7 Ups & 4 Downs From WWE SmackDown (5 June - Results & Review)
Ups...
7. Ideal Opponents Come Through
Lash Legend vs. Chelsea Green told a simple story of powerful heel vs. opportunistic underdog babyface. The duo didn’t over-extend themselves, but stuck to that narrative throughout and the match was better for it. Chelsea is working as a baby (people enjoyed her delusional heel stuff and she's successfully charmed the audience), and that’s true whether she ends up teaming with Tiffany Stratton or not.
It was a smart idea to have Lash do what Nia Jax couldn’t last week: Overcome Green to take the win. What a simple and straightforward match, but that’s a positive on this occasion. Not every bout needs to be some Dave Meltzer-pleasing 5-star classic that has finisher spamming and endless loops of near falls and drama. No, sometimes all you need to get characters over is a simple TV match that scratches an itch and fills a segment on the show.
This did, so plaudits to Lash and Chelsea for knowing their respective roles and playing them perfectly.
Commentary perhaps missed a trick by not going harder on the idea that Green might expect Stratton to be there for her the way she's been there for Tiffy. Surely that's the broader story framing Chelsea's characterisation these days. Oh well, that lack of focus didn't detract from the action. Special mention to Legend as well - she's thriving in this tag-team with Jax, but must appreciate singles moments like this to show how she's coming along.
Top work on that rag doll bearhug too, ladies. Mark Henry would've been proud of that.