WWE fans were left stunned on Friday night’s episode of SmackDown as Charlotte Flair, one of the company’s top stars, appeared to suffer a knee injury during her match with Asuka.
The incident occurred during a commercial break in the midst of a hard-fought back-and-forth contest. When the cameras returned, Flair was seen lying on her back in clear discomfort, holding her left knee and grimacing in pain. Referee Charles Robinson immediately checked on her, and the match was quickly halted.
Flair was eventually helped to her feet and escorted out of the ring by ringside officials. She appeared to be visibly limping and was unable to put any weight on her left leg. The severity of the injury is still unknown, but it is clear that it is serious enough to cause concern.
WWE has yet to issue an official statement on Flair’s condition, but PWInsider reports that the injury occurred when she slipped and fell during a commercial break. The report also states that Flair was able to walk out of the arena on her own power, but that she will undergo further evaluation on Saturday to determine the extent of the damage.
If Flair’s injury is indeed serious, it could be a major blow to the WWE women’s division. Flair is currently one of the top stars on the SmackDown roster and is considered to be one of the best female wrestlers in the world. She is also scheduled to compete in a triple threat match for the WWE Women’s Championship at Fastlane alongside Asuka and Damage CTRL member Bayley.
The potential loss of Flair would be a major setback for the WWE, as she is a popular and marketable star who is capable of drawing a large audience. It would also be a setback for Flair herself, as she is currently in the midst of a strong run as a top heel and is likely to contend for the WWE Women’s Championship in the near future.
Fans are now anxiously awaiting updates on Flair’s condition and hoping that the injury is not as serious as it appears. In the meantime, they can only speculate on what the future holds for one of the most talented and popular stars in WWE.
Possible storylines for WWE SmackDown in the wake of Charlotte Flair’s injury:
- Asuka vs. Damage CTRL:With Flair out of the picture, Asuka could now find herself embroiled in a feud with Damage CTRL. This could lead to a one-on-one match between Asuka and Bayley at Fastlane, or even a triple threat match if Flair is able to return in time.
- A new contender emerges:With Flair sidelined, it could open up the door for a new contender to emerge in the WWE women’s division. This could be a young star who is looking to make a name for herself, or it could be a returning veteran who is looking to reclaim her place at the top of the mountain.
- Bayley becomes the number one contender:Bayley, who was already scheduled to compete in the triple threat match for the WWE Women’s Championship at Fastlane, could now find herself as the number one contender if Flair is unable to compete. This would set the stage for a highly anticipated match between Bayley and Asuka at the February pay-per-view.
Only time will tell how WWE will decide to handle Charlotte Flair’s injury and what impact it will have on the WWE women’s division. But one thing is for sure: the future of the division is now more uncertain than ever.