Opinion: Why Charlotte lost to Carmella two days after ending Asuka's streak

After defeating Asuka on 'The Grandest Stage of Them All', many people thought we were building towards an untouchable Charlotte going to WrestleMania 35, undefeated, to face off against Ronda Rousey, possibly in the main event.

Well, that idea was re-railed last night on SmackDown Live... Or maybe it wasn't. With the Superstar Shake-Up next week, last night was the opportune moment to get the SmackDown Championship off of Charlotte ahead of a move to Raw.

While many people thought logic would see Asuka defeat Charlotte at WrestleMania, to continue her streak, win the SmackDown Women's Championship and, confirm her move to the blue brand.

But, New Orleans is the place where streaks go to die, and WWE had other plans. But I think it was the correct call, and I'll explain why.

Asuka's undefeated streak had started to lose momentum and, well, if there was somewhere to end The Empress of Tomorrow's monumental streak, where bigger than WrestleMania?

Charlotte and Asuka embrace after an incredible match

Unless the plan going forward was, Asuka vs Ronda Rousey, then the streak had to end before next year's WrestleMania, and another year-long streak would have run the risk of becoming really stale.

Now, while Asuka is a huge Superstar, Asuka vs Ronda Rousey, doesn't quite have the clout of Charlotte vs Ronda Rousey. If WWE wanted to book that match right now for WrestleMania 35, it could easily already be the main event match.

The story is already there, we've witnessed some intense interactions between both women and we could have 'Four Horsewomen' vs 'Four Horsewomen' ringside, well the other three of each group, and the added Flair vs Rowdy elements would be a wonderful callback to 'The Nature Boy' and Roddy Piper too.

Particularly, with the ring gear both women could wear and, the video packages that could be played of both women speaking of their respective heroes.

So, why have Charlotte lose the title to Carmella if that's where we're going?

Well, we had to have her lose the title. I mean, she could have relinquished it, but relinquishing the top title on the blue brand just to go to Raw would have been a bit iffy, and potentially damaging to SmackDown and the women on the brand, not to mention completely missing a trick when you have someone ready to cash-in their Money In The Bank contract at any given moment.

Last night's pinfall does not hurt Charlotte in the grand scheme of things. The Queen was brutally beaten by two top NXT Superstars, Billie Kay and Peyton Royce, and that assault gives them more momentum than perhaps anything else they could have done on the show possibly would have.

From being driven into the announce table, the steps, and the ring post, Charlotte was caught off guard and brutalized, giving Carmella the perfect opportunity to cash in.

Also, if you want to give Charlotte momentum heading into WrestleMania 35, well, if she has to lose before then, this was the place, time and way to do it.

We're as far away from Mania as we're ever going to be, and the assault was convincing enough to deteriorate Charlotte enough to be defeated by Carmella's finisher.

Essentially, we could now have Charlotte move to Raw and, build herself back up in a new, refreshing way, maybe even with a lengthy feud with Nia Jax for the title because, well, she'll have to be a heel to face off against Ronda Rousey, and a heel Flair is always "best for business".

Asuka can move to SmackDown and, with the new depth to her character being "beatable", she can run roughshod through the division and it becomes much more exciting, not to mention giving her a bigger pop when she inevitably wins the title.

And, well, Carmella getting a run with the title is great for her too. A failed MITB cash-in never appeases anyone, and Carmella is doing great heel work. A title run could elevate Mella much in the same way as it did Alexa Bliss.

Charlotte needed to not have the SmackDown Women's Championship to move to Raw and start building towards a heel Flair vs face Rousey in the WrestleMania 35 main event.

I think this was definitely the correct way to do it.

Do you agree?

One of Samoa Joe's colleagues had harsh words for him HERE