Highlights
- Asuka's betrayal of her tag team partners solidifies Damage CTRL as one of the most powerful teams in WWE, easily defeating Bianca Belair, Charlotte, and Shotzi.
- Speculation suggests that Becky Lynch may be the fourth member of Flair, Belair, and Shotzi's team, despite not being a SmackDown Superstar.
- With a shortage of babyface female competitors on the SmackDown roster, a returning star like Jade Cargill could be a potential option for the fourth member. WWE may break the brand split rules for WarGames at Survivor Series.
During Friday's episode of SmackDown, Asuka turned on her tag team partners and joined forces with Damage CTRL. The group now with five members -- Dakota Kai, Bayley, Iyo Sky, Kairi Sane and Asuka -- is now one of the most formidabble teams in WWE. They had no troubles taking out Bianca Belair, Charlotte and Shotzi. It is believed this feud will culmiante in a War Games match, with Kair rooting on her factionmates.
If Flair, Belair, and Shotzi are on the other team, they'll still need a fourth member for their team. PWInsider reports the belief at SmackDown was the final member would be Becky Lynch. Lynch hasn't neen seen much since losing her NXT Women's Championship to Lyra Valkyria. She's not really got much cooking in terms of a current storyline and she's one of the company's biggest babyface female competitors. It makes a lot of sense that she would be considered. It wasn't long ago that Lynch said in a press-conference that she would battle alongside Belair any time she was asked. She noted, "I've gaine so much respect for this woman sitting beside me. She is everything that she says she is. She is the EST of WWE and I'd be happy to fight by her side any times she needs me."
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The only issue is that she's not technically a SmackDown Superstar.
The SmackDown roster is shy of babyface female competitors. Michin and Zelina Vega are the only other competitors that could be likely options. Tamina is on the roster, but there's some talk that she's quietly retired from in-ring competition. The alternative is to bring back a returning star of some kind, perhaps someone that could be on the radar for both rosters. That someone might be Jade Cargill.
Would WWE Bend The Brand Split Rules?
Not exactly known to stick strictly to the brand split, it wouldn't come as a massive shock if the company allowed Lynch to join the SmackDown brand for WarGames, if that is the direction this budding rivalry is headed. For a big pay-per-view like Survivor Series, the rules don't always apply and since the company is not going brand versus brand (at least it doesn't appear they are), this could be something to watch for.
