Jade Cargill vs. Michin
Next up, Jade Cargill looks to build momentum in a non-title match against Michin. When we thought we’d see another mauling due to Jade Cargill dominating the early game, Michin would take her to the limit.
At one point, Michin had the champion’s number by heating Eat Defeat. Cargill’s instincts would kick in as she would roll out of the ring to avoid getting pinned. Jade would storm back into the ring and catch Michin with a Chokeslam, then eventually a Jaded for the win.
Cathy Kelley would try to interview Cargill before getting the mic pried from her hands. Cargill would make her thoughts public, saying that she doesn’t see what the hype around Rhea Ripley is, and she doesn’t see her as a threat.
Cargill said, “I’m me,” and she issued a stern warning to Ripley that her biggest challenge will be at WrestleMania 42, and Cargill will beat her in Las Vegas and show her why she’s always on top. In a surprising turn of events, Rhea Ripley would roll into SmackDown.
Cargill would roll out of the ring, with Ripley saying she ran her mouth, but now she’s walking away. Ripley said she’s not “the” or “a” embodiment of women empowerment, but what she’s going to be is Ripley’s “b*tch.”
Backstage:
- We see Nick Aldis looking to get in touch with Drew McIntyre, keeping Cody Rhodes in the loop. Sami Zayn would enter the fray, speaking to Cody about being champion once again. Rhodes got to the point, saying that Sami has been running around in circles, rooting for him, then Orton. Zayn said she said that he roots for Orton because he looks up to him, but he couldn’t say the same for Rhodes, who supposedly talks down to him like they’re not equals.
- Aleister Black and Zelina would try to get into the head of Zayn, with Sami imploring them to stay away from him.
WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship Match
For their first-ever title defense, the Irresistible Forces put up the titles against number one contenders Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair. Prior to the match, The Bella Twins would confront Bliss and Flair, saying whoever wins tonight, they’ll be next up in line.
Lash Legend and Nia Jax would overpower Bliss and Flair for most of the match, until Flair and Bliss would turn the tide with a Moonsault from the former and a devastating Tornado DDT from Bliss.
The action would spill on the outside, with Jax almost wrecking the Bella Twins at ringside. Jax would get out of the way of Charlotte’s Thrust Kick, hitting Nikki flush in the face.
Back in the ring, Flair would hit Jax with a Natural Selection. Bliss was one Twisted Bliss away from becoming new champions, that is, until we see The Bella Twins storm the ring, leading to the disqualification. All three teams would fight, with the situation ending with Jax delivering a Guillotine Legdrop, assisted by Legend, from the second rope to Nikki Bella.
