounters in the past, The Queen and The Queen of Harts duked it out in a back-and-forth contest that saw plenty of hard hits and high impact. However, the landscape changed when both Superstars were down on the canvas and Carmella interrupted, clearly looking to cash in her Money in the Bank contract.

Before a referee could take the Money in the Bank contract from The Princess of Staten Island and make the title match official, Charlotte kicked it out of Carmella’s hands, which led to an enraged Princess Mella attempting to charge her. The Queen evaded and tossed Carmella from the ring, and the commotion nearly allowed Natalya to defeat Charlotte with another rollup, but Flair persevered, locking Natalya in the Figure-Eight for the tapout win.

Charlotte would not have too long to celebrate, though, as Asuka arrived after the match to remind The Queen that no one, not even her, was ready for The Empress of Tomorrow. However, Charlotte cut her off, boldly telling Asuka that The Empress of Tomorrow wasn’t ready for her. The tension was palpable as the two stared each other down … and they would still have to face off later tonight in the final round of the WWE Mixed Match Challenge!
Sonya Deville

## Bio

Put your hair up and square up because Sonya Deville is looking for a fight. With a background in MMA, Deville uses her knowledge of striking and submission holds to ground and pound her opposition into defeat.

Whether Deville is competing inside the cage or the squared circle, she looks right at home as she fires off lightning-quick combinations that leave her foes wondering what just hit them.

Deville is good and she knows it. From her flawless footwork to her confident scowl, she is always one thunderous kick or punch away from a knockout.
Sable

## Bio

Today's women of WWE owe Sable a lot of gratitude. After all, she defined what it means to be a woman in the rough world of WWE.

Breathtakingly beautiful and tough inside the ring, Sable debuted in 1996 when she accompanied a young Triple H to the ring at WrestleMania XII. Their alliance was short-lived as The Game mistreated his valet and "Wildman" Marc Mero came to her rescue. The glamorous pair captured the imagination of WWE fans as Mero briefly held the Intercontinental Championship. But when The Wildman was sidelined by a knee injury in 1997, Sable remained in the WWE spotlight, and she became far more popular than her Superstar husband.

By the time Mero returned from his injury in 1998, he had become jealous of Sable and resented her success. Eventually, a rift developed between two, punctuated by Sable delivering a kick to the groin and a powerbomb (which she dubbed the "Sable bomb") to Mero. A long war between her and Mero and Jacqueline (who became Mero's manager) ensued, and that led to Sable winning the Women's Championship from her nemesis at the Survivor Series in 1998.

Sable's popularity skyrocketed as she landed on the cover of mainstream magazines like TV Guide, but the weight of fame may have been too much for Sable to bear. WWE fans and Superstars soon noticed that she developed a massive ego. She began wearing Hollywood shades to the ring, and looked down with scorn on the people who loved her. In the ring, she mocked her opponents with "the grind," a move reminiscent of "Ravishing" Rick Rude where she gyrated her hips. Sable also began to taunt the WWE Universe by saying, "This is for all the women who want to be me and all the men who come to see me." Sable channeled her new attitude into a more aggressive in-ring style as she battled Luna Vachon and Debra before leaving WWE in 1999.

In Sable's last WWE run in 2003 and 2004, she found new rivals in Torrie Wilson and Stephanie McMahon. She also served as a trusted confidante of Mr. McMahon in a war with Stephanie. But despite her evil tendencies, WWE fans loved to see Sable.

Whether she is remembered as the Diva of WWE Divas or a magazine cover girl, one thing is certain: Sable was a pioneer who broke new ground for the ladies of the ring. That may be her greatest legacy.
SmackDown 968: March 13, 2018

The Empress of Tomorrow makes her first appearance on SmackDown LIVE and is greeted by SmackDown Women's Champion Charlotte Flair. After losing a tag team match to Carmella & Natalya at WWE Fastlane, Naomi is out for payback against Ms. Money in the Bank.

## Charlotte Flair and Asuka went face-to-face

Following her shocking decision to challenge SmackDown Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair for the title at WrestleMania 34, Asuka made her first appearance on SmackDown LIVE to go face-to-face with The Queen.

Charlotte did not even remotely beat around the bush, making it clear that she was ecstatic that Asuka chose her as her WrestleMania opponent because it now allowed her the opportunity to end The Empress of Tomorrow’s undefeated streak and cement her own legacy.

Asuka absorbed every word The Queen had to say, but she reinforced the idea that she bows to no competitor and that no one – not even Charlotte Flair – is ready for Asuka.

## Carmella vs. Naomi

Carmella entered SmackDown LIVE fresh off scoring a victory over Naomi in tag team competition at WWE Fastlane, and she’s begun to loosely allude to the idea of cashing in her Money in the Bank contract at WrestleMania. First, however, Ms. Money in the Bank would have to square off against The Glow here on the blue brand.

