WWE Smackdown Women’s champion Charlotte Flair vs. Ruby Riott.
Riott was alone. This is her singles PPV debut, less than a year since she officially debuted in NXT. That is pretty impressive.
They went back and forth. They battled to the floor where Charlotte worked over Riott and sent her into the barricade. She tossed Riott into the ring, but Sarah Logan and Liv Morgan appeared at ringside, apparently having slipped in from the crowd. That distracted the champion, allowing Riott to kick her from apron and deposit Flair back inside the ring.
Flair was nailed with The Riott Kick but kicked out at two. She tossed Flair to the floor and distracted the referee. Before the Squad could attack Flair, out ran Becky Lynch and Naomi to ward them off. They all remained at ringside as Riott worked over Charlotte with several suplexes. Charlotte came back with a slingshot suplex. Thanks Uncle Tully.
Riott was able to defend herself against Flair and continued scoring two counts. The implication was that Riott could easily hang with the champ. She nailed one after a cannonball in the corner. She locked in a straightjacket submission. Riott worked her over for a long time until Charlotte nailed a neckbreaker. She went to the top for a moonsault but Riott had her well scouted and shoved Flair off and down to the floor.
Riott went for a dive but got caught (which was telegraphed) and slammed. Flair then hit a moonsault off the guard rail onto Riott. She tossed the challenger back in for a two count. Flair nailed a leaping knee to the face but was caught with a forearm as she climbed the ropes. Riott nailed a rana off the top into the ring for another two count.
Riott worked over Flair, who fired back with chops. They seemed to get lose for a second but Riott sent Flair into the ringpost. Riott Squad tried to interfere, so Naomi and Lynch hit the ring to go after them. The referee tossed them. Riott Squad worked over Charlotte but the referee tossed them as well. Riott argued but that allowed Flair the chance to recover and attack her with a series of chops. Riott caught her with an inside cradle for a two count. Charlotte flipped Riot into the top turnbuckle, which looked awesome.
Flair speared Riott and locked on the figure eight, scoring the submission win.
Your winner and still WWE Smackdown Women’s champion, Charlotte Flair!
Asuka arrive and announced she was choosing Flair to challenge at Wrestlemania. So, that leaves Nia vs. Alexa, as they really seemed to tease on Raw.
TALKING SMACK
Charlotte Flair was interviewed. She said that she was ready for Asuka, although she’s never faced anyone like her. Charlotte said the conversation that Asuka was in the race in terms of how great she is, where before Charlotte was at the top of the head in the division, drives her. Seeing Asuka on Raw, she saw Asuka as someone she wanted to face. She said she wanted to cement her legacy at Wrestlemania and she will do that against Asuka. She promised she would do that.