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What’s the story?
Charlotte Flair and Natalya’s SmackDown Women’s Championship was changed to a Lumberjack match on tonight’s episode of SmackDown Live.
In case you didn’t know...
Natalya won the SmackDown Women’s Championship at SummerSlam by defeating Naomi for the title. Natalya would hold the belt for 86 days before losing the title to Flair two weeks before the Survivor Series pay-per-view.
Flair and Natalya would have a rematch after the Survivor Series but would be interrupted by the Riott Squad. The rematch was eventually rescheduled for the Clash of Champions pay-per-view.
The heart of the matter
General Manager Daniel Bryan was confronted by several members of the Women’s Division including Ms Money in the Bank Carmella and the Riott Squad.
After requests for championship matches turned into a shouting contest, Bryan informed the women that they would all serve as lumberjacks for the SmackDown Women’s Championship match at Clash of Champions.
Natalya was later seen trying to rally Tamina, Lana and Carmella to be on her side and even attempted to get the Riott Squad to back her, but the Riott Squad dismissed her request later in the night as they attacked other members of the Women’s Division.
What’s next?
Many fans aren’t expecting Flair to lose the championship so soon, but Carmella still being Ms Money in the Bank could mean a new champion is crowned regardless of who wins the Lumberjack match.
There have been no reports on when Carmella is expected to cash in her Money in the Bank briefcase, but she could possibly cash-in for her title opportunity amidst the ensuing chaos likely to come when the entire Women’s Division go at it
Author’s take
Flair and Natalya have had some interesting matches, but the inclusion of the entire Women’s Division could make for a more chaotic match.
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