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Carmella won the very first women’s Money in the Bank briefcase and cashed-it-in in memorable fashion to start a several month reign as SmackDown Women’s Champion. A lot has changed since then, but the Princess of Staten Island found an unlikely resurgence in her oddball pairing with R-Truth. As half of a largely comedic duo, she is arguably more popular than she has ever been before and fans were all too eager to support the team in its run to win the Mixed Match Challenge.
That victory meant that Carmella will enter the women's Royal Rumble match from the number thirty position and thus have the biggest kayfabe advantage in the match. Few critics actually expect for her to win, though, with a greater focus on Charlotte Flair, Becky Lynch, or Ronda Rousey doing so to facilitate a two or three-way match, and justify the bout going across brand lines.
However, if that three-way program does come together, presumably over Rousey’s Raw Women’s Championship, the question remains who will compete for the SmackDown title. With Lynch and Flair spoken for, Carmella may well be in that title conversation, and could conceivably win the Rumble to make it happen.
#5 Carmella vs. Asuka at WrestleMania
Rumors abound about a featured women’s match at WrestleMania, and the women’s division potentially even getting the main event. Most of those rumors center on the Raw Women’s Championship, and particularly Ronda Rousey. The prevailing theory is that she’ll work a match with Becky Lynch, Charlotte Flair, or both women in a triple threat.
Any of these matches would leave the SmackDown Women’s Championship available for other competitors (unless WWE constructs a champion vs. champion scenario which, while possible, seems less likely). Asuka stands a perfectly reasonable chance of retaining her title going into ‘Mania and if Flair and Lynch are occupied elsewhere, then Carmella wouldn’t be an unreasonable choice for challenger.
Between her previous title reign and retaining over Asuka, the popularity of her team with R-Truth, and perhaps most importantly the credibility that would come from winning the Rumble, Asuka vs. Carmella is a realistic possibility.
#4 Ronda Rousey offers an assist
Even with her number thirty entry spot, at this point, Carmella winning the Royal Rumble would feel as though it’s coming a little out of left field. One way for WWE to get there would be for outside interference to lend her an assist over Charlotte Flair in the late stages of the bout.
Ronda Rousey getting involved in the proceedings would give Carmella a totally believable way of winning the Rumble. Additionally, WWE could kill two birds with one stone in not only giving ‘Mella the win but furthering the high profile issue between Rousey and Flair (and maybe Becky Lynch, too, if she were to enter the Rumble in addition to her title match with Asuka).
Best of all, Rousey’s a big enough star, and her issues with the top women from SmackDown are hot enough that her involvement could provide a truly electric moment, and make even those fans who are more sceptical about Carmella winning nonetheless enjoy the moment.
#3 Carmella wins the SmackDown Women’s Championship at ‘Mania
We are coming up on just the second edition of the women’s Royal Rumble match. The Rumble itself is one of WWE’s most honoured traditions, in no small part because of the history of winning that match offering a road towards winning a world title at the biggest show of the year. It’s an uncomfortable truth that, regardless of how well received that first women’s Rumble was, it nonetheless didn’t produce a new champion at WrestleMania.
It makes sense that WWE doesn’t have Rumble winners go on to win titles every time out, as that could easily kill the drama off of ‘Mania title matches. However, in order to make the women’s Rumble feel like it has a comparable immensity to the men’s version, it really would help for the winner—and especially an underdog winner—to parlay that January victory into WrestleMania glory. If Carmella wins the Rumble, it would make all the sense in the world for her to go on to win the SmackDown Women’s Championship on her (relative) home turf in New Jersey.
#2 Asuka turns heel
If Carmella does win the Royal Rumble and go on to challenge Asuka at WrestleMania, it will be likely that a heel turn is in Asuka’s future.
Carmella had an extended run as a heel already and is probably the most over she has ever been in her still new face character that developed over the course of her partnership with R-Truth. It would be a mistake to turn her heel again at this juncture, but Asuka working a more heelish, ruthless, and cheating style could breathe new life into her character.
Given the Empress has struggled to recapture the magic of her NXT run on the main roster, a change like that could be in the best interests of everyone involved, whether it happens in the build too, at, or after WrestleMania itself. Asuka’s heel turn could be a means for her to retain her title, or justification and means for her to chase the title after she drops it.
#1 R-Truth manages Carmella
R-Truth is one of the longest tenured acts on the WWE roster, particularly when one considers not only his work under the R-Truth gimmick, but also his time spent wrestling as K-Kwik years before that. The guy is still in phenomenal shape and better at connecting with the crowd than many of the younger stars he shares a locker room with. Just the same, Truth isn’t getting any younger, and his act is largely played out as a wrestler.
Truth’s pairing with Carmella has benefited both stars immensely, and WWE would be wise to push it further. Truth going into WrestleMania, rapping on ‘Mella’s entrance, and providing some oddball antics from her corner could be a lot of fun, and reinforce the version of her character that fans are most eager to get behind. If Carmella wins the Royal Rumble, it would be a mistake for Truth to break off from her any sooner than WrestleMania.