The two Superstars picked up right where they left off on Sunday, ferociously battling inside the squared circle. Ms. Money in the Bank scored the win by dodging the hard-charging Naomi to leave her tangled in the ropes, then grabbing her by the hair and slamming her to the canvas for the 1-2-3.
Alexa Bliss

First Superstar to win both the SmackDown Women's Championship and the Raw Women's Championship

## Bio

It almost doesn’t seem possible that so much bad attitude can fit into Alexa Bliss’ 5-foot-1 frame.

Sly, sassy and sporting a whole lot of ferocity, Alexa has been a fierce competitor her entire life, participating in softball, track and kickboxing since her youth, excelling especially in gymnastics and eventually becoming a Division I cheerleader. Alexa even entered the world of competitive bodybuilding, where she became one of the youngest competitors to receive her IFBB Professional status.

With such an incredible athletic background, it’s little wonder that Alexa quickly became one of NXT’s most dangerous female Superstars. Though she never captured the NXT Women’s Title, she was a constant threat in the division, pushing the likes of Bayley and Carmella to their limits.

As a SmackDown LIVE competitor, she ascended to the top of its Women’s division to become a two-time SmackDown Women's Champion, winning her first title by defeating Becky Lynch in a Tables Match. Weeks after joining Monday Night Raw in the Superstar Shake-up, Alexa Bliss made history at WWE Payback, reigning supreme over Bayley in a hard-fought contest to become the first Superstar to win both the SmackDown Women's Championship and the Raw Women's Championship.

Bliss might be her name, but get on her bad side (which isn’t hard to do) and you’ll soon learn that there’s nothing heavenly about Alexa’s demeanor.
Miranda Salinas

## Bio

Miranda Salinas isn’t the biggest competitor in the Mae Young Classic, but heaven help the wrestler who dares to dismiss her because of her stature. A petite powder keg, Salinas can explode in the ring without much notice, decimating everything in her immediate vicinity.

She grew up idolizing Trish Stratus and used her as inspiration to begin training at age 18. Competing primarily in Louisiana and her native Texas, including in Booker T’s Reality of Wrestling organization, Salinas is equipped with a fast-moving style that is punctuated with notes of lucha libre craziness. Her bold outlook and persistent attack have earned her regional success, and if all goes according to Salinas’ plan, winning the Classic isn’t far behind.
Melina

## Bio

Melina began her career as a fashion model, but the wrestling bug bit the Los Angeles native in 2000 when she began training at the School of Hard Knocks in San Bernardino, Calif. She continued to work various wrestling shows, honing her in-ring abilities.

Her dream was finally realized in 2003 when WWE signed her in San Diego. Melina soon became known as a force to be reckoned with as a manager and then in the Divas division when she debuted on SmackDown as the manager of MNM (Mercury, Nitro and Melina). She credited the experience of training with both men and women for making her tougher and stronger. You simply must take the hits, she believed, and keep on going.

"I was always told I was too short, too fat, too small, too ugly or not good enough," Melina wrote in her WWE.com exclusive blog. "People would tell me every negative comment under the moon, and that I would never make it. I kept going. I knew in my heart that I could make it, and that I was meant for this. My love for wrestling and my determination got me through everything I had to endure."

Melina left WWE in August 2011. Despite having a relatively short tenure in WWE, she won three WWE Women's Championships and two WWE Divas Championships.
Total Divas: July 28, 2013

Welcome to the WWE

The WWE Divas begin their preparations for WrestleMania. Nikki starts to have doubts regarding her relationship with John. Cameron is embarrassed when her boyfriend ends up causing a scene backstage, with Naomi stuck in the middle.

## Recap

It’s a little more than a week before WrestleMania 29, and the Divas of WWE are getting restless. Personal, professional and romantic worlds collide for The Bella Twins, The Funkadactyls and Natalya on the eve of The Show of Shows, and the arrival of two newcomers only complicates matters for WWE’s warrior princesses on E!'s "Total Divas" premiere.

The Bellas, who recently returned after a nearly yearlong absence from WWE, are looking to re-establish themselves as the queen bees of WWE, and their scheduled WrestleMania mixed tag team match against The Funkadactyls is their best way to prove it. But while they look to hone their minds and bodies in preparation for WrestleMania, matters of the heart rear their head. Nikki Bella, concerned her relationship with John Cena isn’t progressing as fast as her sister Brie’s union with Daniel Bryan, confronts the 11-time WWE Champion about his intentions over dinner. Although The Champ stops short of putting a ring on it, Nikki leaves the New York City hot spot with his assurance that she’s the only woman for him.

