8 Ups & 8 Downs From Last Night's WWE SmackDown (Mar 26)

1. What's The Point?

Charlotte Flair
WWE.com

Capping the bullsh*ttery that was Asuka's SmackDown Women's Title booking was the news that Flair isn't even going to put the belt on the line at WrestleMania 35, cementing this brutal exercise in futility.

If WWE wanted to make this match even bigger by transforming it into a title vs. title unification bout, then fair enough. That's cool. Yes, Asuka's fall would've still been a bitter pill, and yes, they should've started moving in this direction months ago, but tonight's developments would've served a bigger story. That's what pro-wrestling storytelling is all about.

But WWE aren't doing that. Instead, Charlotte's win existed only to give her a shiny trinket to strap around her waist during her ring entrance, or maybe so that when Becky wins the Raw belt, and when Bayley and Sasha Banks defend their Tag Titles, the Four Horsewomen can celebrate in the ring together, titles aloft, closing WrestleMania 35 with a historic photo opportunity.

A nice photograph, for sure, but so superficial.

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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.