5 Ups & 3 Downs From WWE SmackDown (March 20)

Downs...

3. SmackDown's Women Are An Afterthought

Raw has a strong Becky Lynch vs. Shayna Baszler match, NXT has a super-strong Rhea Ripley vs. Charlotte Flair match and SmackDown has...something uninspired.

It's cool that WWE didn't want to turn Sasha Banks babyface again just for a match with Bayley, but they haven't left themselves many alternatives that feel WrestleMania worthy. Challengers like Lacey Evans, Naomi and Carmella weren't cutting it, and a match between so-called besties was the only lifeline SmackDown's female ranks had.

Instead, Paige brought it via Skype to announce that Bayley will defend in a dreaded 'Six-Pack Challenge' against Banks, Lacey Evans, Dana Brooke, Tamina and Naomi. Way to make the entire women's division on one brand look like a complete afterthought, WWE.

On one hand, it's a 'Mania spot for some overlooked workers like Dana Brooke. On the other, it's one of the most unexciting scenarios the company could've come up with. Even a tag match pitting Bayley and Sasha vs. some legends, with the added stipulation that Sasha could lose the belt for her pal, would've been better.