Meanwhile, veteran Diva Natalya grapples with the disappointment of not only being left off the WrestleMania card, but also being assigned to “babysit” the two newest Diva hopefuls, Eva Marie and JoJo, for the week. Her wariness of the twosome only grows when Eva Marie is instructed to dye her brown locks blonde to differentiate her from The Bella Twins, but the newcomer defies orders and instead turns her hair fire-engine red. While Eva Marie’s gall impresses WWE officials, The Bellas still remain leery of the young lioness looking to take their spot, and engage in some friendly hazing to remind the newbies of who runs things.

The week comes to a head at WrestleMania itself, but all the petty rivalries are rocked in tandem when the Divas’ match is cut after the previous bout runs over its allotted time limit. Having been scrubbed from The Show of Shows, the five Divas put aside their differences and turn to each other for comfort and advice, as well as find friendship in shared disappointment … for now, at least.
Mixed Match Challenge: January 23, 2018

The A-Lister and The Empress of Tomorrow prove to be a dominant force together when they execute a double kick-fest on Big E & Carmella in their first-round WWE Mixed Match Challenge.

## Big E & Carmella vs. The Miz & Asuka

The second week of WWE Mixed Match Challenge kicked off with Raw General Manager Kurt Angle and SmackDown LIVE General Manager Daniel Bryan coming together to thank the WWE Universe for tuning in for last week’s historic first episode, exclusively on Facebook Watch.

With the stacked announce team of Michael Cole, Corey Graves and WWE Hall of Famer Beth Phoenix calling the action, the second week proved just as exciting, as the charismatic combination of Big E & Carmella (arriving in matching “Fabulous” gear) clashed with eight-time Intercontinental Champion The Miz & the undefeated Asuka.

In a frenzied match contested under traditional Mixed Tag Team rules, Big E kicked off the bout by toying with Miz. When Asuka tagged into the action, however, Carmella was quite hesitant to take her partner’s place. Big E calmed his partner’s nerves by encouraging the first-ever Ms. Money in the Bank to literally give her adversary an ”L” – a letter Asuka did away with in quick fashion. The Intercontinental Champion and Big E reengaged and traded control for a bit, before Carmella’s interference brought her Japanese foe back into the squared circle and led to Miz & Asuka punishing their opponents with ruthless “It" Kicks.

In the wake of that double-assault, Miz took charge and grounded his massive opponent in impressive fashion. When the ladies returned to center stage, however, The Princess of Staten Island surprised one and all when she caught The Empress of Tomorrow with a vicious kick. When she made the mistake of trash-talking a little too much and even slapped her undefeated opponent, however, Asuka suddenly took control with a running kick to the face and locked in her patented Armbar. When Miz pulled Big E off the apron, Carmella had no choice but to tap out to give Asuka & Miz a huge first-round win!

As the dust cleared on the hard-fought match, WWE MMC host Renee Young grabbed a post-match interview with the victorious mixed tag team. Though Asuka responded to her question about teaming with Miz in Japanese, The A-Lister was more than happy to “translate,” as he described the ways that The Empress of Tomorrow felt inspired by his championship example.

Whether Miz’s interpretation was on point or not, the impressive win moves the tandem one step closer to winning $100,000 for their charity, Rescue Dogs Rock. Together, the self-appointed “Awe-ska” will now set their sights on the next step in the groundbreaking tournament, a second-round battle against “The Boss Club,” Sasha Banks & Finn Bálor, in Week 7 of the Mixed Match Challenge.

Prior to that epic showdown, don’t miss next week’s first-round contest when Braun Strowman & Raw Women’s Champion Alexa Bliss collide with Sami Zayn & Becky Lynch. WWE Mixed Match Challenge airs every Tuesday night at 10 ET/7 PT, exclusively on Facebook Watch.

## Results

* The Miz & Asuka def. Big E & Carmella in Week 2 of WWE Mixed Match Challenge
Kaitlyn

## Bio

When Kaitlyn told the WWE NXT audience she was the kind of gal who’d kiss you behind the bleachers and then give you a wedgie, she wasn’t kidding.

Prior to her debut in WWE, the beautiful and spunky Diva spent years in competitive fitness and bodybuilding, resulting in a strong sense of confidence that she brings with her every time she steps into the squared circle. Of course, the guidance of her WWE Pro Vickie Guerrero didn’t hurt Kaitlyn’s odds in season three of WWE NXT, in which she rose above the pack to win the only all-female competition.

Kaitlyn then lit up cameras and busted up her opponents on SmackDown, where she previously aligned with her “bestie” AJ. As “The Chickbusters,” the two gal pals sought to cut a swath through the SmackDown Divas division and enjoyed the ride of a lifetime together. Although their friendship became fractured with AJ’s unstable outbursts, Kaitlyn focused on her goal of becoming Divas Champion. She made it one step closer after winning a Battle Royal on Raw to become the No. 1 contender.

