Jade Cargill's path to WrestleMania 40 is clear after SmackDown

The women’s division continues to be one of the focal points on SmackDown each week. With the tag champions on Monday Night Raw, and the other two as part-time workers, the arc around Damage CTRL has kept top billing throughout much of the past year. Bayley will take on IYO Sky at WrestleMania 40, but what is she going to do about the other pesky members of the group? That is where Bianca Belair, Naomi, and yes…Jade Cargill will step in.

The March 22 episode saw another situation in which Damage CTRL stood tall over their foes. Sky attacked Bayley backstage and then they got the upper hand on Belair and Naomi after the match. The numbers play to their favor, setting the stage for the babyfaces to need one additional powerhouse. Setting that up as Cargill’s entrance is the perfect booking for her and to set up another big match on the PLE.

It was announced that Cargill “signed” with SmackDown and will appear on that brand. In a recent episode, she confronted Damage CTRL and even called them out on social media. This is yet another moment where predictability in professional wrestling works. It’s clear that Belair, Bayley, and Naomi will once again find themselves outnumbered which will lead to Cargill’s music hitting and her making the save, setting up the match for WrestleMania 40.

Cargill has taken part in only one match since signing with WWE. Her appearance during the Royal Rumble was one of the biggest moments of the night, setting the stage for her debut on weekly television. That moment has more than one million views on YouTube, showing there is a continued interest in Cargill since her jump from All Elite Wrestling. Fans and critics alike are “debating” around her lack of use and appearances since the early promotion of her signing. But the company has taken a slow approach with her development and build, making the right decision to create a new star.

Slotting Cargill alongside two well-loved figures in Belair and Naomi creates the moment necessary to show she’s on the same level as those women. It also creates the opening for the three ladies to eventually face off against each other in the future. Expect Cargill to get the “hot” tag and to be the woman to pick up the pinfall win, probably over Dakota Kai. Does this mean that maybe Cargill will create a tag team with one of the two women? Perhaps, that’s how WWE gets her on television more often to begin getting the valuable reps that she needs before being let loose as a singles performer.

Jade Cargill’s moment at WrestleMania 40 now has a clear path thanks to the latest episode of SmackDown. The creative direction is perfect to give her a big pop and kick off what should be her frequent appearances on SmackDown.