5 Ups & 4 Downs From Last Night's WWE SmackDown (Jan 30)
2. Cash-In Chaos
Last night's Charlotte/Riott Squad segment concluded with Carmella charging to the ring, intending to cash-in her Money in the Bank briefcase on the fallen champion, but 'The Princess Of Staten Island' was foiled. The referee was knocked to the floor as he was attempting to ring the bell. Carmella tried to improvise, and attacked Charlotte, but the champ soon got back to her feet, scuppering the attempt.
As one of only a few segments that actually drew a reaction from the lacklustre crowd, the cash-in attempt was one of SmackDown's biggest successes. It provided a jolt of excitement after a relatively lifeless segment, and while 'Mella was unsuccessful, it was good to see her attempt to cash-in after sitting dormant on her banked title shot for so long.
WWE have exercised great restraint with Carmella thus far. She's held the briefcase for over seven months now, but has remained patient, lurking in the background instead of spamming title challenges. A smart move, as last night's strike felt refreshing and exciting as a direct result.