Jade Cargill is no stranger to stirring up conversation, and the reigning WWE Women’s Champion has once again sparked heated discussions over her lack of title defenses. Since defeating Tiffany Stratton at Saturday Night’s Main Event in November, Cargill has yet to defend her title—a drought that has now lasted over 77 days.
Despite being the face of WWE’s women’s division, Cargill has only wrestled two televised matches since capturing the gold—both of which were squash victories over B-Fab and Alba Fyre. Fans and critics alike have raised eyebrows at the lack of action for Cargill, but it seems that her in-character response on social media has only fueled the fire.
Jade Cargill’s Controversial Response to Critics
As her first title defense continues to be delayed, Jordynne Grace—one of Cargill’s most high-profile rivals—highlighted the issue on social media, pointing out that Cargill had yet to defend the championship she won from Tiffany Stratton.
Cargill, known for her confidence and unapologetic attitude, quickly responded in character:
“Y’all want me to defend MY Title against a NOBODY. If I’m going to defend MY title- It’s going to be against somebody who is competition!”
— Jade Cargill on X (Twitter)
The response ignited a wave of reactions, and Cargill continued to lean into the backlash, further stating:
“My first Title defense will not be against some walk-up nobody. 💅🏾 and y’all can CONTINUE to be angry about it. You might as well cry. 🤣 IDGAF.”
— Jade Cargill on X (Twitter)
While these comments were clearly in-character, they did shine a light on the growing frustration with the SmackDown Women’s Division, where Cargill’s lack of competition is now being used as a storyline justification. In reality, this absence of title defenses has raised questions about the division’s current depth and the absence of Cargill’s most prominent rivals.
The Backstory: Injuries and a Lack of Competition
Jade Cargill’s claim that she has no competition isn’t entirely far from the truth. Several top stars have been absent or sidelined:
- Tiffany Stratton has reportedly been on the shelf due to an undisclosed injury following her match with Cargill.
- Bianca Belair has been recovering from a broken knuckle suffered at WrestleMania 41.
- Charlotte Flair, Alexa Bliss, and Nia Jax have been primarily involved in the Women’s Tag Team Division, further limiting potential challengers for Cargill’s title.
The creative team had been setting the stage for Michin to be Cargill’s first real challenger, but Michin suffered an injury during WWE’s recent holiday tour, as did her tag team partner B-Fab.
However, in the midst of these setbacks, Jordynne Grace—former TNA Knockouts Champion—was recently called up from NXT and has quickly become Cargill’s most immediate rival.
Jordynne Grace’s Impact: A Fresh Rivalry for Cargill
Grace, who has years of experience and is considered a main-event caliber talent, has brought a much-needed infusion of competition to Cargill’s title reign. Their feud promises to bring fresh energy to the division and offer the kind of rivalry that Cargill’s championship run has been missing.
As Tiffany Stratton is reportedly cleared to return soon, Cargill will likely have no shortage of challenges coming her way. Despite her confident social media persona, the reality is that Cargill’s title run will only become more meaningful once she steps into the ring with opponents who can push her to new heights.
The Bigger Picture: SmackDown Women’s Division Needs Focus
Cargill’s title reign—while exciting on paper—has been marred by a lack of consistent competition and the absence of top stars. However, with Jordynne Grace, Tiffany Stratton, and a healthy Bianca Belair back in the fold soon, the stage is set for the SmackDown Women’s Division to get back on track.
Cargill’s eventual title defenses—likely against Grace or Stratton—could mark the beginning of a more exciting chapter for the WWE Women’s Champion.
