WrestleMania 41 took place in Las Vegas, Nevada last weekend and it was quite the eventful show for WWE’s female Superstars. For starters, IYO SKY and Tiffany Stratton retained their respective championships. Becky Lynch also made her long-awaited return, and Jade Cargill finally got her definitive payback in a win over Naomi.
Our focus now shifts to this week’s episode of Friday Night SmackDown, where the women of Team Blue walked into the Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas to pick up the pieces and carry on in the aftermath of the big show.
We heard first from Tiffany Stratton, who was finally able to shut Charlotte Flair up by defeating her and retaining the WWE Women’s Championship at Night 1 of WrestleMania. Arriving in ring gear, Stratton held the mic and asked what time it was, with the fans responding “Tiffy Time!”. At WrestleMania in front of 60,000 people, it was Tiffy Time as Stratton went toe-to-toe with one of the best of all time in Charlotte Flair. Stratton can’t lie as she said there were moments where she doubted herself and the pressure got to her, but in the end, she prevailed and she walked out of WrestleMania still the WWE Women’s Champion. She was always told for the longest time that she was the next Charlotte Flair, which she feels is incorrect; there may be only one Charlotte Flair, but she can guarantee everyone that there is only one Tiffany Stratton.
Jade Cargill’s music interrupted the monologue as she made her way out to talk some trash. Cargill told Stratton to “cut it” and that she was out here to give credit where it was due, mentioning that her match with Flair was very impressive, but that did nothing but create a bigger target on her back. Since Cargill’s business with Naomi is now finished, she has nothing but time, time to remind everybody why she came to WWE and for them to see why she came here to be a champion. She lastly adds that Stratton needs to understand that just beating Charlotte doesn’t make her the best, especially when Stratton and Cargill have never faced each other one-on-one. An emboldened Stratton decides that since Cargill clearly wants to put her money where her mouth is, a referee is needed so they can have a match.
After a commercial break, the match was finally underway and began as the two by locking up and exchanging some holds. Things were slow and steady early on as Stratton tried to roll Cargill up. The two continued to counter each other’s moves with no visible signs of either woman having the advantage, although the Center of the Universe briefly took control by hitting two cartwheels on Cargill, which only yielded a near-fall. The two continued to go at it, with Stratton noticeably tripping but quickly getting in proper position to try the Prettiest Moonsault Ever, which backfired as Cargill hit an Alabama Slam for a two-count.
The match would come to an abrupt stop as Cargill hit a superplex on the champion, only for Naomi to run out and attack Cargill, throwing her into opposite ends of the turnbuckles and laughing maniacally once she was laid out on the floor, but ended up hitting the bricks as she locked eyes with Stratton, who had gotten back up to the ring.
The Buff Barbie ultimately wasn’t safe from harm as she was attacked by Nia Jax. The Irresistible Force had not been seen since her and Candice LeRae lost to Stratton and Trish Stratus at Elimination Chamber in March, proving she was out for revenge as she hit Stratton with a leg drop and Annihilator, showing no remorse for her actions and holding the Women’s Championship up in the air. WrestleMania may be in the rear-view mirror, but the beef that these four ladies share is far from over.
Zelina Vega has now beaten Women’s United States Champion Chelsea Green twice, with her most recent win coming in last week in a non-title match. With that in mind, it should be no surprise that Vega was granted a match against Green tonight with the title up for grabs. In a backstage interview with Byron Saxton before the match, Vega said that she’s known for having a big mouth and always having something to say, but tonight is one of those nights where she’s actually speechless, and it’s because this match means so much to her. She’s wanted this opportunity for so long, and just like her mentor Rey Mysterio and the late Eddie Guerrero who are former United States Champions in their own right, she wanted to bring some Latino Heat into her match tonight, and of course, just like how they do it here in Texas, you either go big or go home, and she’s not going home until she has the Women’s United States Championship around her waist.
Vega vs. Green was up next, and Green wasn’t alone this time, being flanked by her Secret Hervice (Alba Fyre and Piper Niven). Starting off by swinging some punches and unleashing a very rapid-fire offense, Vega would get distracted by the presence of Fyre and Niven, who attacked her to ensure their Madame In-Chief would get the upper hand. After a commercial break, Vega had regained control of the match, hitting Green with a running knee strike and a Meteora for a two-count. Fyre got up to distract the referee but lost her balance and fell when Vega punched her. The distraction allowed for Green to hit the Unprettier, which was reversed by Vega.
The match began to conclude as Vega would attempt a 619 only for Niven to trip her up. The referee would notice Niven’s actions, and upon seeing that Fyre was about to rough up Vega, sent the both of them to the back as they were now barred from ringside. Green tried to attack Vega, but Vega would turn things around by executing a Code Red for the victory, finally ending Green’s reign. Fyre and Niven ran back out to try and ruin the moment, but Vega escaped and stood on the stage holding her newfound championship with pride.
With this win, Zelina Vega’s name is once again in the history books. With the 2021 Queen’s Crown and a Women’s Tag Team Championship reign with Carmella already under her belt, Vega can now add a singles title to her list of accolades as she is now the second Women’s United States Champion.
Byron Saxton was backstage to interview Bianca Belair, who is back on SmackDown after several weeks of challenging for the Women’s World Championship over on Raw and at Night 2 of WrestleMania in a losing effort alongside Rhea Ripley to IYO SKY. Saxton brings attention to her noticeably bandaged hand, confirming reports that she had broken several fingers during the well-received triple threat match. However, the EST says it was all worth it – they all fought to the end and things may not have gone her way, but at least she can say that she’s proud of what the three of them were able to do at WrestleMania. Saxton then mentions SKY retaining the Women’s World Championship, to which Belair said that she found the perfect opportunity to capitalize, and doesn’t blame her as she would have done the same thing. As for Rhea, she found a way to slip herself into a match that Belair earned by winning the Elimination Chamber match, and she’s sure this won’t be the last time they meet in the ring, but she’s currently focused on healing as she is intending to come back to SmackDown. The show is her home, and right now, her home is divided, so she knows that she’s got some unfinished business to handle when she returns to in-ring competition.
After Wade Barrett and Joe Tessitore replayed Naomi and Nia Jax’s attack on Jade and Tiffany earlier, Naomi was seen walking backstage, hair almost covering her eyes and with an angry, depressed look on her face. Jax called her name and confronted her, stating that she didn’t care about Naomi wanting revenge on Jade, but to stay out of her way when it comes to pursuing Tiffany Stratton and the Women’s Championship. Naomi’s response? “As long as you proceed with caution!”, weirding out Jax and showing that animosity continues to exist between the two even after their battles together in the past.
Friday Night SmackDown airs next week from inside the Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa, but as of this writing, no matches or segments are currently advertised for the women.
As always, make sure to share your thoughts on this week’s edition of SmackDown in the comments below.
