13 Match Quality Predictions For WWE SummerSlam 2018

6. Carmella Vs. Becky Lynch Vs. Charlotte Flair - SmackDown Women's Title Match

Becky Lynch Carmella Charlotte Flair
WWE.com

In something of an indictment of the SmackDown Women's division, the quality of this Triple Threat match depends entirely on the extent to which the champion is kept as far away from the ring as possible. Thankfully, this is as inevitable as the switch element of Carmella's repetitive, baiting promos.

She might remove herself from the fray by choice. Ideally, to remind us why we like to care about Becky Lynch, the Lass Kicker will boot her from the apron before wrestling her friend Charlotte Flair with a sportsmanlike integrity Carmella will, at some point - hopefully after several minutes - crumble by engineering tension between them. This is a decent - the best - use of Carmella imaginable. She is there to antagonise the audience after a peak of excitement, which will in turn create a further peak once her uppance comes. This, instead of the sustained snooze that is her prolonged rest hold b*llocks.

For whatever reason, WWE is far better at promoting multi-man matches than singles in 2018. Since the idea of Carmella applying a boring double headlock is satire, one would hope, this should be pretty good.

Predicted Star Rating: ***

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!