The recent episode of SmackDown saw the match between Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair take an unexpected turn, as a significant botch at the finish left both fans and WWE commentators reacting strongly. The incident that unfolded during the Queen of the Ring Fatal Four-Way involving Alba Fyre and Candice LeRae spotlighted an awkward conclusion, raising questions about WWE’s creative direction and referee handling, with the focus keyword Alexa Bliss botched finish with Charlotte Flair on SmackDown at the center of controversy.
Details of the Botched Ending and Veteran Criticism
During the high-stakes Fatal Four-Way, Charlotte Flair appeared close to victory, locking Alba Fyre in her signature Figure Eight submission. Simultaneously, Alexa Bliss seized an opportunity and executed her move, Sister Abigail, pinning Candice LeRae for what would become the match-ending decision. The suddenness of the pin and its timing with the submission attempt prompted veteran observer Vince Russo to voice his critical opinion, highlighting narrative and execution flaws from both performers and officials involved.
Vince Russo, speaking on Sportskeeda Wrestling’s Legion of RAW, analyzed the match and pointed out what he believed was a missed opportunity to advance the storyline between Bliss and Flair. He asserted that the conclusion made “absolutely no sense” from a creative perspective, arguing that a simultaneous tap-out and pinfall would have propelled the rivalry between the two superstars and set up a natural continuation of their feud. Instead, the disjointed timing between the referee’s count and the tap-out led to confusion regarding the actual winner and legitimate finish.
“Alexa Bliss has one of the girls pinned, and Charlotte Flair has Alba Fyre in a submission. Rudy Charles is the referee, and Rudy’s looking. All of a sudden, Rudy counts one, two, three, and after the three, Alba Fyre tapped out. Now, from a writing point of view, this makes absolutely no sense, because they are doing an angle with Alexa and Charlotte. It should have been the pin and tap out simultaneously, because that would have prolonged it, and them two would have had a match.” —Vince Russo, Former WWE Writer
The tension extended beyond the immediate outcome, with Russo further speculating on the cause of the error. He identified two possible mistakes: either Alba Fyre was late in tapping out, forcing the referee Rudy Charles to count regardless, or an intentional decision led to Charlotte Flair being deprived of a shared victory. Either case, according to Russo, indicated an execution failure behind the scenes that undermined what could have been a pivotal moment for both Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair.
“But I think what happened was one of two things. Either Alba Fyre scre*ed up and tapped out too late and Rudy had to count or I think they scre*ed Charlotte. I think it was supposed to be a double pin.” —Vince Russo, Former WWE Writer
Unresolved Storyline Leaves Fans and Insiders Frustrated
The incident arrives at a time when WWE has recently hinted at an alliance between Bliss and Flair, though fans have yet to see significant story progression. The lack of further development, combined with the contentious match finish, has intensified scrutiny from fans and WWE veterans alike, as key figures such as Vince Russo, Charlotte Flair, Alexa Bliss, Alba Fyre, and referee Rudy Charles have all become focal points in the ongoing discussion about SmackDown’s creative choices.
As a result, the Alexa Bliss botched finish with Charlotte Flair on SmackDown remains a talking point for WWE followers, raising concerns about how future storylines may be affected by errors in match execution and whether the unresolved tension between top competitors will be addressed in upcoming episodes.
