Shaking up the status quo; a meaningful return? 4 Reasons why Naomi should dethrone Nia Jax at WWE Bad Blood
Bayley and Naomi both pinned Nia Jax on the latest episode of WWE SmackDown. A caveat attached to the match was if Bayley or Naomi pinned Tiffany Stratton or Jax, they'd face The Annihilator at Bad Blood.
If Jax and Miss Money in the Bank won, the star who was pinned would have to leave SmackDown. Both women pinned the Champ, muddling up the potential title showdown for Bad Blood.
General Manager Nick Aldis booked a singles match between Bayley and Naomi for next week's show. The winner will face Jax at Bad Blood. The Glow should beat her friend and then win the title for the next four reasons.
#4. It will make her WWE return mean something
Naomi's return in the 2024 Royal Rumble was a nice moment. The former SmackDown Women's Champion left the company two years ago after issues with the creative team.
In a brief stint with TNA Wrestling, she won the Knockouts World Championship. Many stars left WWE only to return and raise their profile in the industry. While Naomi did leave and have some success, it wasn't arguably on the scale of Drew McIntyre or Cody Rhodes.
While she's been back, Naomi has bounced between feuds supporting Bayley and feuds alongside Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill. She had a title shot and a featured match at WrestleMania 40, but winning the title would obviously make her return more worthwhile.
#3. It would provide a nice surprise in WWE's New Era
While Triple H has certainly improved WWE up and down the company, there will always be some things that need work. He's done a great job with debuting new stars like Ethan Page, Tama Tonga, and Jacob Fatu.
However, match outcomes have mostly been easy to predict. LA Knight had to finally win a title, so Logan Paul lost at SummerSlam. The same went for Roman Reigns and IYO SKY due to the stories told on the way to WrestleMania 40.
Throwing a few unpredictable outcomes, including a title swap, would go against the predictable booking of title contests in the New Era.
#2. Bayley had her time with the title
The narrative for the WWE Women's title on the Road to WrestleMania 40 involved Bayley's deteriorating relationship with Damage CTRL. She created the group in 2022 but saw her creation change shape in 2023. Dakota Kai and IYO SKY brought in members without Bayley's knowledge.
The group's betrayal of The Role Model set the stage for her emotional title win in Philadelphia. She carried the belt until Nia Jax defeated her at SummerSlam after winning the Queen of the Ring tournament.
The former Hugger is one of the most important women in the company but had her time as Champion in 2024. It's time for other women like Naomi - who may not have had as many chances - to get the spotlight associated with being Champ.
#1. It could facilitate a Money in the Bank cash-in
As Bayley, Naomi, and Michin have tested Jax since SummerSlam, they've also tested the friendship of Jax and Tiffany Stratton. Stratton won Money in the Bank before Jax won the title. Jax was also very possessive of not having anything interfere with her Championship shot.
If Naomi wins on SmackDown and again at Bad Blood, the friendship between Stratton and The Annihilator can still be preserved. Jax could lose the belt, but Stratton has the means to bring it back to the current camp.
WWE may not want Stratton or Jax to turn on the other, so having a face topple Jax could maintain the heel duo. If she wins and Jax can't handle it, it could facilitate a split and a Stratton face run.