10 Most Disappointing Wrestlers Of 2017

9. Naomi

shinsuke nakamura
WWE.com

Naomi is an athletic and amiable worker - there's no suggestion that she represents a regression to the Divas of old - but her crack at the top underwhelmed. Given the cutthroat landscape and the inattentive booking for which WWE is infamous, she might face the rearview mirror in 2018.

With the understandable exception of her Money In The Bank dud with the inexperienced Lana, Naomi's in-ring body of work ranged from passable to merely good. There's an inventive worker in there somewhere - she had to petition to "feel the glow", a stunning entrance in itself and a cute appropriation of the fashionable '80s nostalgia palette - but she is neither excellent nor unforgettable. The talisman of a division should be an unmissable attraction; with Naomi, it was hard to dispel the notion that she was simply awarded her turn, and didn't do enough to avoid the merry-go-round.

Much was expected of a performer who did very well to banish the preconception of a backing dancer with more attention focused on her, post-brand split. Relatively good, it would seem, is her ceiling.

The competition within the company is vast, and with NXT and an extensive scouting network in place - combined with the relaxation of previous superficial recruitment standards - Naomi has likely peaked.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and surefire Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!