8 Match Star Ratings For WWE Clash Of Champions 2020

3. Bayley Vs. Asuka - SmackDown Women's Title Match

Roman Reigns Jey Uso
WWE

A mad scramble to fill time that it only wasted, the forfeit gimmick was right there. It was exponentially more in character for Bayley to celebrate the most technical of victories as something altogether more hard-fought, and it was totally inconsistent with her character to issue an open challenge.

The idea was that she knew Sasha Banks was in no condition to answer it - nothing has gone over anybody's head here - but Bayley has spent the last several months just casually ducking out of challenges, whether in progress or otherwise. Infuriatingly, to very few repercussions, unless the finish was so poorly-received that Stephanie McMahon had to babyface herself by addressing it.

It was the same, punishing story here: Asuka answered the challenge, and after three or so minutes of pulsating action - not to go all Shane McMahon, because you don't want to be reminded of him, but that German suplex was in fact sick - Bayley grabbed a steel chair and hit Asuka with it.

Why doesn't she just do that all the time?

Oh wait. She does.

Sasha Banks got some heat back in the post-match in a decent enough angle as part of a wider picture this didn't ruin, so there's that,

Star Rating: ★★¾

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!