Massive betrayal, former AEW champion to finally get involved? 4 possible finishes for IYO SKY vs. Charlotte Flair on WWE SmackDown next week
WWE SmackDown is now in the books, and it was quite the show. Triple H appeared, and the segment featured a handful of notable announcements. Additionally, Roman Reigns made his eagerly anticipated return.
The women's division again got the short end of the stick, however, with only a select handful of female stars featured. Despite that, a few major moments and a notable bout on the show with Bayley going one-on-one with Zelina Vega.
Bayley won the match thanks to help from Damage CTRL's IYO SKY and Dakota Kai. Post-match, the trio attempted to beat down Zelina, only for Charlotte Flair to save the day. New SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis later announced that The Queen will get a title match with SKY next week on SmackDown.
Flair now has a chance to win the title she arguably rightfully earned at Fastlane. This article will look at a handful of ways the bout between the two talented stars could end on Friday Night SmackDown.
#4. Charlotte Flair could make The Genius of the Sky submit
It could be argued that Charlotte Flair is the rightful WWE Women's Champion. This is because The Queen battled Asuka and IYO SKY in a Triple Threat Match at Fastlane and, by all rights, had the match won.
Flair had Asuka in Figure Eight. The move was locked in tight, and The Empress submitted, but the bout didn't end. Instead, the referee missed Asuka tapping out thanks to interference from Bayley. IYO then hit an Over The Moonsault onto Charlotte and retained her WWE Women's Championship.
Come Friday Night SmackDown, there will be no other woman featured in the bout. While Bayley could still distract the referee, it may not be enough to save IYO. Instead, The Genius of the Sky may tap out and lose her coveted prize.
#3. IYO SKY could surprisingly win cleanly
IYO SKY is an interesting WWE Superstar. While Bayley and Dakota Kai often help her win, she doesn't necessarily need their assistance to achieve greatness. She is a phenomenal in-ring performer.
When it comes to matches, few can stack up to the amount of quality bouts IYO has had. She also has a high ring IQ. Look no further than when she won the Women's Money in the Bank Ladder Match, for example.
Charlotte Flair may be bigger and stronger than IYO, but SKY may use her quickness and intelligence to outsmart and outperform The Queen. A quick pin or another Over The Moonsault could seal the deal and keep the title around her waist.
#2. Bayley could cost IYO SKY the WWE Women's Championship
Bayley helped IYO SKY defeat Charlotte Flair and Asuka at WWE Fastlane. IYO seemingly repaid the favor by helping The Role Model defeat Zelina Vega on the latest episode of Friday Night SmackDown. While that may lead some to believe that the two are on good terms, it may not be the case.
IYO and Bayley have had a lot of tension. Their issues go back months, even before Damage CTRL moved to SmackDown in the 2023 WWE Draft. While they always seem to make up in the end, many believe a split is inevitable.
The Role Model is a nefarious and manipulative individual. If she has been planning a breakup, it could come when IYO defends her coveted title. Don't be surprised to see Bayley interfere, but instead of on SKY's behalf, she costs her "friend" the win. From there, the two can finally feud.
#1. Jade Cargill could attack Charlotte Flair after their recent altercation
Nick Aldis had his hands full on his first night as the WWE SmackDown General Manager. With Piper Niven by her side, Chelsea Green was already giving a less than warm reception to the Englishman before he cut things off for a meeting with Charlotte Flair.
From there, Aldis made the aforementioned WWE Women's Championship match. When Flair turned around to leave, she stood face-to-face with Jade Cargill. Triple H accompanied the former AEW TBS Champion, having intended to introduce her to Nick. Instead, she and Charlotte had a tense, albeit brief, confrontation.
Flair gave Jade attitude immediately, which could backfire on The Queen. There's a chance that Cargill will show up on SmackDown again next week and attack the 14-time champion. While Charlotte will win by disqualification, it would prevent her from capturing the title.