5 Ups & 2 Downs From WWE SmackDown (July 7)

Downs...

2. Something Still Feels…Off!

Asuka WWE
WWE.com

The women's scene on SmackDown should be great, but it isn't.

Charlotte Flair and Asuka worked a stinker of a match last week, then Bianca Belair brawled with both. This week's show was a continuation of that same theme, but had IYO SKY's MITB cash-in tease layered on top. For some reason, despite that exciting prospect, everything just feels messy and uncoordinated.

Asuka isn't coming across as a strong champion, Charlotte's characterisation is all over the place, and the writers are starting to fudge the potential of a Belair heel turn. Then, to make matters worse, Shotzi missed an easy lay-up to get some revenge on Damage CTRL for last week's attacks.

The worst thing about all of this is that nobody is benefitting from it. At this point, yours truly wouldn't be shocked if IYO cashed in, won the belt, then was asked to stare at the lights for either Flair or Belair the next week. That's how sh*tty the division is in July 2023.

Advertisement
Contributor

Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.