4 reasons why Naomi lost on WWE SmackDown
WWE Friday Night SmackDown aired last night on the USA Network. This was the third edition of the blue brand since returning to the channel following its exit from FOX. Yet again, Triple H and the company delivered a great show.
With that being said, there was one outcome that left some fans disappointed, or at least confused. Two babyfaces went at it when Bayley and Naomi had a really good match. While fans were split, it was The Role Model who ultimately won the bout.
Fans of Bayley were ecstatic, but naturally, Naomi fans were disappointed by Triple H's decision to have The Queen of Glow lose and miss out on a major title opportunity at Bad Blood. With that being said, there are likely some key reasons for the booking decision.
This article will take a look at four likely reasons why The Game had the former SmackDown Women's Champion lose to Bayley last night. This includes plans for next week, each star's popularity, and beyond.
Below are four reasons why Naomi lost on WWE SmackDown.
#4. Bayley never got a rematch for the WWE Women's Championship
Nia Jax is the reigning WWE Women's Champion. To earn a title opportunity, Jax won the 2024 Queen of the Ring Tournament and slayed the likes of Naomi, Bianca Belair, Jade Cargill, and Lyra Valkyria along the way.
She then won the belt by defeating Bayley at WWE SummerSlam. The two put on a hard-fought bout, but in the end, Nia Jax won thanks to some help from Tiffany Stratton. Following the victory, though, Bayley disappeared from television for a handful of weeks.
This means that The Role Model never got a rematch against the powerful champion. While automatic rematch clauses aren't typically exercised in modern World Wrestling Entertainment, Bayley getting a rematch after the way she lost is logical. This could be why Naomi lost and Bayley won.
#3. Naomi has a big match next week anyway
Triple H's version of WWE differs greatly from Vince McMahon's vision for the promotion. Perhaps the most notable way that The Game's vision for the company differs comes down to long-term booking.
Triple H doesn't seem to book on a whim very often. There are concrete plans and long-term stories. This could play into why Naomi lost on WWE SmackDown last night, as The Game already has plans for her next week.
This was proven when Tiffany Stratton and Naomi had a backstage segment on the blue brand. Tiffany talked down to The Queen of Glow, which led to Naomi going to Nick Aldis to get a match next week. If Naomi was already booked to work with Tiffany, she didn't need to defeat Bayley and move on to Bad Blood to fight Nia Jax for the Women's Championship.
#2. Triple H may want Naomi as a heel
The long-term booking of the Triple H era has been extremely satisfying. Storylines involving the likes of Damage CTRL, The Judgment Day, The Bloodline, and Cody Rhodes have all been incredible television that WWE fans have adored.
Naomi only just returned to WWE earlier this year. While she's been involved in several stories, The Queen of Glow hasn't exactly had a long-term angle brewing. With that being said, this could be part of The Game's vision for her. More specifically, there may be a heel turn in the works.
If Triple H wants Naomi to turn heel as part of a long-term storyline, there needs to be justification for the character transition. Naomi losing to one of her best friends and showing obvious signs of frustration point to a potential turn to the villainous side. Her loss on SmackDown was far more beneficial to these potential plans than a victory would have been,
#1. Bayley is more popular with the audience
Enough can't be said about Bayley. The WWE Superstar has long been one of the company's most talented performers and she manages to deliver in the ring, on the microphone, and in any other category the company needs.
She has been a selfless hard worker for around a decade now and spent years primarily putting over other talent, often as a heel. Despite that, WWE fans love The Role Model. In fact, they even cheered for her over Naomi despite both women getting applause on last night's show.
Bayley being so over with the audience could be why Triple H booked Naomi to lose. Naomi is certainly popular and fans adore her, but she doesn't quite have the connection that Bayley does. If this is why Naomi lost, it certainly makes sense.