I Do Not Understand Natalya
WWE SummerSlam is a month away and WWE has decided to put their stock into Natalya as the challenger for Naomi for the Smackdown Live Women’s Championship. Not to personally bash Natalya, this is just not the right time for her. I am alright with WWE trying to mix things up, but they need to get the title off of Naomi and onto someone else. Natalya is not that perfect choice for SummerSlam. We know what woman is popular and who everyone wants to see. It should be either Charlotte or Becky Lynch. After those two, there really is not a prime contender for Naomi.
I worry Naomi’s inability to be a technical wrestler will make this match miss. Their chemistry is not going to be there and not many fans actually care to see this match. I know I am one of those. With all of this being said, I would love to see Charlotte get her shot at the gold and maybe this is WWE’s way of trying to invest in a main level storyline between the two women that have wrestling in their blood.
The Fatal Five Way was okay, more sloppier and less big spot moves that we have seen before. No gimmick ladders were able to help and Naomi on commentary stood out in a negative way for me. She is not good with a live microphone. If anything, the match proved my point of Becky and Charlotte being at the top of the division. They both carried the offense and helped everyone else keep pace. It also did not help that it was 11 minutes long and an elimination match.
Hot Potato Not Needed
Kevin Owens vs. AJ Styles for the United States Championship at WWE Battleground was pretty good, but came with a lot of questions. After a solid match, where both men continuously reversed the other, AJ Styles and Owens exchanged submission holds. A Calf Crusher was reversed into a Crossface. Styles was able to roll through that and apply it to Owens. Owens rolled back and had Styles’ shoulders on the mat. AJ Styles, a few weeks after winning it, gives the title right back to Kevin Owens.
The booking decision here does… what? How does this help either guy who, at this time last year, was getting ready to become Universal and World Champion. These two guys are always going to work strong matches, but WWE (again) cannot have a clear-cut winner in any of their big matches. It has to be very frustrating when creative does not consistently build one guy. They have to protect everyone, at all times. News Flash: these guys are fan favorites who have a great history of matches and storylines. Both can afford a clean loss from time to time. AJ should have never lost this match.
