At SummerSlam, Charlotte Flair beat Carmella and Becky Lynch to become a seven-time women’s champion, officially tying Trish Stratus’s record.
QUEEN @MsCharlotteWWE is a 🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆-TIME CHAMPION!#SummerSlam #WomensTitle pic.twitter.com/cLlRTYr83d
— WWE (@WWE) August 20, 2018
However, at the end of the night, it was not Charlotte’s monumental accomplishment that everyone was talking about. Instead, they were talking about the STRAIGHT FIRE that Becky Lynch unleashed on her (former) best friend.
FRIENDS NO MORE. @BeckyLynchWWE has HAD IT with coming up short!#SummerSlam pic.twitter.com/hKizZbQj0l
— WWE (@WWE) August 20, 2018
What’s more, the crowd at Barclays did not boo Lynch’s actions. They gave Lynch a standing ovation and chanted “You deserve it!” at Charlotte as she laid crying on the floor.
Charlotte Flair just got a "You Deserve It!" chant after Becky Lynch beat the snot out of her. What a night already.
— Daily DDT (@FanSidedDDT) August 20, 2018
Which begs the question: where do we go from here?
Charlotte Does Deserve It
A cursory glance at Twitter shows that virtually 100% of the WWE Universe is behind Becky Lynch…
https://twitter.com/hairywrestling/status/1031332620997672960
Becky Lynch had to beat half the roster just to get the opportunity to be number one contender, Charlotte jumped to the front of the line, and I'm supposed to think Becky is the villain
— marcus (@arxherarios) August 20, 2018
YES! I cheered so loudly when Becky Lynch went wild on Charlotte #SummerSlam #WWE pic.twitter.com/Qrnac3owUS
— Just Talk Wrestling (@JustTalkWrestle) August 20, 2018
https://twitter.com/MrBrandonStroud/status/1031337336553066496
Heel Becky Lynch is the top babyface of this show so far #Summerslam
— The History of WWE (@TheHistoryofWWE) August 20, 2018
…and I agree entirely. Becky earned that title shot against Carmella by beating a seemingly never-ending parade of opponents. Meanwhile, Charlotte was essentially handed a spot in the match at SummerSlam after being gone for weeks. If I’d been in Becky’s position, I would have snapped too.
So, if everyone agrees with Becky, is she the bad girl in this situation?
Maybe not. Dave Meltzer noted on Wrestling Observer Radio that WWE likely expected the Brooklyn crowd to react positively to Becky’s turn. Does that mean Becky will be more of a ‘tweener than a true heel moving forward? Or does it just mean that Vince and Co. are well aware that it’s mostly “smart fans” who attend SummerSlam?
It seemed WWE wanted to take it a different direction with Becky cutting a heel promo the night after SummerSlam, but even then the crowd continued to cheer her for two weeks, even when she beat down Charlotte after her rematch against Carmella. So, what’s next for the Lass Kicker? John Pollock has heard that both Becky and Charlotte will be “tweeners” meaning neither will be a bad guy nor a good guy. This is for the best. Charlotte needs to be protected for her eventual WrestleMania match against Ronda Rousey and WWE would be foolish not to capitalize on Becky’s underdog rise to fame.
But will it take hold? We will keep you updated.
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