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There’s been no shortage of talk (including from yours truly) over the past few months about WWE having one of the strongest women’s divisions on the planet. And though it’s certainly a champagne problem, having an overabundance of talent means not every deserving star can hold gold. Even if you’re a tenured, reliable worker with a loyal fanbase, there’s always going to be a hot new talent, part-time champion, or otherwise unexpected push around the corner ready to derail a wrestler’s momentum.
Are we ready for a Naomi heel turn?
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And when it comes to tenure and momentum, few active women on the roster have a career in WWE as long, successful, and well-loved as Naomi, who stands alongside Natalya as one of the last remnants of the Divas era. But while her tenure in WWE includes two reigns as Smackdown Women’s Champion and a stint holding tag gold alongside Sasha Banks, it’s been seven years since Naomi has held singles gold.
Make no mistake — Naomi gets no shortage of title shots. But whether she’s challenging Nia Jax for her title in the main event of Smackdown or coming face to face with Bayley for a number one contender’s spot, there’s a running theme in Naomi’s title matches: she always comes up just short. With the introduction of the Women’s United States Championship, there would seem to be yet another opportunity for Naomi to at last reclaim singles gold, but if the befuddling results of Friday’s first-round qualifiers are any indication, this might be yet another disappointing title chase for Naomi.
Yes, Naomi as an inaugural Women’s US Champion would fit like a glove. But with her best Grand Slam champion Bayley advancing to the next round of the US Championship tournament, a much messier, more intriguing possibility is at play — a Naomi heel turn. Make no mistake: the US Championship isn’t a title Bayley needs to add to her collection. But if someone like Candice LeRae (who has been integral to the bolstering of the midcard scene) is knocked out in round one to ensure Bayley advances, it’s clear there are larger plans at work involving the Role Model.
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Whether at the Royal Rumble in January, at Wrestlemania, or most recently in their 1-on-1 singles bout to determine Nia Jax’s challenger at Bad Blood, Naomi is always the bridesmaid and never the bride when it comes to her dynamic with Bayley. Make no mistake — Naomi’s infectious energy and GLOW gimmick make her the perfect natural babyface, but a heel turn against a close ally like Bayley could be the perfect opportunity to give Naomi a long-overdue and well-deserved push.
While I’ve made the case for Chelsea Green or Michin to walk away as inaugural women’s US Champion, seeing Bayley once again succeed where she always seems to come up short could be the push WWE Creative needs to take the plunge to both give Naomi a title and turn her heel in one fell swoop.
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