Prior to her Divas Championship bout with Layla at Night of Champions, however, Kaitlyn was attacked in the locker room area by a mystery assailant and was rendered unable to compete that night. As Kaitlyn was being tended to by WWE medical personnel, SmackDown General Manager Booker T’s assistant Eve informed the injured Superstar that her title opportunity would be postponed to a later date. On the 20th anniversary of Raw, Kaitlyn finally dethroned Eve with a hard-hitting spear to capture the Divas Championship in her hometown of Houston.

The beautiful Superstar soon began receiving gifts from a secret admirer. Curious as to who was chasing her affections, Kaitlyn was publically humiliated on Raw when it was revealed that it was her former friend AJ who orchestrated the whole thing. The Divas Champion was then defeated for the title by AJ at WWE Payback, crushing Kaitlyn’s spirit and further adding to her mounting emotional trauma. A personal rivalry followed as AJ mocked Kaitlyn’s physical appearance in an effort to mentally break her down. Although shaken, Kaitlyn looked primed going into her Divas Title opportunity against her former friend at Money in the Bank, but a vulnerable elbow ultimately led to her demise.

At Survivor Series Kaitlyn participated in a seven-on-seven traditional tag team elimination match as her team took on the cast of Total Divas. Kaitlyn managed two eliminations before she was eliminated, with her team ultimately losing the match.

On Jan. 8, 2014, Kaitlyn lost to friend-turned-foe-turned-friend, AJ Lee, and then decided to leave WWE.
Summer Rae

## Bio

They say behind every great man is a great woman. Clearly, Summer Rae took that old saying to heart, because nearly every up-and-coming villain seems to have this devious Superstar hanging on their arm and whispering in their ear at equal measure.

In addition to proving her own mettle in the ring as a submission expert in WWE NXT, Summer has established a reputation as a kingmaker on the main roster, helping guide Fandango, Rusev and Tyler Breeze through their formative months in WWE. Under her guidance and influence, Fandango became a viral sensation, Rusev rebounded from a debilitating injury and Breeze cemented himself as an immediate threat upon his main roster debut.

So, if you’re looking for a Superstar to start a revolution, look no further than the perky blond with the blinding smile and golden hair. Just make sure you bring sunscreen, because this Summer stings.

## Release

WWE.com released a statement on October 29, 2017:

*WWE has come to terms on the releases of WWE Superstars Emma, Darren Young and Summer Rae. WWE wishes them the best in all of their future endeavors.*
RAW 1257: June 26, 2017

## Episode recap

#### **The Miz & The Miztourage vs. Dean Ambrose, Heath Slater & Rhyno**

First, the bad news for The Miz: Despite landing one of the bigger coups in “Miz TV” history when he had Los Angeles Lakers draft pick Lonzo Ball, his brother LaMelo and his father LaVar as guests, LaVar passed up an opportunity to merge The Miz with Big Baller Brand in favor of Dean Ambrose, who wore a Big Baller Brand shirt to the ring as proof of the collaboration.

The good news, at least, is that the Intercontinental Champion and his Miztourage won the day nevertheless: Heath Slater & Rhyno joined Ambrose in a Six-Man Tag against the entire Miztourage, and despite a formidable effort by Slater & Rhyno, Curtis Axel and Bo Dallas came through for their new benefactor.

While Ambrose chased Miz around the ring and commanded the ref’s attention, Axel hit Rhyno with a cheap shot, and Bo rolled up The Man Beast for three.

#### **Women's Gauntlet Match**

For weeks, the ladies of the Raw Women’s division have been fighting among themselves to get an opportunity at Alexa Bliss. And, in a historic Women’s Gauntlet Match to determine who will contend for the Raw Women’s Title at the WWE Great Balls of Fire pay-per-view, one woman finally rose above the pack to get such an opportunity: Sasha Banks.

The Boss had to go through the toughest possible opponent: No. 2 entrant Nia Jax, who started the bout by snuffing out Bayley’s (No. 1) attempt to get back in the Raw Women’s Title picture and followed up by dispatching Mickie James, Dana Brooke and Emma at Nos. 3, 4 and 5, respectively, before The Boss finally made her entrance at No. 6.

Despite a veritable onslaught by the powerful Jax, Banks slowly chipped away at her foe by simply refusing to stay down, finally finding daylight with a Shining Wizard and muscling Nia down with a modified Bank Statement that earned the submission victory. After Raw General Manager Kurt Angle arrived to congratulate Banks, Bliss hit the scene to mean-mug her, but The Boss got the last word by dropkicking the champ and snatching the Raw Women’s Title for a demoralizing game of keep-away.

Of course, complacency is not an option. One big fight is over, but another is two weeks away.

