Former SmackDown Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair has been out since Money in the Bank due to a ruptured breast implant, which had been bothering her for longer than that, but she recently stated in an interview that she is targeting July 31 as her return date.
Charlotte Flair missed Extreme Rules and all the episodes of SmackDown Live in between Money in the Bank and Extreme Rules, as she was having surgery to remove silicone from a ruptured breast implant. Because of her busy schedule as a WWE Superstar (and one of the company’s most important superstars, at that), Charlotte held off on having surgery until now.
In an appearance on SiriusXM Stars’s Conversations With Maria Menounous, Charlotte spoke at length about this issue and stated that she is scheduled to be cleared for in-ring action on July 31.
Wrestling Inc.’s Aaron Varble has the transcript:
"“He said I’d be cleared July 31st. I am definitely going to work on July 31st. It’s so hard because watching the pay-per-view last night. It’s like I’m out for a not legitimate injury — I mean it’s legitimate because the silicone was [making me sick] I mean it’s dangerous but I kept thinking to myself, ‘you did this to yourself at twenty-one.'”"
The Queen has always been expected to make her return to the ring sometime after Extreme Rules so that she can partake in the build to SummerSlam. Her presence was missed at Extreme Rules, and the only two women’s matches at the Pay Per View were the Raw and SmackDown Women’s Championship matches between Alexa Bliss and Nia Jax and Carmella and Asuka, respectively.
It is unclear if Charlotte will re-enter the SmackDown Women’s Championship picture at SummerSlam. Asuka may still have unfinished business with Carmella after a dubious finish at Extreme Rules, whereas Becky Lynch has her own case for a title opportunity due to her impressive winning streak.
Charlotte is on the periphery, having already lost to Carmella #twice, but if Carmella drops the title to Asuka (or someone else) before SummerSlam, then it’s a possibility. It’s an extremely unlikely one, but anything is possible.
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Regardless, I hope we get to see Charlotte in the ring in August and on the SummerSlam card. It’s so important to see athletes returning to what they love, and I’m sure Charlotte is itching to perform in front of the audience and complete more jaw-dropping feats of athleticism.