Eva Marie has managed to become one of the most intriguing performers over the first two weeks of the New Era of SmackDown despite not wrestling at all, and her scheduled match Tuesday night against Becky Lynch was bizarrely called off just before it began when Eva Marie injured her leg during her entrance after hopping off the middle rope.
.@natalieevamarie and @BeckLynchWWE's match ended before it even began.... #SDLive https://t.co/b0IV08RWHE
— WWE (@WWE) August 3, 2016
Eva Marie - who has her own personal narrator in lieu of a ring announcer - appeared to hurt her left leg, which forced the referee to call off the match. Whether or not this is an actual injury is up for interpretation, but assuming it was a scripted early ending, it was a great way to build her as a heel. WWE fans love to hate Eva Marie. Turning Eva Marie into a Miz-like sideshow is a perfect way to maximize her. Lynch and Eva Marie traded a few shots on Twitter afterward, which would seemingly confirm the injury wasn't legit.
If anyone wants to actually have a match tonight, come find #BeckyBalboa #SmackdownLive
— Becky Lynch (@BeckyLynchWWE) August 3, 2016
@BeckyLynchWWE it's not always about you Becky ? #SmackDownLive
— Eva Marie (@natalieevamarie) August 3, 2016
No, it's about #WomensWrestling https://t.co/UGgRPBZ0z7
— Becky Lynch (@BeckyLynchWWE) August 3, 2016
@BeckyLynchWWE No this is about my health and well being! Thank you very much #SmackDownLive
— Eva Marie (@natalieevamarie) August 3, 2016
Well you'll be down an arm as well the next time you step in the ring with me https://t.co/5rT2nBq8oU
— Becky Lynch (@BeckyLynchWWE) August 3, 2016
@itsBayleyWWE how fast can you get here?
— Becky Lynch (@BeckyLynchWWE) August 3, 2016
@BeckyLynchWWE In less than 13 min
— Bayley (@itsBayleyWWE) August 3, 2016
Reactions ranged from amused to ironically concerned to absolutely outraged.
After a brutual 5 star match, such a sad scene here on #SDLive as Eva Marie is carried out. Such class. AmazingWoman pic.twitter.com/irML9B7AhA
— WrestlinGifs (@WrestlinGifs) August 3, 2016
Somewhere @WWEGraves is calling an ambulance on behalf of Eva Marie #SDLive
— Tom Phillips (@TomPhillipsWWE) August 3, 2016
That's the best Eva Marie match I've ever seen #SDLive
— Murfs (@MurfsYT13) August 3, 2016
everybody prey for eva marie #wwesmackdown
— WrestlingBizz (@WrestlingBizz) August 3, 2016
HOLD UP!!! Eva Marie is using an "injury" angle for her big move to #SDLive and yet Bayley remains in NXT?! ?? https://t.co/h1c9Jt4pR6
— Troy Hughes™ (@TommySledge) August 3, 2016
Eva Marie just walked down the ring, jumped on the middle rope and suffered an injury? Wow. Just give her a interviewer job. #SDLive
— Dandy Mandy©® (@KING_BORICUA24_) August 3, 2016