## Featured Superstars

* Maryse
* Nia Jax
* Bayley
* Sasha Banks
* Alexa Bliss
* Dana Brooke
* Mickie James

## Results

1. Intercontinental Champion The Miz & The Miztourage (w/ Maryse) def. Dean Ambrose, Heath Slater & Rhyno
2. Sasha Banks won a Women’s Gauntlet Match to challenge Alexa Bliss for the Raw Women’s Title at the WWE Great Balls of Fire pay-per-view; in order of elimination: Bayley pinned by Nia Jax, Mickie James pinned by Nia Jax, Dana Brooke pinned by Nia Jax, Emma pinned by Nia Jax, Nia Jax submitted by Sasha Banks.
Total Bellas: October 18, 2017

Countdown to Mania

Nicole is determined to get back in the ring in time for WrestleMania; J.J. decides to renew his vows with Lauren, while Brie and Bryan get things in order before the birth of their daughter.

## Recap

Nikki Bella is heading back to the doctor on this week’s Total Bellas, and nobody seems to know what to expect because they’re not exactly sure where she hurt her neck or how much this time she will miss. And, while it turns out that she did, indeed, do a number on herself and is all but ordered by her doctor to retire, he gives her the all clear to compete in one more match — WrestleMania — as long as she limits herself to the forearm and the Rack Attack 2.0. So, not only does Nikki plan to send herself off into the sunset properly, rumors have also begun to swirl that John Cena is going to propose to her at the show. There’s even a Vegas prop bet with some halfway decent odds, which Daniel Bryan encourages Nikki to lay some money on. Either way, he says, she wins. Tough to argue with that.

Having made some serious progress in marriage counseling, JJ tells Lauren he wants to renew their vows to symbolize their ongoing commitment to each other. The Bellas, of course, tend to think their brother drops the ball when it comes to big moments, so they aren’t holding out hope that he’ll come through in the clutch. Impressively, JJ flips the script, refusing to divulge any of his plans and pretending, at first, like they’re going to have the ceremony in a pub. But not only did he organize a lovely outdoor ceremony, he very quietly asked Daniel Bryan to be the officiant, and it goes off without a hitch. JJ, you did good.

Brie Bella is about two weeks out from giving birth, and she’s waited long enough to choose where she is going to have the baby. (There’s also a brief debate over whether Winston and Josie need extra training before Birdie arrives.) In keeping with their more naturalistic lifestyle, Brie and Daniel Bryan are leaning toward a home birth and even go so far as to consult a doula to figure out the logistics. But the family pokes about 100 holes in the plan when Brie announces the home birth option, convincing her that she shouldn’t be too far from a hospital should complications arise. So, while they decide to stick to a natural birth, they plan to have Birdie in a hospital after all.
Aksana

## Bio

With more curves than the Monaco Grand Prix, this leather-clad Lithuanian came to WWE from the world of international bodybuilding competition and fitness modeling. Aksana debuted on the third season of WWE NXT, immediately setting herself apart as a feisty (and flirty) competitor and showcasing impressive strength and determination.

Following her brief marriage to Goldust on NXT, she cozied up to more of the powerful men of the WWE Universe, including Antonio Cesaro and Teddy Long. But Aksana was determined to shake up the Divas Division.

With her eye on the Divas Championship and determined to leave her mark in WWE, Aksana competed at WrestleMania and also earned victories over Divas Champions The Bella Twins and Natalya.
Kayla Braxton

## Bio

From mediating locker-room showdowns between hulking Superstars to hosting NXT Live Events in a city near you, Kayla Braxton has mastered a variety of roles since joining the NXT broadcast team in 2016.

A graduate of Belmont University’s broadcast journalism program, Braxton came to NXT from the world of television news, having hosted her own entertainment segment on WESH 2 News in Orlando, Fla. Yet, addressing huge audiences is far from a recent development for Braxton: As a teenager, she participated in public-speaking competitions, and at the tender age of 17, Braxton even spoke in front of President George W. Bush at the White House.

Now that she is a member of sports-entertainment’s hottest brand, Braxton is charged with getting backstage scoops and asking the tough questions, a demanding task she handles with aplomb on behalf of the passionate NXT Universe.
Dakota Kai

## Bio

If you’ve seen a woman kick her opponent so hard that chirping cartoon birds pop out at any point over the last 10 years, there’s a good chance it was New Zealand’s Dakota Kai doing the kicking.

A former high school track-and-field standout, Kai claims to be your ordinary girl next door, but we’ve yet to live next to someone who can jack jaws the way Kai does. The kick-happy Kiwi perfected her striking ability on the international independent scene for years, competing from Australasia to Japan to the United Kingdom, before joining the WWE Performance Center in 2017.

Kai’s introduction to the WWE Universe came months later, during the inaugural Mae Young Classic, where The Captain of Team Kick stomped her way to the Quarterfinals before being ousted by eventual tournament winner Kairi Sane. Now a member of the NXT roster, Kai looks to build upon her already-impressive resume, one kick at a time.
Dasha Fuentes

## Bio

Dasha Fuentes brings a unique perspective to the SmackDown LIVE broadcast team.

