The newest member of the SmackDown women’s roster Raquel Rodriguez had her first championship match on the main roster on Friday’s SmackDown.
After defeating Charlotte Flair for the SmackDown Women’s Championship, Ronda Rousey was looking for a new opponent. Flair is out indefinitely and Rousey wants to be a fighting champion moving forward. She issued an open challenge and Rodriguez accepted.
Rodriguez took to the mic before the match and stated it would be an honor to step in the ring with Rousey. However, she would make history by becoming SmackDown Women’s Champion.
Ronda Rousey (c) defeats Raquel Rodriguez – SmackDown Women’s Championship
The match went through a series of submission maneuvers by Rousey which were impressively countered by Rodriguez. Towards the end of the match, Rodriguez went for the one-arm powerbomb, but Rousey caught her in an arm-lock. Rodriguez went for a powerbomb, but Rousey caught her with another submission with the ankle lock. Rodriguez escaped and hit a big boot on Rousey but only got a near fall. Rodriguez getting frustrated that she couldn’t get a count of three goes for another powerbomb but Rousey rolls through and pins her. Rousey is still the SmackDown Women’s Champion.
After the match, there was a backstage segment with Adam Pearce, Shotzi, and Aliyah. Both Shotzi and Aliyah were extremely upset that Rodriguez was the one who answered Rousey’s open challenge.
Shotzi says that she was on her way to the ring to answer the challenge and Raquel pushed her out of the way and stole her championship opportunity. Aliyah enters and says that Shotzi locked her in the locker room which is why she couldn’t answer the open challenge. The two continue to argue about wanting a title match as the segment ends.
The second women’s match of the night had the Women’s Tag Team Championships on the line. Naomi & Sasha Banks faced Natalya & Shayna Baszler.
Naomi & Sasha Banks (c) defeats Natalya & Shayna Baszler – Women’s Tag Team Championship
The final moments of the match had Naomi & Banks looking to double team on Natalya. Natalya was locked into a full nelson by Naomi only to break away and deliver a discus lariat to Banks. Naomi regroups and locks Natalya back into a full nelson and slams her to the mat. She goes for the pin only to be broken up by Baszler.
With all four women in the ring, Baszler locks in the Kirifuda Clutch onto Naomi. Banks hits a backstabber on Baszler breaking the hold. Natalya looks to get Naomi into a Sharpshooter but Naomi counters into a small package to get the pin and the victory to retain the titles.
Check back in with Diva Dirt for all of your future news and results from the women of SmackDown.
