WWE SmackDown Grades: Big Match John Is Headed To Fastlane
3. Ruby Riott vs. Naomi
The Riott Squad’s leader Ruby Riott will get a huge opportunity at the Fastlane pay-per-view in just over a week as she challenges Charlotte Flair for the SmackDown Women’s Championship. But lately, she’s been content with defeating Charlotte’s best friends.
Riott has a victory over Becky Lynch in recent weeks, but last night she was presented with another opportunity to defeat a former two-time SmackDown Women’s Champion in Naomi. Riott needs all the momentum she can get heading into Fastlane, and as it turns out, she got more of it on Tuesday night.
The two would put on a solid, but relatively short, match that saw The Riott Squad leader get another win over a friend of Charlotte as she knocked off Naomi. That now makes two of three babyface allies Riott has defeated lately with the biggest challenge still remaining as she looks to dethrone The Queen.
While Riott probably won’t win the SmackDown Women’s Championship at Fastlane, an impressive showing is seemingly a must if she hopes to remain in the championship picture past WrestleMania. But if the past few weeks mean anything, Riott should be sitting pretty and should remain a legitimate threat on the blue brand.
Riott’s biggest opportunity in her WWE career is only days away, but a win over Naomi on Tuesday night was a meaningful moment heading into the final pay-per-view stop for the blue brand on the road to WrestleMania.