The future of the Smackdown women’s championship is up on the air for quite sometimes. Asuka became the new champion at WWE TLC in a Tables, Ladders and Chairs match. She never pinned or submitted the former champion Becky Lynch to earn the title. This automatically sets up a rematch between the two of them at the upcoming PPV.
However, McMahons family is in charge of Smackdown show who denied to sanction any mandatory rematch clause. So Becky Lynch vs. Asuka at Royal Rumble was no announced. Rather we will now have a number one contender’s match on this upcoming Tuesday Night. Charlotte Flair, Becky Lynch, and Carmella will battle it out in a triple threat match. The winner will get to face Asuka at the inaugural PPV of 2019.
Here’s the official announcement from WWE.com,
“Charlotte Flair, Becky Lynch, and Carmella all staked their claims as to why they would be most deserving to face off against SmackDown Women’s Champion Asuka at Royal Rumble last week. All three Superstars will now get their chance as they’ll square off in a Triple Threat Match this Tuesday night on SmackDown LIVE and the winner will move on to face Asuka for the title in Phoenix, Arizona on Jan. 27.”
This makes thing interesting as each one of the contenders are looking forward to entering the Royal Rumble. Charlotte Flair and Becky Lynch are instant favorites to win the prestigious match and challenge Ronda Rousey for the WWE Raw women’s championship. A three-way rivalry among them is going on from last November to culminate the first-ever main event at Wrestlemania 35.
Plus, Carmella already holds the right to enter Royal Rumble on number 30 spot courtesy of her Mixed Match Challenge win. So we never really picked any one of them to challenge Asuka at Royal Rumble in a championship match. But this triple threat match on Smackdown ensures the title picture will be limited among these four superstars.
So it looks like anyone from Carmella, Charlotte Flair, and Becky Lynch will have to pull off double duties at Royal Rumble. Asuka is expected to retain the championship in the PPV event. So the challenger will get a second chance for a title shot by entering the Royal Rumble match on the same night.
