8 Ups & 2 Downs For WWE SmackDown Superstar Shake-Up

Downs...

2. The More Things Change...

Charlotte Flair Asuka Becky Lynch
WWE.com

Though the SmackDown's women's division received a huge, huge boost when Asuka joined in Natalya's place, if last night told us anything, it's that the group's tired booking practices aren't going anywhere.

Billie Kay and Charlotte Flair wrestled a midcard singles bout. It was a match typical of the brand, with solid fundamentals only slightly diminished by a dull control segment, and it delivered a clean winner in 'The Queen.' The clash was only the appetiser, though. Carmella and The IIconics attacked Charlotte and Becky Lynch afterwards, prompting Asuka's arrival for the save. They cleared the ring, and now, it looks like we're heading towards a three-on-three clash, perhaps at Backlash in a few weeks.

This column has dedicated many words to decrying the blasé, multi-person booking that has blighted this division over the past year-and-a-half. Sadly, it looks like the copy/paste routine is here to stay, and while the novelty of seeing these new faces interacting should elevate the story (and it'd be wrong to completely write it off at this stage), it's still disappointing.

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Channel Manager
Channel Manager

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.