Diva Digest for August 17, 2013

With just over 24 hours until the biggest pay-per-view event of the summer, SummerSlam, Diva Digest returns with a look at all of the late breaking news surrounding the WWE Divas as the big night approaches.

Maria Menounos to wrestle at Axxess
It was announced earlier this week that Maria Menounos, host of Extra, will return to the ring this weekend at WWE Axxess. In a big tag team match, she will team with Natalya to meet Brie Bella and newcomer Eva Marie. As is the case most of the time these days, the hype for the match spilled over to Twitter with Natalya issuing the initial challenge.

"

If @nicoleandbri are so tough, Maybe they would like to tango with myself and @mariamenounos if Nikki is cleared. A #TotalDiva has spoken!

— Natalya (@NatbyNature) August 12, 2013"

The Bellas responded:

"

Don't worry @NatbyNature and @mariamenounos consider the match made! Don't worry we'll find a partner, Bella Style!

— The Bella Twins (@nicoleandbri) August 12, 2013"

Unfazed by the twins' comments, Menounos responded in a Tweet of her own.

"

"@nicoleandbri Don't worry @NatbyNature + @mariamenounos consider matchmade! Dont worrywe'll find a partner,BellaStyle!"as if I'm worried...

— maria menounos (@mariamenounos) August 12, 2013"

Then it was time for Brie and Nikki to make their choice.

"

We have discussed & chosen Brie's tag partner 4 Axxess. We feel she needs a warm up 2 the #SummerSlam match... So @natalieevamarie congrats!

— The Bella Twins (@nicoleandbri) August 14, 2013"

And finally, Eva Marie expressed her gratitude to the former Divas champions.

"

@nicoleandbri OMG Im so excited thank you guys so much can't wait! I won't let you down☺😘

— Eva Marie (@natalieevamarie) August 14, 2013"

The fact that the company decided to hold the match at Axxess rather than on the actual pay-per-view broadcast says a lot about their confidence in all involved to perform at the high level expected on major events.

At the same time, the addition of Maria Menounos to the match will bring with it media attention. Considering the success of Total Divas to this point, more eyes on the stars of the show can only be a good thing.

With a singles match announced for SummerSlam and both Maria and Eva Marie in attendance, it looks like Saturday's festivities could very well spill over to Sunday night.

Success of Total Divas results in match on SummerSlam card
On Monday's Raw, during a backstage segment involving the Bella Twins, Eva Marie and Natalya, it was announced that Natalya would meet Brie Bella in a singles match at SummerSlam.

The match is undoubtedly in response to Total Divas becoming a legitimate breakout hit for E! Network and will give two women who, under normal circumstances, probably would not have been given the opportunity to appear on the card the chance to do just that.

With a show as stacked as Sunday's pay-per-view currently is, it is unlikely that the two crossover stars will have much time to perform in front of the Los Angeles crowd. It will be important for them to leave an impression.

There will be plenty of opportunity for extracurricular activity during Maria Menounos and Natalya's scheduled match against Brie and newcomer Eva Marie during Saturday's Axxess.

The Bellas have been positioned as the stars of Total Divas, but with the potential for interference from Menounous, as well as coverage of the event on her daily entertainment show Extra, look for Natalya to score a victory over the cunning and devious Brie.

Elsewhere on the SummerSlam card...
Also appearing at SummerSlam will be Divas champion AJ Lee and Kaitlyn. AJ will team with first-year breakout star Big E. Langston to take on Kaitlyn and former World Heavyweight Champion Dolph Ziggler. The meeting will be the first mixed tag match at the event since 2008, when Beth Phoenix teamed with Santino Marella to defeat Kofi Kingston and Mickie James.

The match will potentially bring to an end the rivalry between former best friends over the Divas title. At June's Payback pay-per-view, AJ defeated Kaitlyn in a Divas Match of the Year candidate, then successfully retained the title a month later at Money in the Bank.

On SmackDown, the final stop on the road to SummerSlam, AJ gained some much-needed momentum by scoring a win over Kaitlyn and Natalya by teaming with Layla.

Add in the drama surrounding the breakup between Ziggler and AJ and you have all of the elements for one of the more entertaining matches of an impressive lineup.

AJ has been on the winning end of the feud thus far and for Ziggler to finally move on to bigger and better things, he has to dispose of the two remaining connections to his past.

Expect Dolph and Kaitlyn to win in a fun, entertaining mid-card match.