Joining NXT from the beauty pageant world, Fuentes is the perfect combination of poise, grace and intelligence. She studied microbiology and molecular biology at the University of Central Florida while competing in pageants and winning a number of titles, including Miss UCF and Miss Volusia County.

She also has an athletic background, excelling in swimming, diving and gymnastics. That helped her when she began training to become a Superstar at the WWE Performance Center in 2014. A knee injury sidelined her that summer, and the door opened for her to become part of NXT as an on-camera personality, but in a different role.

Now, as a backstage reporter, Fuentes has come to SmackDown LIVE to help provide the WWE Universe with the latest reactions from their favorite Superstars every week on USA Network!
RAW 1253: May 29, 2017

## Episode recap

#### **Dean Ambrose & The Hardy Boyz vs. The Miz, Cesaro & Sheamus**

It is a truth universally acknowledged that nearly every episode of “Miz TV” ends with the host catching hands, but The A-Lister’s sit-down with Cesaro & Sheamus ended badly even by those standards when Dean Ambrose and The Hardy Boyz came a-callin’ and scrapped with their WWE Extreme Rules opponents in Raw’s opening moments.

Despite the beating dished out by the Intercontinental and Raw Tag Team Champions, the impromptu Six-Man matchup that ensued from the fracas provided a unique opportunity for Miz — who will challenge for Ambrose’s title on Sunday — and Cesaro & Sheamus — who’ll make a play for the Hardys’ — to gain some momentum heading into Sunday.

Alas, no dice: After being isolated from the Hardys for an significant portion of the match, The Lunatic Fringe summoned Jeff Hardy into the fray. The Charismatic Enigma quickly tagged in his brother Matt, who survived a wild brawl to hit Twist of Fate on The Miz, teeing up Jeff for the fateful Swanton Bomb.

#### **Rich Swann vs. Noam Dar**

Noam Dar and Alicia Fox’s power-couple routine has gone from dramatic to dastardly in the last few weeks, leaving Sasha Banks in tatters on Raw and Rich Swann clipped on 205 Live. And with The Boss and Swann set to join forces against their tormentors in a Mixed-Tag Match on Sunday, Swann gave them a much-needed boost by snuffing out The Scottish Supernova in singles action on Raw.

That’s not to say he simply showed up and won, as Dar started the match by jumping Swann from behind and administering an impressive beating to the former WWE Cruiserweight Champion. When Swann began to fight back to take the advantage, Alicia climbed up to the apron to distract him. The Boss responded by tripping her up and Swann did the rest, planting Dar with a Phoenix Splash before sharing an impressive victory dance with Sasha. As for Alicia and Dar, the only question is: Can they handle this?

#### **Alexa Bliss presented "Bayley: This Is Your Life"**

Many moons ago, Mankind presented The Rock with “This Is Your Life” as a sign of his friendship. But on this week's Raw, Alexa Bliss emceed a sinister variation of the legendary ceremony with the sole intent of exposing Bayley as a softie who couldn’t get extreme enough to defeat her in a Kendo Stick on a Pole Match this Sunday.

Bliss brought out Bayley’s old teacher, childhood friend and ex-boyfriend, all of whom offered some variation of the testimony that the former Raw Women’s Champion was too nice for her own good. She might still be: When Bayley brawled with Alexa following The Wicked Witch of WWE’s fighting words, the champ once again drilled Bayley with a Kendo stick and sent her No. 1 contender in retreat, leaving The Huggable One humiliated, hurt and with more questions than answers as Sunday’s title match approaches.

## Results

1. Intercontinental Champion Dean Ambrose & Raw Tag Team Champions The Hardy Boyz def. The Miz (w/ Maryse), Cesaro & Sheamus
2. Rich Swann (w/ Sasha Banks) def. Noam Dar (w/ Alicia Fox)
Nicole Matthews

There might not be another athlete in the Mae Young Classic with more upside than Wales’ Tegan Nox. With an exciting, daredevil ring style that is impossible to ignore, the 23-year-old phenom joined the WWE Performance Center in 2017 and was slated to take part in the inaugural Mae Young Classic until a devastating ACL tear suffered in training prevented her from competing.

Known for being able to deliver a vicious, match-ending Shining Wizard knee strike from practically any angle inside the ring, Nox has been ordained “The Girl with the Shiniest Wizard.” And, thanks to her new titanium knee brace, the moniker is more appropriate than ever. Looking to put her young career on the fast track, Tegan now plans to use her dreaded strike to carry her to the top of the Mae Young Classic.
Aliyah

## Bio

Young, bold and boundlessly athletic, Aliyah welcomes the spotlight, perhaps because she’s no stranger to it. The WWE Universe has tracked her journey to Superstardom, beginning with appearances on the WWE Network original series Breaking Ground (where cameras documented Aliyah’s days training in the Performance Center) and extending to her first steps inside the NXT ring as a competitor.

