10 Predictions For WWE's Direction After SummerSlam 2016

8. Eva Marie: SmackDown Women's Champion

dolph ziggler smackdown
WWE.com

While there’s not been an official announcement from WWE themselves yet, SmackDown GM Daniel Bryan let slip on a radio interview last week that a separate Women’s Title was on its way to SmackDown. Whether or not this is the right move remains to be seen, particularly when you consider how thin and flimsy SD’s women’s scene is, but one woman in particular seems to be being built as the division’s figurehead.

Eva Marie is one of the company’s most hated competitors. Unrefined on the microphone and in the ring, All Red Everything has been used mostly as a tool to troll the WWE Universe. Fans absolutely loathe the sight of her, and WWE are playing up to that with her extended ring entrance, and through cowardly heel tactics like her “injury” pull-out at the beginning of last week’s Becky Lynch match.

Though Lynch is comfortably the most popular and exciting female wrestler on SD, Eva looks set to be used as the division’s prime antagonist. Lynch is outstanding in her “chasing” role, and as a fantastic wrestler and likeable character, she couldn’t be more different to Eva Marie, who WWE are using to the absolute peak of her “abilities”.

Everything points towards SmackDown’s troll game hitting new heights, and the Total Divas star winning the new Women’s Title by feigning an injury or through other nefarious methods.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.