The Knockouts get Hardcore...Justice, that is
With all of the events surrounding WWE's pay-per-view extravaganza this Sunday night, it is easy to forget TNA's Knockouts, who once again took to the squared circle on Thursday night's program.

In a triple threat hardcore match, part of the company's special Hardcore Justice episode of Impact Wrestling, Knockout's champion Mickie James did battle with Gail Kim and ODB.

The return of ODB to in-ring action has helped to freshen up a division that had become stale and was sorely missing some of the talent it had released just weeks earlier. Gail, on the other hand, continued to prove why she may be the best in-ring talent in either of the big two promotions.

The match was your typical hardcore jumble with the introduction of weapons from around ringside. The items really did nothing to aid in the overall quality of the match.

One memorable spot, however, saw ODB use her bra as a weapon on both of her opponents, to the delight of the audience in Virginia. Her ability to think outside of the box, to utilize her power advantage and capitalize on the mistakes of her opponents ultimately won her the match. She is now one step closer to being named the No. 1 contender to Mickie's title.

The Diva Digest Fave Five
Usually, the Fave Five is a ranking of the Divas or Knockouts who were most impressive in the week that was. With SummerSlam just one night away, Diva Digest will devote this week's Fave Five to the five greatest Divas matches in the history of the summertime spectacular.

Alundra Blayze vs. Bull Nakano (SummerSlam 1994)
While not typically referenced as "Divas", Alundra Blayze and Bull Nakano set the bar so unbelievably high for every woman who followed them that, to this day, no one has been able to come close to matching their tremendous in-ring war for the Women's title at SummerSlam 1994.

Sable & Edge vs. Jacqueline & Marc Mero (SummerSlam 1998)
In the summer of 1998, Sable was the most popular woman in the sport and had reached a level of superstardom with the then-World Wrestling Federation, which was usually reserved for men. Her feud with Marc Mero and Jacqueline escalated at SummerSlam in 1998 when she enlisted the services of newcomer Edge and defeated her rivals in a mixed tag team match.

Kelly Kelly vs. Beth Phoenix (SummerSlam 2011)
Say what you will about Kelly Kelly, but the girl could take a butt-kicking. She did just that at SummerSlam in 2011, entering the Staples Center in Los Angeles as the Divas champion tasked with defending against the bigger, stronger, faster and more talented Glamazon, Beth Phoenix. Kelly was on the receiving end of a beat down for most of the match but managed to reverse a Glam Slam attempt into a roll-up for the win.

Mickie James & Kofi Kingston vs. Beth Phoenix & Santino Marella (SummerSlam 2008)
For the first time ever, both the Intercontinental and Divas titles were on the line in one match as Kingston and James defended against Marella and Phoenix. The mix tag rules allowed Santino to showcase his comedic chops while also allowing all four talented individuals to shine. In the end, it was Phoenix who would win the gold for Glamarella, pinning Mickie following the Glam Slam.

Tori vs. Ivory (SummerSlam 1999)
Ivory, an experienced in-ring performer dating back to her days with G.L.O.W., was given the opportunity to become the foundation of a rebuilding women's division while Tori, who was previously best known for her feud with Sable leading into WrestleMania XV, would be her top contender.

They would meet with the title on the line at SummerSlam in 1999. Ivory would pick up the win but the match proved to be the beginning of an intense rivalry that ran throughout the fall.

Honorable mention goes to both the battle royal, won by Beth Phoenix, from the 2007 show and the Divas title match between Melina and Alicia Fox from 2010.

As for The Kat vs. Terri Runnels in the all-time classic "Thong Stink Face Match" from 2000...at least they both looked great.

That's a wrap
That about does it for this week's Diva Digest.

What will the fallout be from SummerSlam? Will Natalya or Brie leave the City of Angels with their arm raised in victory? What role will Eva Marie and, possibly, Maria Menounos play in the match? More importantly, will the success of Total Divas finally lead to an expanded role on WWE programming for Naomi?

Will Divas champion AJ Lee once again outwit former boyfriend Dolph Ziggler and former best friend Kaitlyn en route to a victory at SummerSlam or will her once closest confidants make her Sunday night a miserable one?

What is next for the Knockouts Championship? With Gail Kim and ODB setting their sights on the coveted title, how much longer will Mickie James be able to fend them off?

Only time will provide the answers. Until then, enjoy SummerSlam 2013 and come back next week for the latest installment of Diva Digest.