WWE Extreme Rules 2018 review: What we learned, highlights, takeaways, future projections

SmackDown Women’s Championship Match

Carmella (c) vs. Asuka (w/James Ellsworth above the ring in a Shark Cage)

What we learned: We learned here that there’s such a thing as a “Shark Cage Cam”…if that’s something to get excited about. I’m through saying that we learned that Carmella likes to scream because that’s just something we have to continue to deal with.

With James Ellsworth (so happy he’s back…he said sarcastically) locked in the cage above the ring, Asuka controlled the matchup early on, even when Ellsworth tried to throw a chain down to Carmella. After a few minutes, The Empress of Tomorrow took things out to the floor as Ellsworth made his escape…well, almost.

He ended up hanging upside down for a bit as Asuka beat on him for a minute until the match was halted so he could be put back in. But the challenger then took out security and continued her beating until Carmella snuck back in and threw her into the cage…her only offense of the match…to pick up the victory.

What a waste of time this entire thing was. I understand picking up heel victories and all of that but this is making Asuka, who looked like the future of the division, look really bad. But hey, at least she got to beat up on Ellsworth some more after the match. She deserves better than this.

What’s next: Does anybody really want to sit through this again? It doesn’t seem to be in the cards for Carmella to lose the title just yet but with Ellsworth once again being the cause of defeat, does Asuka now get another title shot or are we moving on to someone else? Becky Lynch has been on fire as of late and I was really hoping for Becky vs. Asuka at SummerSlam but that doesn’t seem likely. Either way, it’s time for Becky Lynch to get in the title hunt.