5 Biggest Winners & Losers From WWE SmackDown Live (July 26)

Losers...

5. Natalya

Natalya was in an excellent spot coming-out of Battleground. Overcoming her rival Becky Lynch after an entertaining back-and-forth match, Natalya put-in the kind of performance she’s always been capable of, but has rarely delivered in recent years. Full of the fire and passion that’s so often been missing from her work, Natalya looks completely revitalised in her new heel role, and defeating Becky was a significant feather in her cap after several failed attempts at capturing the WWE Women’s Championship.

Instead of letting the Lynch/Natalya feud grow over the next few weeks, WWE effectively pulled the rug on an easy SummerSlam booking. Last night saw SmackDown’s top two females rematch, with Becky tapping Nattie out in just over 10 minutes, ending any traction that Natalya had gained at Battleground there and then.

This kind of 50/50 booking has plagued WWE for years, and while everyone wanted to see Becky get her win back eventually, the moment would’ve been a lot more satisfying had it come at SummerSlam. The match itself was fine (if a step below their Battleground showdown), but Natalya’s momentum is all but gone, and with a number of younger, hungry athletes ready to step-up and take her spot, that’s not a good place to be in.