WWE Smackdown Live: 3 possible reasons why Charlotte won the women's championship

WWE pulled off the biggest surprise yet on the Road to Wrestlemania when Charlotte Flair defeated Smackdown Live women's champion Asuka for the championship on the latest episode of the show.

There was a scheduled fatal four-way match involving Sonya Deville, Mandy Rose, Naomi, and Carmella to be the number one contender for Asuka's title. But WWE completely ditched that match and set up a championship match between Asuka and Charlotte, which was eventually won by the Queen.

Charlotte is also set to main-event Wrestlemania 35 alongside Ronda Rousey and Becky Lynch. So, how the dynamics of that match now goes remains to be seen.

Here are 3 possible reasons why Charlotte won the Smackdown Live women's championship:

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#1 Giving credibility to the Smackdown Live women's title

Charlotte gives credibility to the Smackdown women's title.

Ever since Charlotte Flair and Becky Lynch have been feuding with Ronda Rousey for the RAW women's title, the Smackdown Live part of the division has been hampered severely. Asuka is a credible champion in her own right but the rest of the division is not built up like Charlotte, Becky or even Asuka.

The fact that WWE was not able to single out an opponent for Asuka at Wrestlemania only proves the point that the Smackdown Live women's title scene needed strengthening. The match for the title at Fastlane involving Asuka and Mandy Rose was not good. Asuka's supposed opponent for Wrestlemania Lacey Evans also did not entirely convince that she deserves to be on the main roster.

WWE went for the tried and tested route of putting the title on Charlotte. Anyway, she has been like the third wheel in the Becky and Rousey feud. With the Smackdown title in her grasp, Charlotte can be portrayed as a genuine threat going into the match at Wrestlemania.

#2 Protecting Ronda Rousey

Way to protect Ronda Rousey?

Ronda Rousey is the biggest draw in the company after probably Brock Lesnar. She garners mainstream media attention and is a huge reason why the women are main-eventing Wrestlemania 35.

WWE has shown time and again that they go the extra mile to protect their biggest draws in their programming. With Charlotte being the Smackdown women's champion, WWE has more options for the match at Wrestlemania.

Becky Lynch is widely expected to emerge victorious in the main event. But now with Charlotte also being a champion, both championships can be on the line at the same time. So, WWE can go with Becky beating Charlotte for the Smackdown title while leaving Ronda as the RAW women's champion.

Also, this leaves the door open for an eventual one-on-one match between Becky Lynch and Ronda Rousey down the line where Becky can finally beat Rousey. Maybe a champion vs champion match at Survivor Series 2019.

#3 No one is ready for Asuka

Is it over for Asuka?

Asuka was this unstoppable force of nature in her NXT days. The Empress of Tomorrow was unbeaten in her whole run in NXT and remained champion for 510 days before an injury abruptly ended her reign.

She was promoted to the main roster in 2017 and continued the unbeaten and eventually went on to the Royal Rumble 2018. Asuka faced Charlotte for the title and tasted her first defeat at Wrestlemania 34.

Asuka's fortune has taken a nosedive ever since that match. WWE for some reason is not convinced by the Japanese superstar. From goofy segments to underwhelming feuds, Asuka has had a tough run in the main roster. All seemed to have changed for the better when she won the triple threat match at TLC involving Becky and Charlotte.

But, WWE again pulled the plug on her, firstly through a mediocre title run and now through her losing less than two weeks before Wrestlemania 35.

Was WWE ever ready for Asuka?