WWE Fastlane 2018: Ranking The Matches From Worst To First

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2. Women’s Title Match: Charlotte (c) vs Ruby Riott

It has been a whirlwind 15 months for Ruby Riott. The former independent scene standout (seriously, look up some Heidi Lovelace videos on youtube if you really want to know how good this girl is) was signed to the WWE in December of 2016 and assigned to the NXT brand. After moving into the NXT Women’s title picture rather quickly where she was unsuccessful in dethroning Asuka on multiple occasions, Riott surprisingly made the jump to the main roster in November. In what seems to be a testament to how the company feels about her future, making it to SmackDown in less than a year in while carrying her own stable with her, made it pretty clear that the WWE expects big things from the 27 year-old.

Sunday was her first big test. And she passed it with flying colors. Taking on Charlotte, who is arguably already the most successful female wrestler in WWE history after being on the main roster for less than five months, many might assume that “The PunkRock Princess” would get swallowed up by the moment. But that was not the case in the slightest as Riott took it to the champ as the two battered each other over 14 hard-hitting minutes. Riott controlled long stretches of action and proved that the confidence the WWE has in her is real. She proved Sunday night that she’s a future champ.

But the more important part of the proceedings was Asuka’s challenge to Flair for Wrestlemania. This sets up a legitimate epic between two of the most dominating females over the past few years in the WWE. The prospect of Asuka facing Bliss was good, but this is tremendous. And for whoever escapes New Orleans as champ, they’ll have Riott waiting for them as she is now a true contender.