10 Wrestlers Who Deserve Big Push After WWE Royal Rumble 2017

10. Naomi

SmackDown’s writers have generally done a good job of utilising all of their female competitors since the 2016 draft, but Naomi is a notable exception. While the likes of Natalya, Carmella, and Alexa Bliss have slotted effortlessly into prominent new roles, Naomi hasn’t been given a single major storyline since the Brand Split, and is primarily used to fill-up the babyface side in listless tag matches.

That all changed at the Royal Rumble. Naomi pinned Bliss, the SmackDown Women’s Champion, during the Kickoff Show’s six-women tag match. It’s her second clean win over Bliss after pinning her at No Mercy 2016, and Naomi followed-up with another victory over the champ on this week’s SmackDown. The end result? A chance at becoming Women’s Champion at Elimination Chamber on February 12th.

Naomi is comfortably the most underused woman on SmackDown today. She doesn’t necessarily have as strong a personality as a Becky Lynch or Alexa Bliss, but she’s one of the most naturally athletic performers in the division, and an underrated wrestler. Elimination Chamber probably won’t see her win the title, but it should result in a push up the pecking order. SD could use another convincing female babyface at the moment, and Naomi is perfectly positioned to fill that void.