17-time champion to return on WWE SmackDown and put Nia Jax on notice? Chances explored
Nia Jax has been pretty busy in these past couple of weeks on SmackDown. As the reigning WWE Women's Champion, she has quite a weight on her shoulders. Not only does The Irresistible Force have to deal with stars like Bayley and Naomi, but she also has to keep an eye on her back, as her "friend" Tiffany Stratton could look to backstab her with the Money in the Bank briefcase at any moment. On top of that, Jax also has to prepare for WWE Crown Jewel 2024, where she will take on Liv Morgan.
It's safe to say that Nia has enough issues to deal with on the blue brand, but things could get worse for the Aussie star. With SmackDown heading to New York this week, Nia Jax could be in for a surprise. A surprise that could take the form of a returning 17-time champion who could put her on notice. Charlotte Flair is a 14-time WWE Women's World Champion, a two-time NXT Women's Champion, and a one-time Women's Tag Team Champion.
The Queen hasn't been seen in quite some time. Her last match was way back in December 2023, but rumor has it she could be in line for a return soon. With that in mind, and based on her recent social media activity, we could see Charlotte Flair on this week's SmackDown. The 38-year-old recently posted a reel on Instagram, revealing she was in New York City.
Given that the Barclays Center will be just a hop, skip, and jump away for Charlotte, it would be amazing to see her return. Of course, it wouldn't be for nothing, as she could warn Nia Jax that she's coming for the WWE Women's Title after Crown Jewel. But as things stand, this is nothing more than speculation.
Nia Jax was forced to step out of her comfort zone last week on SmackDown
Ever since she moved to SmackDown, Nia Jax has had a pretty simple routine. She has been an Irresistible Force, and upon winning the Queen of the Ring tournament, she has had Tiffany Stratton by her side. However, last week, things were a bit different for the WWE Women's Champion.
While both she and fans have grown accustomed to the dynamic between The Irresistible Force and The Buff Barbie, it wasn't on display last week. Although they were scheduled for a tag team match, Stratton couldn't make it due to an illness. This forced Jax to step out of her comfort zone and team up with The Poison Pixie, Candice LeRae.
Although she was initially concerned, everything went as planned for Nia, as she and LeRae picked up the win over Bayley and Naomi. Of course, as things stand, their team-up was just a one-time thing. But given the number of stars gunning for her title, Jax may not be averse to rehashing this partnership further down the line.