WWE SmackDown: Will Naomi receive a heel turn soon?

Naomi is synonymous with excitement, vibrance, and a pleasant time whenever she enters the WWE ring. While the WWE Universe is accustomed to seeing Naomi as a face, it is evident that her character is well overdue for a heel.

The question of the matter is will WWE give Naomi that heel push?

Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like WWE intends to give Naomi a heel turn and here is why: having a character that has played a face for so long may have a difficult time transforming into a heel, WWE can’t afford to lose another quintessential face, especially with COVID-19 still lurking around, and frankly, finding which heel route to take may prove difficult.

Naomi is a two-time SmackDown Women’s Champion and the first-ever Women’s WrestleMania Battle Royal winner, so it’s evident that she is no stranger to rising against pressure. Certainly, most wrestlers prefer having a face role (unless you’re someone like King Corbin, who seems to thrive as the bad guy) because it generally provides more crowd appeal as they are seen as a crowd favorite.

Being a face typically equates to more screen time, higher merchandise sales and more opportunities overall, which works in the favor of both Naomi and WWE. No doubt her current character is boding well for Naomi, as everyone can certainly feel the glow.

While Naomi has been exceptional at letting the WWE Universe feel the glow, she hasn’t been doing so well when it comes to earning any championships lately. If given the chance by WWE, a heel role can allow Naomi to see another championship reign.

The problem is that even though another championship reign would do well for Naomi and her career, this could potentially come at the cost of a much-needed face character for SmackDown. One could say that Naomi is now the top women’s face on the SmackDown roster after the brand lost the beloved face that Bayley once portrayed.

It’s important to mention here that Bayley’s heel turn is precisely what propelled her to her current title reign as SmackDown Women’s Champion and this is exactly what is possible for Naomi! That is, if WWE is willing to lose another astounding crowd favorite.

Even if the concept is attainable, the real problem for WWE comes with how they will differentiate Naomi’s heel turn from Bayley’s, as in how it will be done to stand apart from the current champion.

Losing Feel the Glow Naomi could also be potentially harmful to WWE during these current times, thanks to the Coronavirus disease. WWE has had to adapt due to the current world environment and has decided to continue production without actual fans in attendance, to comply with CDC regulations.

This compliance came at the cost of profit loss due to lack of ticket sales, therefore the need for superstars with crowd appeal certainly increases as profits begin to depend more on profit sales and tv ratings. This is because these outlets become the greatest realms for income earning.

Whether WWE wants to admit it or not, the sales that come from Naomi’s brand are helping profits, as her character appeals to children who generally don’t comprehend the severity of current events.

While the odds are currently stacked against Naomi when it comes to receiving a much needed, not to mention well-deserved heel turn, it’s still completely possible.

Naomi needs to bounce back with a vengeance, taking on any competitor who may stand in her way of gaining another opportunity at the SmackDown Women’s Title, even if that means Sasha Banks. The Boss is BFFs and new Tag Team Champions with the current SmackDown Women’s Champion, but she also has a history with Naomi as they are both former members of B.A.D.

If their paths are to cross again, there is no greater time than in Naomi’s quest for the gold.

All in all, Naomi as a heel would do wonders for her career, but it would potentially come at the expense of WWE’s wallet. This is too pricey for the company, especially amidst the current COVID-19 pandemic the world is facing. What Naomi needs is a memorable heel turn that could potentially outshine the current champ and propel her into another memorable title reign.