3 Reasons why WWE brought back Jade Cargill on SmackDown before Backlash

The go-home edition of WWE Friday Night SmackDown saw the massive return of the former Women’s Champion Jade Cargill for the first time since WrestleMania 42, where she ended up losing her Women’s Championship to the Nightmare on Sunday, as Mami came up with a perfect game plan to beat her, and even IYO SKY was by her side to take care of her Michin and B-Fab who were ringside to help Big Jade.

Tonight, Rhea Ripley was booked to team up with the former Women’s Tag Team Champions Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss (Charlexa) to go against the newest members on SmackDown, The Fatal Influence (Jacy Jayne, Fallon Henley, and Lainey Reid). The Rockstar’s heel stable has been a major force since their main-roster call-up, and they have locked their eyes on the Women’s Championship and the Women’s Tag Team Championship.

During the closing moments of the six-woman tag team bout, Jade Cargill showed up out of nowhere and pulled Rhea Ripley, and attacked her. This led to the two-time NXT Women’s Champion capitalizing on the opportunity and pinning Alexa Bliss, securing a big win.

Following the match, Big Jade came inside the ring, and it seemed she was going to attack Bliss, but Charlotte Flair jumped in to save Alexa, but B-Fab and Michin jumped in and attacked The Queen. Mami tried to intervene, but was also caught up in the number games.

That being said, Cargill has made an impactful return on the blue brand and looks as dominant as she was as champion. In this listicle, we will explore three reasons WWE brought The Storm back to SmackDown before the Backlash Premium Live Event.

#3. Lack of credible heel WWE challengers for Rhea Ripley

While the newest member of the Friday Night SmackDown, the former two-time NXT Women’s Champion Jacy Jayne, looked as the next in line for The Nightmare for her Women’s Championship.

It’s too early for Jayne and her crew to directly get a shot at the primary championship. The Stamford-based promotion needs to first properly introduce them to the main roster, which the creative team is doing perfectly by booking the all-women heel trio in major matches on television every week and giving them big wins.

Last week, Jacy managed to beat Charlotte Flair in a singles match, and tonight the entire crew captured victory over The Queen, Alexa Bliss, and Rhea Ripley.

That said, while the sports entertainment juggernaut is building a new heel force for SmackDown’s women’s roster. WWE needed a credible heel challenger for Ripley, and who could better than Big Jade? That could be a possible reason The Storm returned on the blue brand before

#2. Jade Cargill isn’t done with Rhea Ripley

Mami and Cargill’s saga was drafted at the last minute with no prior history. The Nightmare shockingly won the 2026 Women’s Elimination Chamber match and punched her ticket to the Showcase of the Immortals on the night after losing the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship on Friday Night SmackDown and got her shot at the WWE Women’s Championship against the then-titleholder, Cargill.

Many felt that the Rhea-Jade rivalry could have been more entertaining if they had more time to build their feud. It appears Cargill is still not done with the former member of The Judgment Day, and facing each other at ‘Mania was only the first phase of their saga.

The Nightmare and The Storm could restart their rivalry on the blue brand, and the two could even have their rematch for the WWE Women’s Championship at the Clash in Italy, the next Premium Live Event following Backlash this weekend. Their rematch would be a great addition to the International PLE.

#1. To add star power to the Women’s division

In 2026, the Stamford-based promotion’s women’s roster is pound-for-pound one of the best in the entire professional wrestling industry. Multiple icons, such as The Bella Twins (Nikki and Brie Bella), AJ Lee, and now Paige, have returned to the company. New stars Jacy Jayne, Sol Ruca, and a few others are on the way to the main roster alongside the top women, including Rhea Ripley, Charlotte Flair, Tiffany Stratton, and more.

That said, utilizing their stars properly, and to add more star power to their women’s division, Triple H and his WWE creative crew might bring the former Women’s Champion Jade Cargill alongside her factionmates B-Fab and Michin back on the Friday Night show.

All the pointers above are speculative and based on personal analysis. It will be interesting to see how The Game and WWE’s creative team book The Storm and her heel crew moving forward on the blue brand.