The WWE Half-Year Awards 2018
7. Worst Female Wrestler: Carmella
It'd be possible to forgive The Princess of Staten Island's shortcomings were she not occupying such a privileged position in WWE's hierarchy - and if it wasn't for the gross disparity between her quality and that of her so-called challengers.
Carmella's one-note character deserved a one-week reign, the consequence of a cash-in twelve months in the waiting to create a pouting tomato can for Asuka to promptly crumple. Such an arc would perfectly marry 'Mella's gimmick: all talk but no substance, with an immediate and satisfying comeuppance. Instead, claiming SmackDown's top title by foul means has somehow transformed her into a fair wrestler, one who can go toe-to-toe with the best, not merely the beneficiary of fortune.
Except it's not actually true. Between the ropes, Carmella is rank. Her first PPV defence, a ten-minute match against Charlotte, felt like an eternity. A month later, she completed the destruction of the SmackDown women's ranks by defeating Asuka in a stupidly competitive and utterly insipid throwback to the dark days. That the company's two top women couldn't wrestle more than a single star out of Carmella is telling.
Runner-up: Nia Jax
It's the same story: fine in short measure, but totally out of her depth as flagbearer. Thankfully, the oscillating Nia's turn as clumsy champ is done. For now.