Aliyah knew her future was in sports-entertainment the moment she saw Beth Phoenix and Mickie James battle on Raw in her hometown of Toronto. However, Aliyah’s path to the squared circle was an indirect one that started with circus training as a teenager, which allowed her to increase her flexibility and master her body movement — qualities that pay dividends inside the ring and spell trouble for her opponents. Now that she has traded trapezes for full nelsons, Aliyah’s sights are set on dominating NXT’s stacked Women’s division.
Total Divas: November 17, 2013

Nurse Nikki

Nikki Bella decides to move in with John. Eva Marie is tasked with being an announcer on live television.

## Recap

Eva Marie gets another chance for a big break, but violates the 11th Commandment – #DontHinderJinder – when she completely forgets Jinder Mahal's name during a guest stint as a ring announcer. Jinder is, obviously, somewhat peeved by all this, though Heath Slater is a bit more conciliatory. Despite claiming a moral victory in that she didn't try to cheat her way out of this mess, Eva's brain fart lands her in the doghouse (again) with WWE execs, who are rapidly running out of options as to what to do with her.

There's a fungus among us, and it has taken up residence in the big toe of Jimmy Uso. It's actually pretty gnarly – the poor guy's foot makes him look like Patient Zero of the zombie apocalypse – yet he only goes to a doctor after it gets bad enough to trip him up during a match. The doc cleans him up in a flash, but it turns out that Naomi (Trinity) has caught whatever creeping crud has infested Jimmy's foot, and they end the episode with His and Hers topical ointments to clear up the gunk. Adorable.

Over in Bella-land, Daniel Bryan's doing pretty well as WWE’s de facto "top guy" in John Cena's absence, but the increased demand on his time is starting to put a wee bit of pressure on his relationship with Brie Bella. Meanwhile, Nikki Bella is attempting to nurse the ailing Cena back to health after his surgery – complete with nurse's outfit – while also undergoing the process of moving her stuff into his place.

Proving that timing is everything, Cena picks this exact moment to spring a "cohabitation agreement" on Nikki that basically gives him the legal right to evict her from the premises if the relationship goes belly-up. It’s a necessary evil, one he fully realizes he may not have handled all that well. Worse, his “just in case” protestations are lost on Nikki, who’s somewhat upset by this turn of events – and by "somewhat" we mean she storms out of The Champ's abode, absconds with a Maserati and hits the road like Stallone in "Rocky IV" to work through her emotions. Sometimes there really is no easy way out
Total Divas: December 8, 2013

Saying Goodbye

Naomi (Trinity) grows tired of Jon's jealous ways. Nikki Bella and Brie Bella continue their feud. Natalya and TJ are devastated when they have to euthanize their pet.

## Recap

So, let’s get the depressing part of the latest "Total Divas" out of the way first: Natalya and Tyson Kidd’s (TJ) beloved pet cat, Gismo, is on his last legs after suffering a stroke, and the couple is left with no choice but to euthanize him when it becomes clear that his quality of life won’t be up to par. Given that Gismo kept Tyson’s company throughout his recovery, the poor guy’s passing hits him particularly hard. So much so, in fact, that Tyson’s nearly unable to bring himself to compete in his first match back from injury. Of course, he battles through the pain, but the loss hangs heavy over the Kidd/Neidhart clan … until a solution is reached and Tyson brings home a new kitten, who is immediately doffed in a goofy pink bib and christened King Louis. As Lemmy once said: bow down to the King

While this takes place, Nikki Bella’s long layoff is starting to raise issues with both WWE management and Brie Bella herself as to how serious she is about getting back in the ring. Nikki insists it’s a priority, although she seems a bit too comfortable applying muscle stims to John Cena’s pecs to convince anyone of this, and Brie and her twin have it out over a tense brunch with all the Divas in attendance. Nikki actually ends the episode on a bit of a down note when she and Eva Marie are bumped as Brie’s valets during Night of Champions, though she resolves to both fight back from adversity and find some joy in her sister’s burgeoning solo career, so the slump clearly won’t last too long.

For the second time in as many weeks, Jimmy Uso (Jon) and Naomi (Trinity) are butting heads. First, it’s over the outfit Naomi picks for a JET magazine shoot – it’s a bit too skimpy for Jimmy’s taste – and then over a plan by WWE executives that would pair Naomi with a new male Superstar. Jimmy’s jealousy kicks into overdrive and he tries to nip the arrangement in the bud. Unfortunately, it lands Naomi in hot water with the brass and – more importantly – Jimmy in hot water with Naomi. It looks worse than usual for a while, though a heartfelt confession heals all wounds at the 11th hour.
Championship milestones

## Championships won

### **8 titles won**

* Charlotte Flair (NXT Women's Championship, Divas Championship, 4x Raw Women’s Championship, 2x SmackDown Women's Championship)
* Trish Stratus (7x Women's Championship, Hardcore Champion)

