WWE SummerSlam 2018: Results, Highlights, and Grades

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SmackDown Women’s Championship Match

Carmella (c) vs. Charlotte Flair vs. Becky Lynch

Result: Charlotte Flair pinned Becky Lynch to become the NEW SmackDown Women’s Champion

Rating: 3.0 out of 5 stars

I swear to whatever higher power you believe in, I did NOT set out to write about everyone’s gear tonight. But, look, if you’re going to wear pink accented gear, and then accent that with leopard print, you’re getting put on the “oh honey no” pile. Sorry, Mella, that look is most decidedly not money.

But the SmackDown Women’s Championship match at WWE SummerSlam 2018 had much more to focus on than attire. The tension between Becky and Charlotte was the big story, as it took center stage almost right off the bat. And Carmella taking full advantage and exploiting that tension is the smartest move she’s made as champ since bringing James Ellsworth back.

My big problem with this match was the same problem I have with most WWE triple threat matches — it turned into a series of singles matches with one superstar out of the ring “recuperating” for long stretches. But none of those stretches ever gave us Charlotte vs. Becky for any substantial time, and Carmella isn’t the same caliber of performer.

Not that Carmella was or is bad, because not being on the same caliber as two of the Four Horsewomen is like saying Dominos isn’t as good as your local pizzeria. It’s not meant to be the same thing, so “as good as” is all relative anyway.

Plenty of great spots here: Carmella’a suicide dive was a highlight, as was Charlotte’s corkscrew moonsault. Becky more than held her own, but — surprise, surprise — Becky took the pin from Charlotte out of a surefire win with a Dis-Arm-Her, and The Queen becomes a seven time Women’s Champion.

But it’s what happened after the match that’s the big story: Becky finally had enough with Charlotte “stealing her thunder” and snapped. It’s ostensibly a heel turn for Lynch, despite the Brooklyn crowd being 110 percent behind her actions. Becky left with her head held high, and Charlotte was left in tears.

Tuesday’s SmackDown is going to be interesting.