Jade Cargill successfully defended the WWE Women’s Championship against Jordynne Grace on Friday’s episode of SmackDown. However, where she earns high marks isn’t in her victory, but in how she battled a tough challenger, remained true to her persona, and sold an injury through the finish and into the post-match scene.
The match centered on Cargill’s injured left arm. Early shoulder collisions with Grace set the tone, and the damage worsened when Cargill’s forearm struck the ring post after Grace dodged
a chop at ringside. Even so, Cargill launched Grace onto the guardrail with a vicious back body drop, though it wasn’t enough to keep the former TNA Knockouts Champion down.
Both women looked equally strong, physically and as characters. Grace rocked Cargill with power moves like the jackhammer and powerslam, repeatedly coming within a split second of victory.
In the closing moments, Grace hoisted the champion onto her shoulders, but Cargill escaped, stunned her with a pump kick, and delivered Jaded — muscling Grace up seemingly with one arm before driving her face-first to the canvas.
On replay, Cargill subtly slid her left arm under Grace’s ribs to protect her before the drop — a veteran touch from a wrestler with fewer than 150 matches. Even in victory, Cargill continued selling the injury, tucking her arm in and forgoing her usual pose during the pin.
Post-match, she confronted Liv Morgan, who — alongside Raquel Rodriguez and Dominik Mysterio — continues teasing her WrestleMania choice. Cargill draped the title over her limp shoulder, delivered a stern warning, then resumed selling as she walked away.
It was a smart continuation of Cargill’s character. She refused to show weakness in front of a potential challenger — but once she thought Morgan wasn’t looking, she sold her injured arm, a cue to the audience that she is, in fact, vulnerable.
Coming into this match, Cargill faced criticism for not defending the title on TV, while some fans continued to question her ability as a performer.
Ultimately, Cargill and Grace delivered a hoss-style match, full of big, hard-hitting moves. As the beginning of Grace’s entrance theme reminds us, it’s not over until she wins. Her loss, though clean and decisive, could set her up as someone who rises after disappointment.
Meanwhile, Cargill helped make Grace look like a threat through her selling and false finishes. She showed wit in keeping her “dance partner” safe, and sold like a pro for a good while. As she showed at the end, she’s tough, but she’s not invincible, which could be a key story for her program at WrestleMania.
Congratulations, Ms. Cargill — your performance earns the highest grade possible: A-plus.
