WWE SummerSlam 2017 Results: Highlights, Analysis, and Grades

credit: wwe.com

SmackDown Women’s Championship Match
Naomi (c) vs. Natalya

Result: Natalya defeats Naomi via submission to win the SmackDown Women’s Championship.

Rating: 3.0 out of 5 stars

It’s the first title match of the main show and the first match to be made for SummerSlam from July. Naomi and Natalya is a fresh matchup for the SmackDown Women’s Championship scene and gives the SmackDown Women’s division its biggest stage since WrestleMania 33.

Skipping right to the punch line here. Natalya won the SmackDown Women’s Championship after years of floating around but never pulling off a big win.

From the start, it looked like a surprise that WWE threw Natalya into the title mix. She got this nod over Charlotte Flair and Becky Lynch, but made up for it with a solid showing at SummerSlam and one of the biggest wins of her career. Natalya’s win doesn’t exactly open fresh possibilities, however. She’s feuded with Flair and Lynch before, while heel vs. heel feuds with Carmella, Tamina and Lana wouldn’t make much sense.

For now, Naomi should get her title rematch. She saw her four-month reign end at SummerSlam after having a strong showing throughout the spring and summer. Given WWE’s recent knack of flip-flopping championship changes, it doesn’t mean the Glowing One is done with the title, so let’s see what’s next.