It appeared like our groups for the ladies’s aspect of Survivor Sequence Battle Video games have been fairly clear as soon as Rhea Ripley returned from her damage. On the face aspect, it might be Bianca Belair, Jade Cargill, Naomi, Iyo Sky and Ripley in opposition to the heel crew of Liv Morgan, Raquel Rodriguez, Nia Jax, Tiffany Stratton and Candice LeRae. We even received a gaggle staredown and brawl contained in the ring, however then, in a whole shock, we have been proven Cargill smashed in opposition to the windshield of a automotive throughout the newest episode of Smackdown.
WWE later introduced she suffered a slew of accidents and stated there’s “no timetable” for her return. There are unverified rumors the storyline could have been written in to account for an actual damage, however both method, we’re probably going to see Bayley as her alternative in Battle Video games and followers now have a thriller to unravel. Fortuitously, as a superfan of each wrestling and detective procedurals, now could be my time to shine.
I believe there are three good suspects and some extra longshot suspects. So, let’s deal with them one-by-one.
Naomi
At first look, Naomi looks like a horrible suspect. In spite of everything, she’s possibly essentially the most straight forward babyface on the complete roster (other than possibly Otis), and we’ve seen nothing however optimistic vibes between her, Bianca and Jade. The three ladies teamed collectively at WrestleMania for a dominating win, and we’ve additionally seen her keep friendships below troublesome circumstances, most prominently with Bayley.
However after a photograph of her wanting kinda suspect went viral amongst wrestling followers, she’s been on X defending herself so loudly and so aggressively that it’s beginning to appeal to suspicion. She even stated she expects her timeline to be “flooded with apologies” when her identify is cleared. However is it going to be?
Regardless of being very shut with Bianca and Jade, it’s price stating that she’s the odd one out of the particular tag crew. She’s clearly the third wheel within the friendship, and the opposite two are getting extra press and extra alternatives than she is. She’s additionally very shut with Bayley, who has had loads of issues with Bianca up to now.
Verdict: 15% Probability. I don’t assume it’s Naomi. I’d take into account her the least probably of the primary suspects, however you would undoubtedly construct a logical case right here of why it’s her.
Bianca Belair
Plugged-in wrestling followers have satisfied themselves they know the place this Jade and Bianca story goes ultimately. Considered one of them goes to activate the opposite, and it’s going to arrange an enormous match at WrestleMania. I want I may make some snarky feedback about why everyone seems to be off base, however I additionally assume that’s been the plan all together with their tag crew. Among the finest feuds of all time have concerned tag crew companions, and I used to be all-in on the plan to place them collectively and break them up.
So, it needs to be her, proper? Effectively, not so quick. If the purpose is to have Jade and Bianca wrestle one another for the primary time at WrestleMania, we’re method too early on the timeline. Actually, I stated in my Crown Jewel predictions that they’d maintain onto their Tag Crew Championships for longer as a result of it simply didn’t make sense to interrupt them up already. And, to be sincere, I nonetheless assume that. What are they going to drop offended promos on one another and interference in one another’s matches for 5 months earlier than lastly wrestling? No.
There’s the chance, nonetheless, that this damage goes to result in Jade being out a couple of months, and in that case, Bianca could possibly be a great suspect. An “it was me” admission someday across the Royal Rumble would enable these two to have interaction in a heated feud for a couple of months earlier than combating at WrestleMania.
Verdict: 25% Probability. I don’t assume it’s Bianca. I believe there are higher methods to do a break-up than this, but when Jade is injured for actual and so they wanted to write down her off TV shortly whereas laying the groundwork for the Bianca feud when she returns, then it’s a risk they improved to this.
Bayley
Bayley had the most popular run of her complete profession earlier this yr when she received The Royal Rumble, turned on Harm CTRL and beat Iyo Sky for The WWE Ladies’s Championship at WrestleMania 40. You can make a case that, for the time being she received, she was one of the vital over stars on the complete roster, however the final six months or so haven’t actually gone as properly. That’s to not say she’s carried out something mistaken, however none of her storylines have actually popped and her momentum has bled off. She wants a change.
Attacking Jade and going again to being a heel may present the change she wants. It might additionally make sense together with her character, as she’s had on-screen issues with Bianca for a number of years. It might additionally present essentially the most direct profit to her, which might be getting her into the Battle Video games match. I can’t think about her character would have loved watching the so-called faces crew with Iyo Sky and choose her for his or her Battle Video games crew, given all the non-public animosity she’s had together with her too.
Verdict: 50% Probability. I believe that is the more than likely state of affairs. It makes essentially the most sense from a personality growth standpoint. It might give Bayley one thing new to do, and it might give WWE quite a lot of choices shifting ahead.
Different Doable Suspects
Ordinarily when somebody will get attacked on Uncooked or SmackDown, it’s one of many heels on the roster. It’s the kind of simple storytelling the wrestling enterprise has been constructed on prime of for 100 years, however more often than not when it’s the obvious candidate, the present simply reveals it instantly and makes use of it to both draw warmth or play up an damage angle. Are you able to consider Nia attacked Jade forward of their match? It’s similar to Liv Morgan to low cost shot her opponent earlier than they even get into the ring. I hope Candice didn’t harm Jade’s knee when she attacked her. That’s the sorta factor you’d anticipate to listen to Michael Cole say on an nearly weekly foundation on SmackDown. So, whereas I wouldn’t definitively rule out any of the heels within the Battle Video games match (Nia, Tiffany, Candice, Liv and Raquel), I don’t assume it’s probably it was them both.
I’ll throw out one other distant risk although. What if it’s a girl that’s headed to the primary roster someday quickly? There’s a ton of buzz round a bunch of individuals in NXT, most prominently Stephanie Vaquer and Giulia. There’s additionally Jordynne Grace from TNA, who many anticipate could come over to WWE in 2025. Any of these three ladies may conceivably step into the primary occasion scene instantly and begin a feud with Jade. There’s additionally a small risk it could possibly be Lash Legend and Jakara Jackson, who’ve just lately feuded with Jade and Bianca for the tag titles.
Verdict: 10% Probability. I don’t essentially love any of those potentialities sufficient to place forth on their very own, however collectively, there’s sufficient right here that they have to be considered.