7 Ups & 2 Downs From Last Night's WWE SmackDown (Apr 24)

3. Transcending The Formula

Carmella Charlotte Flair
WWE.com

Is there anything more predictable than a WWE contract signing segment? They almost always go the same way. There'll be a table set up in the middle of the ring, over which the heel and face will banter back and forth for a while, before one springs the attack. Somebody will get thrown through the unfortunate piece of furniture before or after the contract has been signed, and that'll be it. Job done.

Last night delivered only a slight variation on this. Charlotte Flair interrupted Carmella's gloating promo, but didn't say a word. Instead, she sat down, signed the contract, let her foe run her mouth, then assaulted her. Formulaic as it was, though, the performances were too strong for it to finish as anything other than an Up.

'Mella was tremendous, and had the crowd baying for her comeuppance after just a few sentences. Replaying the previous week's Mellabration had the audience riled up, and while that particular segment wasn't quite the home run it should've been, making the fans sit through the video multiple times worked. She's doing great heel work at the moment, so let's hope WWE don't bring her run to a premature end 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.