WWE Backlash 2018: Carmella vs Charlotte Flair, SmackDown Women's Championship, winners, video highlights and analysis
Carmella defended her SmackDown Women's Championship for the first time since she cashed in her Money in the Bank contract last month. Charlotte Flair cashed in her rematch clause at Backlash and hoped that she could reclaim the Championship at the first time of asking.
Charlotte Flair was out first and looked prepared to do battle with the woman who needed the help of The IIconic's to defeat her last month.
Flair hit Carmella with a big boot to send a message and Carmella then rolled out of the ring and tried to leave with her title. The Queen was waiting and threw Carmella back into the ring for a quick pin attempt. A superkick on the outside balanced the match back into the Champion's favor, but the frustration was apparent on the face of Carmella.
"The Princess of Staten Island" realized that her best chance was to keep Flair grounded, which is why she decided to utilize the chin lock in the opening stages of the match.
Charlotte fought back with a standing STO followed by a flurry of chops, but Carmella managed to reverse a big boot attempt on the apron to swing the momentum into her favor once more.
Carmella's ego definitely got the better of her as she slapped the face of The Queen and exclaimed: "I'm the Champ" which allowed Flair to set up for the spear. The Champion locked in her Code of Silence but Flair countered this, only for it to be countered into another pin attempt by Carmella.
Charlotte tweaked her knee as she missed the moonsault from the top rope and Carmella then took advantage with a kick to the back of the injured knee and then stacked up Charlotte for the pin in order to retain her Championship.