WWE SmackDown (1st January 2021): Talking Points - A major return, Kevin Owens brutalized yet again 

#3 Carmella secures a pinfall over SmackDown Women's Champion Sasha Banks in a tag team match

With a little help from Reginald, @CarmellaWWE & @itsBayleyWWE take down @SashaBanksWWE & @BiancaBelairWWE on #SmackDown. pic.twitter.com/MuR4Y4nbTr

— WWE (@WWE) January 2, 2021

Though today's tag team match pitting Sasha Banks and Bianca Belair against Bayley and Carmella on SmackDown wasn't as good as last week's Women's Tag Team title bout, it developed two stories nicely.

While Carmella's clean loss to Sasha Banks at TLC 2020 suggested she could be out of the title picture, the pinfall secured by the Untouchable One over the reigning champ on SmackDown has ensured that she will get another chance. Yes, Mella's crony, Reginald, did interfere, but a clash between the two now seems imminent, possibly at Royal Rumble 2021.

Neutralize the arm, take away the power game of the #ESTofWWE... 🧠#SmackDown @itsBayleyWWE pic.twitter.com/IN5V6lqC2E

— WWE (@WWE) January 2, 2021

Carmella put up the best performance of her career at TLC, and WWE is deservingly granting her yet another opportunity to showcase her tremendous all-around skills.

As for Bayley and Bianca Belair, they would also eventually go head to head to culminate their rivalry. The EST Of WWE must go over dominantly if SmackDown wants to present her as a major player on the brand.