WWE SmackDown Smacks and Downs: Black sheep, lien, and reptilians, oh my!

Smack: what’s shaping up as great groupings for the ladder matches

Down: they’re happening simultaneously?!

The women’s match is full after Carmella’s victory over Rose last night. She will by joined by our wrestling goddess Asuka, Baszler, Nia Jax, Dana Brooke, and Lacey Evans. RAW is definitely bringing the star power.

The men’s match technically has two more spot to fill even though five have qualified. After last night’s victory by Otis, we know the field includes him, King Corbin, Daniel Bryan, Rey Mysterio, and Aleister Black. Apollo Crews qualified, but injured his knee on RAW and will be replaced, presumably by another RAW wrestler.

If last week is any indication, don’t be surprised if it’s “The Maharaja” himself, Jinder Mahal…then again, if they need a bonafide heel, a “resurrected” AJ Styles might be the choice.

Those are nice rosters for the match, and I was looking forward to seeing what they did as they climbed the “corporate ladder.”

Then Michael Cole said they’re happening simultaneously. Wait, what?

In a way, this makes sense as WWE probably only wants to have one segment of utter office/building destruction.

In every other way, why?

The match is already difficult enough in highlighting each talent involved when it’s six or seven competitors. Making it 12 just calls for even less spotlight for those in the match, particularly lower on the card.

Then you add in that it’s not even a “traditional” ladder match and it’s happening in a building culminating in a rooftop spot and it becomes even more convoluted.

(More on the utter tone-deafness of the promotional posters for these matches here.)

Brooke, Carmella, and possibly Mysterio seem destined to be the victims of some outlandish spots in the match. If Mahal is added, he seems to be the fall guy on the heel side since we all know how much one higher up (the only one that matters, really) loves Corbin.

More concerning, this opens up the possibility of WWE pulling another James Ellsworth as they did in the first-ever women’s Money in the Bank ladder match. I’m sure we can all see Corbin, infuriated that Black grabs the briefcase (obviously my choice to win), turn to see the other briefcase, see the wheels turning in his head, and grab the women’s briefcase.

*Insert Michael Scott saying “No!” .gif here*

HOWEVER, this also opens up the possibility for either Asuka or Baszler to do the same thing and grab the men’s briefcase after the other successfully grabs the women’s briefcase. Making Baszler a modern-day Chyna could work, especially if WWE allows her to challenge for the WWE or Universal Championship like Tessa Blanchard in Impact Wrestling.

If WWE is truly committed to the “women’s revolution” AND “women’s evolution,” then this is the next step. Give Baszler the briefcase and have her Kirifuda Clutch every man she comes across to sleep to establish her as a legit threat to whoever is champion.

I’d actually start watching RAW again if that happens.

If that’s too much, make her Chyna in the sense that she cashes in the contract to become Intercontinental Champion.

It won’t happen, but I sincerely hope WWE has a woman win their respective briefcase without another Ellsworth situation. This being WWE though, we have to always be prepared for the worst.