Michael Cole, Jerry “The King” Lawler, and Booker T are on commentary for this match. Before the match, Santino Marella is getting ready for his match, paying homage to Rocky. Beth Phoenix enters with the belt in her hands “She wears that championship with pride” - mistimed by Booker T. Michael Cole takes an age making the point of Phoenix studying Roddy Piper and Jimmy Snuka for this match. Tamina enters and every sentence relates back to her father, Jimmy Snuka, if you hadn't guessed.
BETH PHOENIX © VS. TAMINA SNUKA (WWE Divas Championship)
WWE Eliminstions Chamber 2012 (19th February 2012)
As the bell rings, Lawler makes the second reference to the famous Piper's Pit segment with Roddy smashing a coconut over Jimmy Snuka's head. Beth Phoenix holds the ropes open for Tamina, telling her to get out of the ring. She starts mocking Tamina Snuka who gets the first offense with open-palm strikes and clubbing blows. Tamina Snuka ducks a clothesline, leapfrogs and a back chop knocks the champion down for a nearfall. Beth Phoenix gets a kick to the gut but the headbutt doesn't go as planned, Tamina knocks Phoenix down again with a jumping headbutt, Tamina goes out to the apron but Phoenix knocks her to the floor with a shoulder barge. Beth Phoenix kicks Tamina in the gut, she slams the back of Tamina's head into the floor and gets some ground and pound before getting back in the ring. Phoenix mocks the Snukas, Tamina beats the count at 8 but Beth Phoenix immediately hits an elbow drop. She lays in elbows to the midsection and covers but Tamina kicks out at 1.
Beth Phoenix puts Tamina in a chinlock as Cole says Phoenix thinks there's a lack of competition, Tamina starts making it to her feet, she elbows at Phoenix who drops her to the mat. Phoenix locks in a dragonsleeper, working it for a long time before Tamina starts getting to her feet, Tamina fights back with forearms and a European uppercut.She its a Samoan drop and climbs to the top rope, but Beth Phoenix cuts her off with right hands, climbing up and hitting a superplex back into the ring. The referee starts counting them downn but Phoenix makes it to the ropes and rises again. Why did they never play off her name to feed her comebacks? Anyway, they exchange right hands, Tamina jumps and hits a double overhand chop. She hits an overhand chop and a knife-edge chop then a short-arm clothesline takes Beth Phoenix off her feet. Tamina runs at her with a back elbow then sends Phoenix into the corner. Tamina Snuka hits a Stinger splash, Phoenix stumbles out of the corner into a Superkick. Lawler tells Tamina to cover, one time I don't want a divas match to end early. Tamina Snuka hits the Superfly Splash! 1, 2, Phoenix kicks out at 2 ½. The champion rolls out of the ring as Tamina Snuka goes for another, Tamina brings the match back into the ring, but gets sent into the corner. Beth Phoenix hits the Glam Slam for the win.
WINNER: BETH PHOENIX (STILL WWE Divas Champion)
There were a few issues, firstly the dragon sleeper could have been shortened to give Tamina a bit more of the match, also the attack at ringside keeping Tamina down until 8. I could see it with a more petite diva, but Tamina was known as a Warrior Princess! Except those things the match was fine, a serviceable match. *3/4 2/10.
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