Clash of Champions certainly didn’t turn out as planned when it comes to the women’s division. Prior to the event, there were three women’s matches scheduled. As always, the card is subject to change, and that it did.
On the Kickoff show, it was announced that the Women’s Tag Team Champions, Shayna Baszler & Nia Jax were not medically cleared to compete. As a result, the tag title match between them and The Riott Squad was canceled. This will be addressed on RAW tomorrow night. This took us down to two matches, however, one of the two would be altered.
Nikki Cross, who was scheduled to face Bayley for the SmackDown Women’s Title, was also said to not be medically cleared to compete. This led to Bayley having to address this with an open challenge later on in the night.
The RAW Women’s Title match was moved to the main card from the Kickoff show, which is where it should have been to begin with. So we will start with that match as it was first. It had Zelina Vega in her first women’s title match as she faced the RAW Women’s Champion, Asuka.
It was a very good showing for Vega. She earned this match by beating the veteran Mickie James, so her defeating Asuka wouldn’t be that far fetched given that scenario. However, the deck was still stacked against Vega with Asuka being her opponent.
Albeit a match that could have lasted longer, Vega did everything she could to not be caught in the dreaded Asuka Lock. Many counters and near falls almost gave La Muneca what many would have considered the upset victory. In the end, she would get trapped in the Asuka Lock and promptly tap out.
After the match, Asuka was interviewed in the ring and gave many kudos to Vega. At the end of the day though, Vega was not ready for Asuka and The Empress was able to retain. Asuka extended a hand of good sportsmanship. Vega denied it but gave Asuka a bow, only to attack the champ once she bowed back.
Vega retreated out of the ring and up the ramp after the attack saying that this wasn’t over.
Now it came to the time to find out who would challenge Bayley for the SmackDown Women’s Title now that Nikki Cross couldn’t compete. She mentioned it was an open challenge and assumed no one was going to answer. The Role Model asked for the referee to get into the ring and raise her hand in victory as a result. Someone would answer her challenge – Asuka.
In a quest to become Asuka2Belts as she once did at SummerSlam, she was quick to go after a familiar foe. The match didn’t last more than a few minutes and Asuka was able to get Bayley locked in the Asuka Lock. It would only last a matter of moments as the champ was near the ropes. Shortly thereafter, Bayley causes a disqualification which allowed her to retain her title.
Her celebration didn’t last long as Sasha Banks attacked her from behind with a steel chair. Banks would continue the attack with a kendo stick which had the champion reeling.
Let’s get into the Winners & Losers of the event!!
WINNER: Zelina Vega
Zelina may not have won the title her first time out, but her loss didn’t make her look weak. She far from jobbed out to the match and there were moments where it looked like she was about to win. Her attack after the match was great to show that the business between the two isn’t over yet. It is good to see this may not just be a one-off.
WINNER: Sasha Banks
Although some wish that they would just keep Sasha off TV for a few in order to build the feud, her attack on Bayley was great. I think we are going to finally see Banks win that blue belt that she has been missing around her waist for so long. It is time to check that box off and make her the third-ever Grand Slam Champion.
LOSER: Bayley
She may have retained her SmackDown Women’s Title by disqualifying herself but Bayley’s time as champion may be coming to an end. It is clear that Sasha is hungry for that belt and with them still keeping her on TV it most likely will happen sooner rather than later. Hell in a Cell perhaps?
LOSERS: The Riott Squad
Throughout fault of their own, this could have been their moment to win their first gold in WWE. It is a shame to see them not even get the match regardless if they would have won or not. We will have to see what happens on RAW in regards to the titles.
What did you think of Clash of Champions? Who were your Winners & Losers? Leave your thoughts in the comment section below.