### **6 titles won**

* Mickie James (5x Women's Championship, Divas Championship)

### **5 titles won**

* Alexa Bliss (2x SmackDown Women's Championship, 3x Raw Women’s Championship)
* Sasha Banks (NXT Women's Championship, 4x Raw Women’s Championship)

### **4 titles won**

* Fabulous Moolah (4x Women's Championship)
* Lita (4x Women's Championship)

### **3 titles won**

* Alundra Blayze (3x Women's Championship)
* Chyna (2x Intercontinental Champion, Women's Championship)
* Ivory (3x Women's Championship)
* Jacqueline (2x Women's Championship, Cruiserweight Champion)
* Molly Holly (2x Women's Championship, Hardcore Champion)

### **2 titles won**

* Bayley (NXT Women's Championship, Raw Women’s Championship)
* Jazz (2x Women's Championship)
* Maryse (2x Divas Championship)
* Naomi (2x SmackDown Women's Championship)
* Natalya (Divas Championship, SmackDown Women's Championship)
* Nikki Bella (2x Divas Championship)
* Victoria (2x Women's Championship)

### **1 title won**

* Asuka (NXT Women's Championship)
* Becky Lynch (SmackDown Women's Championship)
* Brie Bella (Divas Championship)
* Bull Nakano (Women's Championship)
* Candice Michelle (Women's Championship)
* Carmella (SmackDown Women's Championship)
* Debra (Women's Championship)
* Gail Kim (Women's Championship)
* Ember Moon (NXT Women's Championship)
* Jillian Hall (Divas Championship)
* Kairi Sane (NXT Women's Championship)
* The Kat (Women's Championship)
* Kelly Kelly (Divas Championship)
* Leilani Kai (Women's Championship)
* Nia Jax (Raw Women's Championship)
* Rockin' Robin (Women's Championship)
* Ronda Rousey (Raw Women’s Championship)
* Sable (Women's Championship)
* Sensational Sherri (Women's Championship)
* Shayna Baszler (NXT Women's Championship)
* Stephanie McMahon (Women's Championship)
* Terri Runnels (Hardcore Champion)
* Velvet McIntyre (Women's Championship)
* Wendi Richter (Women's Championship)

## Other milestones

### Money in the Bank winners

1. Carmella (2017)
2. Carmella (2017) (Rematch on SmackDown Live)
3. Alexa Bliss (2018)
RAW 1252: May 22, 2017

## Episode recap

#### **Elias Samson vs. Dean Ambrose**

Elias Samson finally wandered through one too many confrontations on Raw when he interrupted Raw General Manager Kurt Angle’s business, but The Olympic Hero had to be pleasantly surprised when his planned punishment for the roaming balladeer — a match with Dean Ambrose — instead turned into a showcase for Samson’s abilities.

After foretelling The Lunatic Fringe’s doom in song, Samson absolutely overwhelmed the Intercontinental Champion, much to the delight of The Miz at commentary. Ambrose managed to fight his way back and looked to have momentum on his side until Miz rushed the ring and cheap-shotted Samson, costing Ambrose the match on a disqualification ruling. (Remember, Ambrose will lose his title if that happens at Extreme Rules.)

The Lunatic Fringe gave chase to Miz, but Samson attacked from behind and administered a swinging neckbreaker to the champion, proving he’ll stroll wherever he pleases and back it up when called upon, as well.

#### **Alicia Fox vs. Sasha Banks**

The rubber match of Raw’s recent Sasha Banks-Alicia Fox series goes to The Boss, though she might not be as free of Alicia as she’d hoped.

The former Raw Women’s Champion dispatched Fox in relatively short order to earn what she called her “freedom” from Fox’s eccentricities. Alicia’s boyfriend, Noam Dar, got in Banks’ face the second the match was over in defense of his lady love, which earned him a slap across the face. Foxy responded by blasting Banks from behind and knocking her to the mat with a Scissor Kick.

#### **Alexa Bliss vs. Mickie James**

Last week, Alexa Bliss went to town on Bayley with a Kendo stick and, while the attack led to a Kendo Stick on a Pole stipulation for their title rematch (short version: Whoever grabs the stick first gets to use it), it didn’t sit well at all with The Huggable One’s friend, Mickie James. So, the onetime La Luchadora attempted to teach the Raw Women’s Champion a lesson on Monday night, though Bliss quickly flipped the syllabus on its head for the veteran Superstar.

It only took one big move to do it, too, as Mickie had been in the driver’s seat for the majority of the match until The Goddess of WWE straight-up punched James in the face. Bliss pounced with her DDT to win the match, then produced the Kendo stick to dispatch James. She only got one hit in, though, before Bayley rushed the ring and seized hold of the equalizer, sending Bliss scurrying in wide-eyed terror.

## Results

1. Sasha Banks def. Alicia Fox
2. Raw Women's Champion Alexa Bliss def. Mickie James