The Booking of Charlotte Flair
The booking of “The Queen” is very interesting to me. She was THE heel on WWE RAW and worked great programs with Sasha Banks and Bayley. She was the one everyone wanted to beat and that has not changed. What has changed, however, is the fact that she is a face. A quick turn seemed very natural to me. The fans will cheer her because they know how great she is in the ring, as well as being the daughter of Ric Flair. So, it should not be surprising. Charlotte Flair needs to be booked like AJ Styles. Both do not need to be squeaky clean faces to get over. Let their ring work do the talking.
A teasing of a Becky Lynch heel turn on Smackdown Live got me even more interested in the rest of the division. There is plenty of depth and options. Naomi has the athletic ability and a fun gimmick. Can a gimmick like this sustain a long road of success? Carmella has a great gimmick, while Tamina is the muscle with a veteran like Natalya.
All in all, Smackdown’s division is being built around jealously. Charlotte and Becky are the ones that should work together to fight off the rest. After they do, it is the two best women against each other. We got a sample size last year, but never a full on feud between the two.
Kevin Owens Sends Chris Jericho Packing
Talk about a year and a half of great work. This was some of Chris Jericho’s best work in quite some time. The only time I think it was better over the past decade was his incredible feud with Shawn Michaels. Winning the United States Championship at WWE Payback was a surprise. Losing it to Kevin Owens tonight was not a surprise at all. The Face of America is so ironic that it works for Owens. The physicality and intensity of this match was exactly what they needed to do to get Jericho off of television.
We will miss Chris Jericho, but now is the time to see what WWE can do to keep the fans interested in the weary summer months. Who steps up? Who makes a memorable moment? What happens now? Jericho has shown he can come back, fit in wherever is needed and provide veteran leadership and presence to get guys over.
Well, Kevin Owens vs. AJ Styles for the United States Championship. Jinder Mahal vs. Randy Orton for the WWE World Championship. Many women are involved in the Smackdown Live Women’s Championship chase, but focusing around Naomi and Charlotte. The Tag Team Championships are getting no love and two NXT stars are working their way on the show on a regular basis. Things would positive for Smackdown Live, but they could always be better.
Smackdown Live needs to remember that the United States Championship needs to be important, but not MORE important than the World Championship. When they figure that out, you will begin to see more logical booking. I am not against what they are doing, but it seems to be a little backwards. It really does not make a ton of sense to me.
Do you like Jinder as Randy Orton’s next opponent? Does it make sense for the former Universal and World Champion to battle for the United States Championship? WHERE THE HELL IS AMERICAN ALPHA? WHERE IS BARON CORBIN?