In-Ring: WWE Backlash Contract Signing

Smackdown Commissioner Shane McMahon is out, and asks the Manchester crowd how they’re doing. He calls Smackdown the premiere brand of the WWE, before introducing the Welcoming Committee: Natalya, Tamina Snuka and Carmella, with James Ellsworth. He then brings out Charlotte Flair, Becky Lynch, and the WWE Smackdown Women’s Champion Naomi. After all the introductions are through, Natalya says it’s funny to see the three of them pretending to be best friends. She calls them pathetic, and tells Becky she missed her chance to join the WC. The heels all sign the contract.

Becky Lynch says there was no chance in hell that she would join Natalya and her goon squad, and said she’s going to slap the taste out of all of them at Backlash. Naomi says they should be worried about their next hair opponent, because come Sunday she’s gonna snatch them all, then says she’s gonna snatch Ellsworth’s balls. Charlotte is next to talk, and says the WC has done nothing but whine and complain since she arrived on Smackdown Live. She says after they deal with the WC at Backlash, the queen is coming for her crown. Shane says the match is official, but he’s cut off by James Ellsworth, who rambles about how much Becky is in love with him. Shane straight up says that he has no idea what Ellsworth is talking about. He goes on to say that Charlotte doesn’t have a chance with him either, because he’s always going to be the Prince to the Princess of Staten Island. Naomi tries to go after him but Carmella throws her into the table, and Shane gets in between all of them. McMahon makes a match between Carmella and Naomi, right here, right now.

NAOMI vs. CARMELLA

Back from a commercial break (that’s three for three) the champion is in control of the match, working over Carmella with rest holds and kick combinations. Carmella gets a brief advantage after going for the hair, but Naomi quickly takes it back with a big kick. James Ellsworth tries to get involved and the referee ejects him from ringside, as we go to yet another commercial break.

After the break, Naomi is destroying Carmella with kick after kick, then did her rapid fire kick spot. Carmella bailed to the outside looking for her man, then faked trying to run away from the match, only to superkick the champion. She rolled Naomi back into the ring and put on a side headlock, then hit a Bronco Buster for two. Back into the side headlock. They jockey for position on the ropes, until Naomi hits a big flash kick, then a sit-down jawbreaker. She heads up to the top rope but is cut off by Tamina Snuka, until the referee ejects her and Natalya from the match as well. The go to leave but instead go after Charlotte and Becky in a big brawl on the floor. Naomi drops Tamina with a kick through the ropes, but Carmella rolls her up from behind with a handful of tights for the pin. Winner: Carmella

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Carmella, James Ellsworth and Tamina Snuka came out to introduce their partner, “the best there is, the best there was, and the best there ever will be”, Natalya. James Ellsworth told the crowd to get down on one knee, because they didn’t deserve to be on the same level as the Welcoming Committee. Naomi was next out, and did a terrible British accent, telling the crowd to make some noise. She introduced her friend Becky Lynch, who got a decent reaction as the somewhat local-ish UK star. Charlotte then came out last, and said she needed no introduction.

BECKY LYNCH vs. NATALYA

Becky got a good reaction throughout the first portion of the match. They even gave her the “Tyler, Tyler Tyler Bate” chant, but with her name obviously. This one didn’t last very long. Becky started out in control, the brawled to the floor, and Natalya took over. Becky made the comeback a few minutes later with a few clotheslines and a dropkick. She hit an exploder suplex and looked to finish things off, but Tamina got up on the apron to make the save. Naomi went after Tamina and the obligatory brawl broke out. Charlotte pulled Naomi off the heels, and the distraction was enough for Natalya to roll up Becky for the win. Winner: Natalya

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Backstage Segment

Charlotte is being interviewed about her tag team match tonight, partnering with WWE Smackdown Women’s Champion Naomi. She’s attacked by Tamina Snuka, Natalya and Carmella who leave her laying on the floor.

Naomi & Charlotte Flair vs. Natalya & Carmella

Naomi is going it alone here to start things out. Carmella tries to throw a few kicks but they do literally nothing, and the champ destroys her with a series of her own kicks, followed by her rapid-fire kick spot, then a big spin kick to the face. Natalya tags in and backs Naomi into the corner, throwing her hard to the floor, but is caught with a headscissors takedown to the floor. The champ goes after her, but is caught and thrown into the steel steps. The heels alternate tags to keep the pressure on for several minutes, until Naomi and Natalya collide with crossbodies in the middle of the ring. Charlotte’s music hits as both women are down, and Flair slowly limps her way down to the ring. Naomi makes the hot tag and Charlotte clears the apron, taking down Nattie with chops and a neckbreaker, followed by a big boot. Carmella rushes the ring but is easily dispatched with a chop. She starts slamming Nattie into the corner head-first, but the numbers game catches up and the heels take control as we cut to a commercial. When we come back from the break, the rest of the Welcoming Committee (I guess that’s what we’re calling them now) are suddenly ringside. Carmella missed a Bronco Buster – she seriously hasn’t hit a single offensive move with success this entire match – and the champ gets the hot tag. A Rear View lays out Carmella, but Natalya distracts the official. Naomi lays her out with a kick, then lays out James Ellsworth, but Carmella rolls her up for the upset win. Winners: Natalya & Carmella

– The heels rush the ring and beat down Charlotte. Naomi tries to fend them off but it’s too much of a handicap. Becky Lynch’s music hits and she runs down and… shakes hands with Tamina Snuka. She shakes hands with Natalya and Carmella, then throws James Ellsworth into the group and takes down Natalya. She first up on the rest and clears the ring, but runs into a superkick from Tamina. The heels beat assault Becky while keeping Charlotte and Naomi on the floor, then pose together in the ring.

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