The SmackDown Women’s Championship picture continues to stay blurry as the Elimination Chamber pay-per-view is just one week away. The only match of the night for the women turned into two matches. Originally the match started with Bayley taking on who she just defeated at Super ShowDown and that was Naomi. This broke down once Sasha Banks returned for the first time in several weeks.
Bayley announced Banks’ return as she ushered her way to ringside to cheer on her best friend. This quickly turned into a disqualification. The two would pair up to attack Naomi who needed back up. The back up was delivered in the form of Lacey Evans.
This breakdown caused the match to be restarted as a tag team match. Evans and Naomi pick up the win with Naomi hitting a sunset flip and pinning the champion. What does this mean? Will Naomi continue to be Bayley’s opponent? Will it just be at Elimination Chamber one-on-one or will this be our WrestleMania match?
It is all a bit muddled. If Evans doesn’t have a hand in the title picture, then why was this tag team match even executed. Naomi could have pinned Bayley one-on-one and left it at that. Last week, Evans alluded to an Elimination Chamber match between the women of SmackDown to determine Bayley’s next opponent. She said she had to go through “five other women” to get another crack at the champ.
Several things could happen within the next month leading up to WrestleMania for the SmackDown women. WWE has changed the course for the men and have announced a SmackDown Tag Team Champion Elimination Chamber match instead of a number one contender match for the Universal Title. With making such last minute changes, who really knows what may be next. Bayley could very well be left off the Elimination Chamber pay-per-view. Who knows?
The blue brand isn’t as clear cut as the RAW brand. We all know that Shayna Baszler is poised to be the next challenger to their champion Becky Lynch.
Let’s get into the Winners & Losers of the week:
WINNER: Naomi
Naomi picked up a huge win. Coming off of her loss in Saudi Arabia, she isn’t being pushed to the bottom of the pile. Regardless of if Naomi will be Bayley’s opponent at WrestleMania, she isn’t out of contention just yet. Her return shouldn’t simmer out so quickly and I am glad to see that it hasn’t.
LOSER: Sasha Banks
Out of the few women on the show, Sasha has to be on the losing end. She returned, in her hometown, but couldn’t pick up a win. The only saving grace for her is that she didn’t take the pin. The reaction for Sasha to face Bayley at WrestleMania is currently half and half.
Many feel that it wouldn’t make sense for them to be broken up and feud with only a month build-up. Others feel that if we do get an Elimination Chamber match, that could be the easy way for Sasha to win that and go on to face her best friend.
What did you think of this week’s show? What are your thoughts on the future of the SmackDown Women’s Championship? Leave your thoughts in the comment section below.
