As Samantha Irvin looked gorgeous in and out the ring announcing the Smackdown Women’s Championship match for Wrestlemania 39, Rhea Ripley looked absolutely diesel! And Frances Crees was on to something, because in the black tights and bralet, I could finally get a glimpse of what Andrade see’s in Charlotte Flair … But Wrestlemania is no fashion show, despite the obligatory pomp, so to further show what this contest was all about Flair and Ripley began their match with a test of strength, comparing each others grapple capability. Flair playfully slapped Ripley in the back of the head, sonning her, despite knocking Flair off her feet seconds before with a shoulder block. Flair knocked Ripley out the ring and when Ripley stood back up, her hair dye was dripping into her face, which was pure unintentional comedy. But again, this Smackdown Women’s Championship match was not a fashion show. Ripley applied a leg lock on Flair’s abdominal putting elbows to the back of her head and pulling her hair.
Getting too cocky from off the ground, Ripley was rolling until she missed a boot allowing Flair to set up the first pin attempt of the night. Unsuccessful, Ripley responded with hard hitting shots, culminating in converting Flair’s defending chops into a sit out powerbomb and a pin attempt of her own. Ripley followed this up with an armdrag combined with a myriad of clotheslines, her grip on Flair like a steel handcuff. But once, Ripley relinquished her grip Flair responded with so many chops from the middle of the ring, that Flair was still chopping Ripley by the time she hit the corner. Hitting a suplex, that turned Ripley inside out, Flair went for the pin attempt again and once more her attempt was no good. Tired of the games, Flair attempted to lock in the Figure 4, though her attempt at her signature was rebuffed.
Both competitors up and ready for war, the two ran at each other and canceled each other out with colliding big boots. Ripley was up first, stepping on Flair’s boot after firing off a barrage of shots, but despite kissing canvas Flair kipped up like Superwoman giving Ripley everything she dished out back to her. Stepping on her stomach, Flair climbed to the top while Ripley with inhuman speed practically flew (not once, but twice) to get Flair off the rope, flipping her inside out for two. Not able to perform from the ropes, Flair changed tactics and hit Natural Selection, gearing up for a Spear only to crash into the steps outside of the ring.
Dragging Flair back in after her mistake, Ripley hit another powerbomb for another two count. Flair, grasping for straws took Ripley to Suplex City until Ripley came to her senses to take a detour and give Flair some German’s of her own. Another boot from Flair was only good for two, so Flair decided to finally pull off the moonsault, but admittedly this was not her best. The ref took a bump, and the first Riptide of the night wasn’t enough for the title to change hands but was enough for Ripley to stop playing around, brutally grabbing Flair up from the floor by her hair, Ripley put Flair in a submission hold to soften her up. Flair attempted to escape by climbing up the second rope, but Flair still had her in the hold. The ref took another bump, as the competitors were on the way up, but was miraculously still standing. A chop rang out from Flair for separation, but that was all she had left. Flair smashed Ripley’s face into the top of the ring post and hit the Riptide from the top rope to take the Smackdown Women’s Title away from the Horsewoman. Making up for her loss during the COVID-era and now with a character even further developed than when she was fresh off her NXT call-up, Ripley with the SD title around her waist is now the only wrestler in Judgement Day with gold.
It will be interesting to see Ripley lead the faction going forward, especially since with her combined title reigns, she is the most winningest competitor in her faction.
And as for Flair, the natural heel, it was a pleasure to see her eat some humble pie as a Face. It would be a good idea to see her continue a Face arc for awhile to broaden her career, before she sinks back into the arrogant ass that she has been known to be at her best.
Score :
3.5/5
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