10 Wrestlers Who've Suffered Most From The WWE Brand Split
9. Natalya
Natalya’s heel turn was the best thing to happen to her in years. As Charlotte, Sasha Banks, and Becky Lynch crafted women’s wrestling’s new identity, Nattie was lost in the shuffle with her milquetoast babyface persona. Nobody bought her as a credible challenger to Charlotte’s Women’s Championship earlier in the year, but things looked to be heading in the right direction when she turned on Becky Lynch.
Natalya was revitalised, and performing with the kind of urgency fans hadn’t seen from her in years. Her feud with Becky was quietly one of WWE’s most engaging storylines at the time, but it ended on SmackDown’s first post-Draft show, and Nattie’s barely done anything since.
She attacked Carmella a few weeks ago, but that’s it. Natalya, like most of SmackDown’s women, has reverted into a placeholder role. She suffers from the division’s general lack of direction, but she was well-placed to become the division’s chief antagonist during the Brand Split, and that hasn’t materialised.
Things should theoretically improve now that the SmackDown Women’s Title has been announced, but for now, Natalya is flotsam. Eva Marie has overtaken her and Carmella’s turn means she’s fast creeping up on The Queen of Blackhearts, who should be headlining the division at the moment.