WWE Smackdown Rankings: Can Nakamura Win The WWE Title?
By Warsame A
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Welcome to the WWE SmackDown Division Rankings for the Sep. 5 episode. Shinsuke Nakamura scored the biggest win of his career over Randy Orton.
These are the power rankings for each division on SmackDown Live for this following week. Each division would be ranked based on storyline progression and win/loss record as of 2017. Also each division would be divided by contenders and pretenders, to differentiate the challengers in their respective division. I’ll also highlight a specific superstar in each division and explain their ranking based on their actions. Win/Loss record is provided by CageMatch.Net.
Must Read: Who Stood Out In The Raw Rankings This Week?
Each superstar or tag team can move up or down the rankings based on victory, defeat or storyline progression. Let’s get right to the rankings.
Smackdown Live. Photo by WWE.com
The SmackDown Live Women’s Division
Highlights of the division
Natalya scored a big win over Carmella in the only match for the Women’s Division this week. The problem is how Natalya hasn’t distinguished herself since winning the championship back at SummerSlam. Everybody knew that both Naomi with her amazing entrance and Carmella outsmarting her opponents have separated themselves from the contending pack – that really can’t be said for the current champion. The Queen of Hearts said all the right things in her quest to capture the SmackDown Women’s Championship; it’ll be interesting to see if she keeps it next week.
Naomi should be the favourite next week on SmackDown as the new Women’s Champion. It doesn’t seem like the current champion Natalya has stepped up to the plate on the blue brand. Also, the chemistry between Naomi and Carmella has been electric compared to their interactions with Natalya. The wild card of the title match next week is obviously Carmella. Her loss to Natalya wasn’t a setback by any stretch of the imagination. Her verbal beatdown of James Ellsworth in the ring was a long time coming and is a sign that she is ready to be the next Women’s Champion.
So, what should happen next?
One prediction that could be made is having Carmella cash-in next week on SmackDown. Once Naomi wins the championship, Carmella should attack the new champ and cash in the Money in the Bank briefcase. This would set up a triple threat title match between all three competitors for Hell in a Cell. Once that pay per view comes to a close, contenders like Charlotte and Becky Lynch should get a crack at the championship. Even Tamina should be given a second look, especially with how her story is being developed.
Let’s see the rankings for the division this week.
Smackdown Live Women’s Champion: Natalya (10 Wins – 9 Losses)
Contenders
- No. 1 Contender: Naomi (11 Wins – 7 Losses)
- Contender No. 2: Carmella (11 Wins – 6 Losses) (MITB Winner)
- Contender No. 3: Becky Lynch (11 Wins – 13 Losses)
- Contender No. 4: Charlotte (9 Wins – 14 Losses)
Pretenders
- Pretender No. 1: Tamina Snuka (4 Wins – 4 Losses)
- Pretender No. 2: Lana (0 Wins – 6 Losses)
- Pretender No. 3: Maria Kanellis (N/A)