RIShane

I've said this before, but since Charlotte's return (which is where the feud with Becky really starts even if it didn't become open until Summerslam) its basically been SDL's main-event feud, consistently getting good time and often main-eventing the show. Its a little reminiscent of how important their 2015-16 feud was in righting the course of the 'Diva's Revolution'.

They still might do an I Quit. The most logical booking is a no-contest in Melbourne this weekend, then a heated stipulation match for Evolution. (Which I would say officially ends the feud, but then they're already doing a cage match at Starrcade and a match on the MSG Boxing Day show, so at the very least this is going to be a long house-show programme.) Also, an interesting ad from Raw tonight:

Geez. Its one thing to botch your own move, but botching your moves badly enough to injure opponents is awful. Hope she can get past her in-ring issues if she's going to keep wrestling. On a lighter note, nice to see the AOP get a main-event slot.

Charlotte Flair on why she'd rather wrestle Becky at Evolution than face Trish or Lita: https://www.cagesideseats.com/wwe/2018/9/23/17894352/charlotte-becky-lynch-wwe-evolution

That is true. Their last 1-on-1 match (5/2/17 SDL main event) got interrupted by the Welcoming Committee.

It was a strong start to the season. Besides the fun comedy spots, the Charlotte/Naomi exchanges made me want to see them have another proper match against each other. Ember's Super-Eclipse (Total Eclipse?) was quality, too.

And AJ can take a small break from the title scene and be in the MMC final at TLC.

Fun show! Pretty sure that Charlotte/AJ is the only team that can pull off the old woman-springboards-off-the-man spot the other way round. Also:

Its annoying, but not as annoying as having to call the crowd 'the WWE universe'.

You know how you can tell Becky is the heel? She comes out on top in every segment. Also, that AJ/Almas match was awesome, with a truly excellent finishing sequence.

I particularly enjoyed when he talked about having to tie an onion to his belt because of the war.

More likely that by the time the tournament ends, neither is a singles champion. Charlotte's already dropped hers to Becky, and AJ can't be champ forever. With the final being at TLC, its also a sneaky way of being able to get top stars on that card without having to use them in title matches. (Especially if the final ends up being Alexa/Braun vs Charlotte/AJ.)

There's actually a strong chance Charlotte doesn't get the SDL belt back (setting up Becky for a long run), and her next, record-breaking win is against Ronda.

Speaking of this, I hope Meltzer's whining about the alignments of Becky/Charlotte doesn't take away from how good a match it was, being the best main-roster women's match in quite some time. (I personally liked the Asuka match at Mania a little more because of the speed and crazy counters from both her and Charlotte, but I can understand why some found tonight's more satisfying given Becky finally got that second title win.) I also don't think Charlotte would have been at all reluctant to lose clean to her best friend:(From Second Nature, p.344, talking about the weeks before Wrestlemania 32.)

The Mick Foley 20 Years of Hell special that aired after HIAC is excellent. Its basically a filmed version of one of his live shows, and he's candid, witty, self-deprecating (none of this is a surprise from reading Have A Nice Day all those years ago, but still), with the ending actually being a quite moving description of his own legacy, and what it means for him and other wrestlers to go that extra mile and to push oneself to the very limits to get to the finish. It also adds to Something Else To Wrestle and Legends of Wrestling as another completely non-kayfabe show on the Network.

I remember the complaints too, but in fairness, they ended the split just before SDL got its current killer roster.

Is a Charlotte heel turn needed though? The whole story has been that she's been respectful and trying hard to be kind, but Becky despises her and is willing to go any length to destroy her. (My thinking too is that if they're running Ronda/Charlotte next year, either save the Charlotte heel turn for after this Becky feud or don't do it at all, because Heel Charlotte doesn't look credible if she's already cleanly lost to Becky, whereas for Face Charlotte it makes her an underdog.) Thought the surprise ending was smart in that Becky won, but didn't use her finisher. Perhaps a submission match at Evolution to end the feud (cause I'm guessing a no-finish in Melbourne) could be the way to go?

I wouldn't be surprised if the ending this Sunday is Becky getting herself DQed--she's obsessed with the belt, but also consumed with the idea of destroying Charlotte.

Especially as the match also featured: -Becky trying to roll Charlotte up from behind. -Carmella tricking Becky into thinking Charlotte had slapped her. -Charlotte trying to apologize to Becky mid-match and almost losing for it. -Becky interrupting a Charlotte Figure 8 with a guillotine legdrop, in an analogous spot to the match's finish.

(Photo by https://www.instagram.com/coachb7211/ )

Exactly. I think sometimes there's so much focus on the booking that it deprives the performers themselves of agency.