7 Ups & 3 Downs From Last Night's WWE SmackDown (May 1)

by Andy H Murray

1. Gang Warfare

Asuka Carmella The IIconics
WWE.com

The flippant nature with which SmackDown typically book their women's division has thrown up swathes of meaningless multi-woman matches over the past year. Fortunately, last night's main event wasn't one of them.

Charlotte Flair, Asuka, and Becky Lynch faced Carmella and The IIconics, who seem to have formed a new alliance. It was Billie Kay and Peyton Royce's assault on Charlotte that allowed Carmella to cash-in in the first place, and they bonded in a segment earlier in the evening. Charlotte and Becky, meanwhile, have been friends for ages, and Asuka has now joined them, having reacted to her WrestleMania 34 defeat with respect. Everyone in the match had well-defined allies, and a reason to fight at least one member of the other side, making this the antithesis to the division's typical hodgepodge booking.

The action was great, too. They worked a fast, fluid bout, with plenty of momentum shifts, and raced towards a memorable closing sequence. A running knee strike almost scored Royce the victory, but Asuka nailed a head kick for another close two. It then devolved into a finisher shootout, highlighted by Charlotte's Moonsault to the floor, and with Carmella and Kay out of the picture, Asuka submitted Peyton for the victory.

A triumph for the faces, and a triumphant match all round. More of this, please.

Advertisement
Channel Manager
Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. 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.