I would like to say that I preplanned this for the anniversary, but anyone that knows anything about me would see through it instantly. Melina makes her way out first as my WWE Network skips and Lawler loves the entrance, who would have guessed? Melina won a 6 Divas battle royal for this title shot. Beth Phoenix makes her way out with Santino Marella, her Slammy award and title belt.
Jerry “The King” Lawler and Michael Cole are on
commentary for this match.
BETH PHOENIX © VS.
MELINA
(WWE Women’s Championship)
WWE Royal Rumble 2009 (25th January 2009)
They lock up and Beth Phoenix slams Melina to the mat. Melina gets a headlock but Phoenix is able to break the grip and throws Melina over her shoulder before putting her in a bearhug from behind. The crowd is chanting for Santino Marella early on.
Melina breaks free with elbows and stomping on Phoenix’s foot. Melina hits the ropes for a right hand and a standing dropkick but runs into a shoulder block from the champion. Beth Phoenix knocks Melina back with a European uppercut and sends her off the ropes. Melina with a headscissors into an armbar on Phoenix, who is able to pretty much stay on her feet. Melina brings Phoenix to one knee and connects with elbow strikes before standing over the armbar. Phoenix just picks Melina up and walks around the ring, sending her into the top turnbuckle. Melina doesn’t let Beth get anything going as Phoenix runs into a back elbow in the corner. Melina climbs onto Beth’s shoulders but is flung to the mat. That looked scary. Santino Marella liked that more than Melina did, Beth Phoenix hits the running arse attack in the corner and an alley oop brings Melina away from the ropes for a cover, but Melina kicks out at 1. Beth Phoenix hooks in a modified boston crab (she’s positioned as if she’s putting her in an ankle lock but the leg is in the crab.)
Melina crawls towards the ropes and Beth drags her back towards
the centre of the ring, Beth Phoenix bends Melina’s leg so she kicks herself in
the head! The referee backs Beth away, she boots Melina in the head but walks
into a kick to the midsection. Melina uses the ropes to get her legs on Phoenix’s
shoulders and kicks her, but runs into a falling sidewalk slam from Beth Phoenix!
Melina kicks out at 2 as Santino calls to finish it. Beth Phoenix puts Melina
on the top turnbuckle and lifts her overhead. Melina slips out the back of the
Gorilla Press slam but can’t roll up Beth. Melina hits the jawbreaker and
connects with forearms as she gets to her feet. Melina hits the ropes, baseball
slide under a clothesline and she’s almost caught in a powerbomb until she
escapes with a sunset flip for 2. Melina sends Beth into the middle rope with a
drop toe hold ala Rey Mysterio and connects with double knees to the
back. A screaming hair facebuster by Melina gets a nearfall. Beth Phoenix
powers Melina into the corner but runs into the double boots. Melina hits a
seated senton from the middle rope but can’t capitalize. She catches Beth with
a mule kick.
Melina
looks to put Phoenix in an inverted DDT position but Melina ducks the kick or
leg drop (someone will tell me what the fuck it’s supposed to
be). Melina counters a Glam Slam into a rollup for the sudden
win.
WINNER: MELINA
This was a good
match for the time it got. There was an awkward moment after the failed rollup,
but they recovered nicely and the match seemed to pick up because of it towards
the end. The basic story of Beth overpowering Melina at every turn and Melina
having to get what offense she could whilst protecting her back worked well and
it was a good match, especially for this era. [**] 3.75/10
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