7 Ups & 4 Downs From WWE SmackDown (3 Jan - Results & Review)

2. Naomi & Nia Worked HARD!

Nia Jax Naomi Bianca Belair Candice LeRae
WWE.com

There's obviously one distinct moment fans will remember from the Women's Title match on this week's show. More on that to come, but Naomi and Nia Jax deserve some plaudits first. Pre-cash in, they put in one hell of a shift out there. The match had several excellent near falls for Naomi, and there were a few sweet bumps from Jax peppering the second half.

Go out of your way to see this match even if you've read results and know the outcome. Sometimes, it's just nice to enjoy the process. Being upfront, this writer has been rough on Naomi since she returned to the promotion, so it's important to celebrate the good times and give praise when merited. Not everything needs to be doom and gloom, and this fan kinda gets a kick out of being proven wrong. Is that weird?!

Fingers crossed Naomi can carry this sort of form over to her seemingly inevitable heel turn. She's being outed as the woman who attacked Jade Cargill, right? It's either her or Bianca Belair. Either fits, but it'd be class to see Naomi over on the WWE heel side for the first time in a long time. She could do some refreshing work as a villain.

These women worked their butts off to put a bow on Nia's title reign properly. The match was Naomi's best singles effort in a while, and all of the extras around ringside (Belair, Candice LeRae and eventually Tiffany Stratton) added fuel to the fire that was blazing brightly inside.

This can't be said enough: Go watch and enjoy.

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Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.