5 Ups & 4 Downs From WWE SmackDown (20 June - Results & Review)

Downs...

4. Nah, There’s No Need For Nia’s Involvement!

Last week, WWE put more eyeballs on Nia Jax as a threat to Tiffany Stratton than MITB holder Naomi. That was a weird decision, and so is putting Nia and Tiffany in yet another match aeons after their feud had ended. The former mentor and protege will go with a ‘Last Woman Standing’ gimmick next week, and it was Stratton’s idea. That makes her look pretty foolish, being brutally honest, especially with the briefcase biz hanging over her head.

Also, this is worth saying: Jax has been good for years since returning in late-2023, but she feels a bit too forced in on this occasion. Her re-involvement with Tiffany is blatant stalling from WWE creative so they can spin out Naomi’s cash-in attempt. That’d be fine if the stalling was interesting, but it really isn't. Nia had nothing new to say on Friday, so she droned on for a bit before Stratton marched out to put a stop to it.

When the highlight of the segment was Naomi's new ring gear, then you know there's a problem. WWE absolutely cannot make her look less-than next to Nia throughout all of this stall work. They'd be doing her a dis-service. There's just no need to pie face Naomi to the side so Jax can look like the biggest threat to 'Tiffy Time'.

Concerns about the champ herself are valid too. Her promo work continues to come across as snide, entitled and altogether heelish. It's certainly a choice to have your top champ female babyface play a stuck up bratty sort who speaks almost exclusively in soundbites.

Hopefully 'Last Woman Standing' pays off, but a rethink is needed here.