Author: Jack Crosby / Source: CBSSports.com
Without question, SmackDown women’s champion Becky Lynch is the hottest act in the business right now, which gave everyone more than enough reason to tune into SmackDown Live Tuesday night. While she was really only off SmackDown television for one week, Lynch made her return to the blue brand on Tuesday as she gets set to return to action following the unfortunate injury she suffered on Raw a few weeks ago.
We learned that Lynch will indeed be getting right back into the thick of things, as she’ll be defending her title at the upcoming TLC event. And she’ll have quite the workload awaiting her because not only will she be defending her championship against one woman in a brutal match at TLC, she’ll have two women vying for her title.
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Becky Lynch has a tall order ahead
General manager Paige kicked off this week’s SmackDown, getting right to the point in brining back “The Man” for the first time since the Survivor Series go-home show. Lynch said that when you’re the hottest thing in the industry, any time away is too much time away. The SmackDown women’s champion said that she’s done sitting on the sidelines, and she’s putting herself back in the game. Lynch immediately called out the woman she chose to take her place at Survivor Series against Raw women’s champion Ronda Rousey — Charlotte Flair. Lynch told Flair that she requested she give Rousey the beating she would have, and she came close to what she herself would have done. Flair shot back by telling Lynch she wasn’t trying to emulate her, she was simply being herself — the seven-time women’s champion.
Lynch and Flair began to get even more heated with one another, and that’s when Paige announced that Flair would take on Lynch for the SmackDown women’s title at TLC in a Tables, Ladders & Chairs match because she appreciated Flair’s passion so much.Then things took an interesting turn.
Mandy Rose’s music hit, and she came out with Sonya Deville, The IIconics and Zelina Vega while stating they all deserved a title shot against Lynch. Naomi’s music was next, and she was flanked by Asuka (who once again received one of the biggest ovations of the night), Carmella and Lana campaigning for an opportunity as well. Paige was ready to give that opportunity, as she announced all the women would compete in a battle royal later Tuesday night, with the winner being added to the title bout at TLC.
Asuka wins the women’s battle royal: The main event, nine-woman battle royal came down to Asuka and Deville. Despite the best effort of the eliminated Rose to help Deville from the outside, Asuka connected with a knee to the face to earn the right challenge Lynch for the SmackDown women’s championship along with Flair at TLC.
Admittedly, I was a bit nervous they were jumping right back into the one-on-one Flair-Lynch feud, so needless to say, it was a welcome twist that a third woman was being added to the mix at TLC. Asuka here was absolutely the correct choice as well, as it’s been hard to ignore the receptions she’s been getting from the live crowds in recent weeks despite the terrible creative…
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