SmackDown Women’s title match added to WWE Royal Rumble
Image: WWE
Carmella is getting another shot at Sasha Banks’ SmackDown Women’s Championship.
Banks will defend her SmackDown Women’s Championship against Carmella at the Royal Rumble on Sunday, January 31. The announcement was made on commentary ahead of Banks’ match against Carmella’s sommelier Reginald on Friday’s SmackDown.
On SmackDown last Friday, Banks said she’d give Carmella a title match — as long as she got to face Reginald first. Reginald used his Cirque du Soleil background to evade Banks throughout their match this week, but Banks submitted him with the Banks Statement. Carmella was on commentary during the match and had a glass of champagne knocked out of her hand by Banks. Carmella and Banks also exchanged words after the match.
Banks retained her SmackDown Women’s Championship against Carmella at December’s TLC pay-per-view. Carmella & Bayley defeated Banks & Bianca Belair on SmackDown earlier this month, with Carmella pinning Banks to get the win.
Here’s the updated card for the Royal Rumble:
- WWE Champion Drew McIntyre defends against Goldberg
- Universal Champion Roman Reigns defends against Kevin Owens in a Last Man Standing match
- SmackDown Women’s Champion Sasha Banks defends against Carmella
- Men’s Royal Rumble match
- Women’s Royal Rumble match
Joseph Currier is the lead editor of F4WOnline.com, directing daily news coverage and writing articles on professional wrestling. He is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts, obtaining a journalism degree in 2016. Joseph joined F4W during his time at UMass and has now been writing about the industry for nearly a decade.
In addition to his work with F4W, Joseph has previously contributed to Sports Illustrated's wrestling coverage. He lives in Massachusetts and is a diehard fan of the Boston sports teams and Liverpool Football Club.