WWE Friday Night SmackDown this week featured some major surprises. Paul Heyman and CM Punk both made their returns to television to assist the O.G. Bloodline ahead of Survivor Series: WarGames. There was also a United States Championship match.
In addition to that, the Women's United States Championship tournament continued on the blue brand. Bianca Belair vs. Blair Davenport vs. Chelsea Green were the participants this week, but the bout was interrupted by a video.
The video saw Jade Cargill laying motionless, battered and broken on a broken car windshield and damaged hood. Bianca abandoned the bout and rushed to check on Jade and went along with the injured star to the hospital. Updates have since revealed Jade is quite injured. The big question, however, is who was responsible for it?
This article will take a look at four stars who could be responsible for the heinous assault. As a warning, this list will include spoilers from Friday night's SmackDown taping of an episode due to air next Friday. You have been warned.
Below are four WWE stars who could be Jade Cargill's mystery attacker.
#4. Bianca Belair could have attacked her tag team partner
Bianca Belair is a highly accomplished athlete. She is a former RAW Women's Champion, SmackDown Women's Champion, and WWE Women's Champion. Bianca is also a former Royal Rumble winner and WrestleMania headliner.
Belair is one-half of the WWE Women's Tag Team Champions alongside Jade. Despite being successful together, Liv Morgan recently teased that the two could have issues under the surface that fans don't realize during a promo on RAW.
In what would be a stunning twist, it could be Bianca who attacked Jade. While sacrificing her own United States Championship tournament spot to sell it would be a bit iffy, Belair could realize it would be the best thing to cover her tracks.
#3. Bayley might have tried to get ahead in the WWE Women's United States Title tournament
Bayley is one of the greatest female stars in WWE history. She is a Grand Slam Champion who has won nearly every women's title available in WWE, although the recent introductions of the Speed Championship and the Women's North American Title offer her more to chase in the future.
The Role Model is part of the Women's United States Championship tournament alongside Jade Cargill and Bianca Belair. Knowing how steep the competition is could be exactly why The Role Model might be responsible for the attack.
As a result, Bayley could have realized she could take both out of the tournament in one fell swoop. Jade is now unable to compete any further and Bianca left her match. This means The Role Model has to face Chelsea Green in a WWE bout, which will be considerably easier than Belair.
#2. Nia Jax and her stablemates have issues with Jade Cargill
Nia Jax is on top of the world right now, as she's the WWE Women's Champion. Jax won the gold after defeating Bayley at SummerSlam. Today, she's united with both Tiffany Stratton and Candice LeRae despite some lingering animosity within the trio.
Interestingly, Jax was questioned by SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis in relation to the attack. Nia denied having any part in it, although many remain skeptical. It is certainly possible that she and her underlings were responsible for the vicious assault.
Nia is teaming up with Tiffany, Candice, Liv Morgan, and Raquel Rodriguez to take on Bianca Belair, Jade Cargill, IYO SKY, Rhea Ripley, and Naomi. Their thought process could have been that taking Jade out would make Survivor Series: WarGames much easier.
#1. Lash Legend stands to benefit from Jade's injury
Lash Legend is one of the brightest prospects down in WWE NXT. The tall and powerful woman is part of Meta-Four, a stable also featuring Jakara Jackson, Noam Dar, and Oro Mensah. Lash and Jakara have recently dabbled in both RAW and SmackDown.
In yet another spoiler warning, Lash Legend is involved in next week's taped edition of SmackDown. The imposing superstar is actually Jade Cargill's replacement in a match against Michin and Piper Niven as part of the Women's United States Championship tournament.
Given that Lash, much like Bayley, benefits from Jade's injury, it could be Legend who attacked Jade. Not only that but Lash could have been assisted by Jakara, which would explain just how serious and brutal the attack was.