Wrestler Works First WWE Match In Nearly 3 Months On SmackDown
It's been a bit of a wait for this polarising WWE star; they wrestled on Friday!
Charlotte Flair worked her first WWE match since night one of WrestleMania 39 on last night's episode of SmackDown.
This, as it turns out, was part of a hasty show rewrite at the eleventh hour. Vince McMahon reportedly decreed that Charlotte needed to wrestle on the program, which is why she matched up against Lacey Evans on the card.
Flair mocked much of Lacey's heel act, and appeared to work as a babyface throughout. Post-match/win, Charlotte was then quickly attacked by reigning WWE Women's Champion (and next week's opponent) Asuka. Meanwhile, lead announcer Michael Cole harped on about Flair potentially becoming a 15-time champ sooner rather than later.
That's likely going to be WWE's plan for next week in London.
Beating Evans was a warm up match for Charlotte, and possibly a bid to let her shake off any ring rust before the title showdown vs. Asuka. Again, it was her first in-ring showing since losing the SmackDown Women's Title to Rhea Ripley back at 'Mania.
WWE has since ditched the brand-specific names for both top female titles and turned Rhea's strap into a Raw exclusive.