RESULTS: Divas Champion Kelly Kelly def. Beth Phoenix

“Your days as the cute, perky blond bimbo are over.” – Beth Phoenix, to Divas Champion Kelly Kelly on August 1, 2011.

With those words, The Glamazon had drawn a line in the sand – she was determined to change the very face of the Divas division. At SummerSlam two weeks later, though, she failed in her quest, coming up short in her title match against Kelly Kelly. At Night of Champions, however, Phoenix will once again have an opportunity to usher in a new era. For Kelly Kelly, a victory at the prestigious pay-per-view would go a long way in vindicating her as champion and proving yet again that she’s much more than just a pretty face.

The controversy in the Divas division was brought to stark relief when WWE.com published an article questioning whether or not the Divas division needed “saving.” While the story credited all Divas for their impressive work ethic, its insights clearly rankled some, who felt Beth and her “Divas of Doom” partner, Natalya, were being singled out for preferential treatment.

The dustup shone a long overdue spotlight on a division rich in legendary names such as WWE Hall of Famers Fabulous Moolah and Wendi Richter, as well as the incomparable Trish Stratus. The tension between Kelly Kelly and Phoenix demonstrates just how passionately these women feel about maintaining that historic legacy. Will The Glamazon forge a new era in the Divas division in her hometown of Buffalo, N.Y.? Or will Kelly Kelly finally silence her critics once and for all, convincing the WWE Universe that she’s truly earned the right to be Divas Champion?