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

3. The Women's Division Heats Up

Carmella Tamina Natalya
WWE.com

WWE haven't been particularly creative in the way that they've booked SmackDown's women's division this year. Instead of focusing on individual storylines, they've gotten lazy by thrusting everyone onscreen at the same time, and expecting a compelling angle to emerge. It didn't work ahead of WrestleMania 33, but fortunately, things are falling into place with the current 3-on-3 feud, and last night was strong for the division.

Carmella, Natalya, and Tamina make a great group of villains, and they have excellent babyface foils to work with. Carmella and Nattie competed against Naomi and Charlotte last night, and while the match itself wasn't anything special, it did enhance the story on a number of levels.

The heels took Charlotte out before the match, leaving Naomi all alone. Charlotte eventually appeared halfway through, battered and beaten from the assault, and while she put up a spirited fight, she couldn't spur her side to victory. Both faces gained great shine from the situation, and with Becky Lynch joining their side in the post-match brawl, they finally have an equaliser. Golid storyline development from the division's sole angle, which is probably leading to a six-woman tag at Backlash.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.