2 Ups & 5 Downs From Last Night's WWE SmackDown (May 16)

2. Carmella Struggles To Victory

With the contract signing over and done with, SmackDown Women's Champion Naomi defended her pride and honour (but not her title) against Carmella and unfortunately, it was just another disappointing bout on a night full of them. The match never got out of second gear, and while Carmella rolling Naomi up for the victory is an interesting twist (and one that should result in a title shot), much of the problems were the winner's fault.

Carmella always struggles in long, drawn-out singles matches, and that was once again the case last night. The bout lasted over 11 minutes in total, and while there was plenty of shenanigans to break things up, the actual action was bland and uninteresting, particularly when Carmella was in control. Unfortunately, she's still too inexperienced and unseasoned for spots like this, 10 months after debuting on the main roster.

The Welcoming Committee inevitably got involved, allowing Carmella to score the victory while Naomi was distracted by Tamina. This helps the stable feel like a cohesive unit, and despite her opponent's flaws, Naomi stayed energetic throughout the bout. These were the sole bright spots, however, and if the outcome results in a title fight, here's hoping it isn't as laborious.