WWE: Ranking the Fastlane 2018 matches by projected quality

3. Charlotte Flair (c) vs. Ruby Riott- WWE SmackDown Women’s Championship Match

If these ladies get enough time, they could have the match of the night. That’s more of a testament to Flair and Riott’s abilities in the ring than the storyline WWE gave them. Riott apparently resents the champion’s Hall-of-Fame bloodline, claiming Flair was handed everything on a platter. Meanwhile, Flair gave the usual “I’ve actually had to work harder because of my last name” retort. Similar to Nakamura/Rusev, this match feels like a foregone conclusion–Charlotte retaining her title–which could impact how invested the fans will be. They might not care until the finish, or at least the first false finish.

The paint-by-numbers feud notwithstanding, I am very intrigued to see what Flair and Riott do on Sunday. The SmackDown Women’s Champion has grown into one of the company’s most reliable performers, while Riott’s is also very talented in the ring. These ladies can tell a great story if WWE gives them a chance to do so. I expect Liv Morgan and Sarah Logan to constantly interfere to help Riott get the heat on Flair. Those ladies will more than likely play a role in some nearfalls and the finish as well.

Ultimately, the match quality rests on the abilities of Flair and Riott, and they are more than talented enough to keep the crowd engaged in the action.