6 Ups & 4 Downs From WWE SmackDown (July 14)

1. Asuka Is Getting Overlooked

That minor gripe is no way near as annoying as the biggest problem in SmackDown's female ranks currently. Namely, the main focus during that fairly stilted opening promo segment was Bianca Belair vs. Charlotte Flair...neither of whom is WWE Women's Champion. That'd be Asuka, for the record.

Not that creative cares about her.

Asuka was overlooked, and she continues to be so throughout this entire story. It's a baffling way to go about things, because it feels like WWE's writers are saying, 'Hey! She shouldn't be champion!'. Take the belt off her then. Christ, this is an awful way to present the champion and championship as important.

Problems bled into the main event too. Belair, Charlotte and even IYO SKY potentially cashing in MITB all came across as more important than Asuka holding the title. This isn't doing a whole lot to sell SummerSlam's impending three-way as marquee stuff, sadly.