Wrestle Review: Money in the Bank 2018

Smackdown Women's Championship: Carmella (c) vs. Asuka

Asuka has entered the world of crazies, time to level up!

The Asuka-Carmella match was an odd duck on the night of the PPV. On one hand, WWE has been very muted in its handling of Asuka's post-streak character. She's floundering no doubt, but there seems a hint to a growth or evolution in that.

At the same time there is a better way WWE could have handled Asuka even before the streak-snapping, she didn't enter the main roster with the same ruthless verve and scrappiness from NXT. Either way, the Asuka part of things is intriguing, the Carmella part, however, seems redundant and a step back.

Look who just shut down all of Tony Khan's critics! More HERE.

As Asuka stared for far too long at her impersonator, after what was a serviceable match; the revelation that James Ellsworth is back is surely to stagnate the growing delusions of Carmella. She's been fun in her heel role, quite different from the wicked Alexa Bliss or the annoying IIconics and yet fun. Here now both women are in a holding pattern not worth visiting.

Ellsworth can stay away, hinted as special enforcement much like Khali was for Jinder Mahal last year. While Asuka needs someone to help her tape into that vicious side she's lost, maybe Nikki Cross is finally available? After all, fire beats fire.

Carmella pins Asuka for the win to RETAIN the Smackdown Women's Championship!

Review:

About the author

A filmmaker and wrestling buff, who merges his passion for storytelling into his writing of pro-wrestling. The art (and it is an art) of pro-wrestling is one of the greatest devices of cinematic storytelling from soap opera in WWE to even the hard-hitting competitiveness of New Japan Pro Wrestling. Watches all forms and brands of wrestling and for the past few years has been a huge fan of NJPW to the point he finally made his way to Japan and the Tokyo Dome to enjoy Wrestle Kingdom 13 live!

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Edited by Amar Anand