Tuesday 2nd July (Smackdown 1036)
Bayley Def. Nikki Cros
​
Fresh off their exchange on “A Moment of Bliss,” Bayley and Nikki Cross went at it with Cross looking to wear down the SmackDown Women’s Champion ahead of her title defense against Alexa Bliss at the fast-approaching WWE Extreme Rules.
Cross brought her furious brand of offense right to Bayley, but The Hugger caught Cross with the Bayley-to-Belly for the win.
Tuesday 9th July (Smackdown 1037)
Extreme Rules Contract Signing
​
​
Fresh off the blockbuster announcement on last night’s Raw that Bayley, would be forced to defend her SmackDown Women’s Championship against both Alexa Bliss & Nikki Cross in a 2-on-1 Handicap Match at WWE Extreme Rules, Bayley and Cross sat down to make it official.
The Hugger continued to slam Nikki for blindly following Bliss, though Cross still persisted that The Hugger had it all wrong. Nikki stated that she just wanted to help a friend and vowed to do so when she and Alexa would become co-SmackDown Women’s Champions at Extreme Rules. Nikki then doubled down with the bold claims, telling Bayley to stick around and watch her upcoming match with Carmella for a preview of what was coming her way this Sunday.
Clearly looking to make an impression on Bayley and Alexa Bliss ahead of WWE Extreme Rules, Nikki Cross brought the fight to Carmella.
Carmella refused to give in, but Cross had no interest in relenting on the pressure. Princess Mella was defiant to the end, slapping Nikki across the face and following up with an onslaught when Cross briefly set her focus on Bayley, who was at ringside. However, Nikki halted Mella’s fury by connecting with the swinging neckbreaker for the win. A victorious Cross mounted the ropes and continued to talk trash to Bayley at ringside, who barked back at The Twisted Sister while holding her title in the air.
Tuesday 16th July (Smackdown 1038)
Bayley & Ember Moon Def. Mandy Rose & Sonya Deville
​
Last week, Mandy Rose & Sonya Deville challenged Ember Moon to a tag team match if Ember could find a partner. Well, Moon not only found a partner, but a partner in the way of SmackDown Women’s Champion Bayley.
​
Fire & Desire appeared to be undeterred by the choice though, attacking Ember & Bayley before the bell and getting the jump on them in the early goings. However, The Hugger and The Shenom immediately clicked as a unit, with Bayley taking down Deville with the Bayley-to-Belly Suplex and Moon stopping God’s Greatest Creation in her tracks with a dazzling Eclipse to put Rose away for the win.
​
After the match, Bayley was pressed on who she wanted to defend the SmackDown Women’s Title against next, and after mulling it over, Bayley made it obvious that she thought Ember would be a great choice. An ecstatic Moon belted out an enthusiastic “Hell yeah!” to the delight of the WWE Universe.
Tuesday 23rd July (Smackdown 1039)
​
​
Prior to challenging Bayley for the SmackDown Women’s Championship at SummerSlam, The War Goddess looks to prove herself to The Queen, as The Hugger observes the action. Charlotte got distracted as Bayley entered which allowed Ember to roll up the Queen for a win. After the match Ember sent a message and threw Bayley into the ring and hit her with the eclipse.
Tuesday 30th July (Smackdown 1040)
Bayley & Ember Moon vs Alexa Bliss & Nikki Cross
​
​
Despite their upcoming SmackDown Women’s Championship Match against one another at SummerSlam, Bayley & Ember Moon teamed up on the blue brand to take on Alexa Bliss & Nikki Cross.
Bliss & Cross attempted to use their familiarity with one another to their advantage, preying on The Hugger and The Shenom’s inexperience as a unit, but Bayley and Ember were unphased from the jump. After being steadily beaten down by Bliss & Cross, Bayley finally made a clutch tag to Moon. Ember looked to have the match won when she leveled Cross with the Eclipse, but The Goddess was the legal competitor, and she blindsided Ember and finished her off with Twisted Bliss for the 1-2-3.
The hits would literally just keep coming for Moon after the match when Bayley seemingly just wanted to check on her. With SummerSlam and perhaps some retribution in mind, however, Bayley returned the favor from last week by dropping Ember with a Bayley-to-Belly.
