Hi Reader! Fresh off Cargill’s running buddies winning the tag titles last week, and the narrative of leader Cargill as the difference-maker, let’s see where this week takes us.
Jade Cargill – SmackDown
Cargill’s appearance this week takes the form of a backstage segment, plus a match. As has become the norm, during the backstage interview Cargill occupies the foreground of the shot. She is dressed as Batman villain Poison Ivy. Once again, she isn’t the first to speak – instead her words are afforded more importance by their suspense. The other thing to note from this segment is that Cargill calls off B-Fab and Michin from attacking Fatal Influence — as we saw last week, after a good few weeks where the democracy of Cargill’s group was promoted, now Cargill’s role as leader is being reasserted.
Cargill is given a full entrance for her match with Tatum Paxley, unlike her opponent, which emphasises Cargill’s star power. Commentator Michael Cole continues the narrative from last week – “they [B-Fab and Michin] are tag team champions today because of that woman, Jade Cargill”. This is backed up by Corey Graves, “It sounds like B-Fab and Michin made a great career move [aligning with Cargill]”. Note, there’s no emotional connection between the women, it’s business, strategic. And it’s now paying dividends. After Cargill wins due to B-Fab and Michin’s interference, this is the commentary exchange:
Cole: “Jade gave them the tag titles last week. So, B-Fab and Michin helped pay her back.”
Graves: “Call that gratitude.”
The narrative thread is clear — the group is high-functioning, but Jade’s influence is the key, both in terms of her ‘teachings’ and her immediate physical impact. Pushing the idea that B-Fab and Michin wouldn’t be champions without Cargill offers a point of narrative tension for the weeks ahead.
Seth Rollins – Raw
Absent.
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