7 Ups & 4 Downs From WWE SmackDown (Jan 13)

1. A Feud You Didn’t Ask For

Charlotte Flair Sonya Deville
WWE.com

Sonya Deville credibly challenging Charlotte Flair for the SmackDown Women's Title is already January's biggest reach. The ex-authority figure hasn't done enough over the past while to come across as a threat, and Flair as a babyface champ is a real struggle for everyone.

This could be a mini-feud to forget.

No amount of backstage sneak attacks will change that. Worse, Charlotte didn't even look vulnerable when Deville ambushed her from behind - Flair had the upper hand by the time officials arrived to break the pair up and restore order. So, Sonya can't even get some heel beatdown heat. Cool.

This is a wild departure from thoughts that Ronda Rousey and Shayna Baszler would dominate the women's scene on SmackDown. Now, WWE has an ice cold babyface on their hands, and a heel challenger nobody buys as a major hazard for Flair on the road to WrestleMania.

Advertisement
Contributor

Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.