Jade Cargill, the current WWE Women’s Champion, has faced a challenging period in her title reign since winning the championship in November 2025 in Salt Lake City. Despite her dominance in the women’s division, her reign on WWE SmackDown has drawn criticism due to a lack of televised title defenses and limited appearances ahead of a major upcoming event.
Limited Title Defenses Mark Cargill’s Reign So Far
After turning heel and defeating Tiffany Stratton to claim the WWE Women’s Championship at WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event, The Storm quickly established herself as a top contender. However, since that victory, she has only defended the title in five televised matches out of ten total bouts from November 2025 through February 2026. Notably, none of her title defenses have appeared on the weekly SmackDown show or at premium live events, a rare pause for a reigning champion on television.
During the holiday tour, which featured several non-televised matches for the title, Cargill retained her championship, but her reign has now passed 100 days without a television defense. This stat reflects growing concerns among fans and industry insiders about whether The Storm is getting adequate exposure and credibility on WWE’s main shows.
Upcoming Title Defense Against Jordynne Grace Promises a Turnaround
Jade Cargill’s infrequent appearances on SmackDown have impacted her momentum, but recent developments indicate change is on the horizon. Last year’s heel turn on Friday Night SmackDown, marked by an attack on Tiffany Stratton, set the stage for her championship win. Her upcoming match against Jordynne Grace, who despite not winning the Women’s Royal Rumble was awarded a title shot, will mark Cargill’s first televised defense since capturing the championship.
The feud between Cargill and Grace is gaining attention as it injects fresh competition into the women’s division and provides fans a much-anticipated showdown. The upcoming bout will be critical in determining if The Storm can solidify her reign and regain momentum on WWE’s flagship shows.
Impact on WWE’s Women’s Division and Future Prospects
The scarcity of Cargill’s televised title defenses has raised questions about the visibility and treatment of the WWE Women’s Championship on SmackDown. As the brand prepares for one of its major shows in April, this next match could be decisive in revitalizing interest around the championship and showcasing the depth of WWE’s female roster.
With key figures like Triple H overseeing the product and talent such as Jordynne Grace stepping up for title contention, the outcome and presentation of this feud could have lasting implications for the women’s division’s prominence on WWE programming. Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see which competitor emerges as the dominant force moving forward.
“This will be Cargill’s first televised title defense for the championship she won in November 2025. It’ll be interesting to see which star leaves with gold.” ? Source
We can’t wait until these two battle for the WWE Women’s Championship next week! 👀 pic.twitter.com/KsAJ1dk52R
— WWE (@WWE) February 8, 2026
