7 Ups & 4 Downs From WWE SmackDown (Jan 13)
1. A Feud You Didn’t Ask For
Sonya Deville credibly challenging Charlotte Flair for the SmackDown Women's Title is already January's biggest reach. The ex-authority figure hasn't done enough over the past while to come across as a threat, and Flair as a babyface champ is a real struggle for everyone.
This could be a mini-feud to forget.
No amount of backstage sneak attacks will change that. Worse, Charlotte didn't even look vulnerable when Deville ambushed her from behind - Flair had the upper hand by the time officials arrived to break the pair up and restore order. So, Sonya can't even get some heel beatdown heat. Cool.
This is a wild departure from thoughts that Ronda Rousey and Shayna Baszler would dominate the women's scene on SmackDown. Now, WWE has an ice cold babyface on their hands, and a heel challenger nobody buys as a major hazard for Flair on the road to WrestleMania.