A WWE Hall of Famer has openly criticized the recent SmackDown main event involving Nia Jax, Jade Cargill, and Tiffany Stratton, pointing out clear mistakes that affected the flow of the match. The event took place on SmackDown, where Tiffany Stratton retained the WWE Women’s Championship amid notable errors that caught viewers’ attention.
Details of the Controversial SmackDown Main Event
The match featured Tiffany Stratton defending her WWE Women’s Championship against Jade Cargill and Nia Jax, with Stratton ultimately securing the victory. However, several incidents disrupted the bout’s momentum, including Jade Cargill suffering a severe cut near her eye after colliding with the steel steps. Shortly after, confusion arose during a pinfall attempt when the referee stopped the count at two despite Nia Jax not kicking out as she was being pinned by Stratton.
Following this botched moment, Stratton executed an elbow drop and a moonsault before successfully pinning Jax, with the referee completing the three-count. The sequence of errors led to widespread criticism, given the significance of a WWE Women’s Championship match headlining SmackDown.
Booker T Addresses In-Ring Confusion and Errors
Commentary during the match included input from WWE Hall of Famer Booker T, who aired his frank feedback on how the encounter unfolded. Speaking on his Hall of Fame show, Booker T highlighted the noticeable miscommunication and attributed it to several factors involving the participants.
He remarked,
“You could tell there was a lot of miscommunication. You’ve got an NIL talent, Tiffany Stratton. You’ve got Jade Cargill who’s pretty much fresh off her AEW run, and just think about that time in AEW for her, she probably didn’t learn a whole lot, because – no disrespect or anything – but she was just put on a wing and she never really got a chance to really wrestle anybody.”
Booker T also addressed Nia Jax’s role in the match dynamic, stating,
“And then you’ve got Nia Jax, who’s been there, of course is gonna feel like, ‘I need to quarterback this thing, I feel like I know more than these girls.’”
He summarized the root cause as poor coordination among the wrestlers:
“It could have been a plethora of things, but you could tell there was a lot of miscommunication. One thing about matches like that – the only thing they’re gonna remember is the finish. You’ve gotta get everybody to that point to where that finish can happen and it goes off without a hitch. And that didn’t happen, that didn’t happen in this match.”
Booker T did not shy away from labeling the mistakes clearly, insisting,
“Was it a botch? Heck yeah it was a botch. Was it a miscommunication? Was it a screw up? Whatever term you wanna put on it – yes it was.”
He emphasized the implications of such errors on live television: “But one thing I do feel about that kind of stuff – that can’t happen on live television.
“If I went to go and see Hamilton, and they were going home, and the guy slipped on his butt and he forgot his lines, I think I would be pretty upset about that too.”
They went out there and it wasn’t a good night. It wasn’t a good night at all.
– Booker T, WWE Hall of Famer
Support for Nia Jax Following Public Criticism
In the aftermath of the match and its mistakes, WWE star Chelsea Green publicly defended Nia Jax against social media criticism. Green praised Jax as “one of the best” performers and acknowledged her leadership within the locker room. This support aimed to counterbalance the negative reactions focused on Jax’s involvement in the match’s errors.
Upcoming Challenge for Tiffany Stratton at Crown Jewel
After retaining the WWE Women’s Championship on SmackDown, Tiffany Stratton is scheduled to face Stephanie Vaquer at the upcoming Crown Jewel event for the Women’s Crown Jewel Championship. This next chapter presents Stratton with a new high-profile challenge that could solidify her reign despite the controversy surrounding her recent match.
What This Means for Future WWE Women’s Matches
The issues in the Stratton versus Jax and Cargill match highlight ongoing challenges in integrating newer talents like Stratton and Cargill with established stars such as Nia Jax. Booker T’s observations suggest that clearer communication and better match preparation are necessary, especially for live broadcast events where mistakes are magnified in real time.
With Tiffany Stratton’s WWE Women’s Championship defense coming under scrutiny, WWE may need to focus on refining match execution and enhancing in-ring chemistry to maintain the credibility of its women’s division. Fans and analysts alike will be watching whether the forthcoming Crown Jewel bout between Stratton and Vaquer can deliver a smoother, more polished contest.
