2 Ups & 6 Downs From Last Night's WWE SmackDown (Dec 5)
5. Screaming Into The Abyss
There was nothing positive about the way SmackDown's women's division was booked last night, and it started with the worst kind of crowded segment.
The bulk of the group gathered backstage and proceeded to engage in a lengthy screaming battle, with each struggling to make their voice heard over the others. General Manager Daniel Bryan was the victim. He was made to listen to Carmella, Tamina (via Lana), and Ruby Riott stake their claim for a title shot. Sarah Logan stated Bryan was prejudiced against people from the south. Liv Morgan said the GM was "too into brunettes" to give her an opportunity. It was a mess.
Bryan cut through the noise, then turned Charlotte and Natalya's Clash of Champions bout into a lumberjack match, ensuring it won't be good at all. It gets everyone on the show, but this stipulation rarely delivers in WWE. Expect disappointment on 17 December.
The segment was borderline unwatchable. WWE presented the women as an out of control, uncivilised rabble, furthering the problematic "these girls are crazy" narrative in a way that drags us away from the so-called 'Revolution,' and back towards Attitude/Ruthless Aggression-esque crassness.