Naomi could have a big part in the build to WrestleMania season

Naomi is a fan favorite that many want to see return in a big spot, such as the build to WrestleMania season.

The first week of professional wrestling in 2023 saw a major moment as Mercedes Mone, formerly known as Sasha Banks, appeared at Wrestle Kingdom 17. She was alone on camera, but her friends Naomi and Bayley made the trek to Japan to be there for their close friend. Fans are keeping a close eye on what is next for Naomi, and speculation is running rampant. Will she return to WWE? Will she leave and join another promotion? What if she steps away from wrestling entirely? If WWE is going to make a play for Naomi, making her a central part of the build to WrestleMania 39 would be imperative and that starts with the Royal Rumble.

Rumors around Naomi’s status with WWE continue to run rampant. Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer recently noted that talks are happening, but nothing has moved forward at that time. She’s been absent from television since May after she and Sasha Banks/Mercedes Mone walked out before an edition of WWE Raw. With Mone’s time with the promotion done, for now, there’s no telling what’s next for Naomi.

If WWE is attempting to win back some goodwill with the promotion, finding a way to patch things up with Naomi must be at the top of the list. But bringing her back into the promotion isn’t all that needs to be done. Instead, she should get the booking that fans have pushed to see for years, and this time of year is the perfect time to see it happen.

Naomi should be considered a favorite to win the 2023 Royal Rumble

The women’s rumble is wide open. Rhea Ripley stands out as the top favorite to get the victory. But beyond her, it’s hard to find another name that would fit into this space. Becky Lynch and Bayley do not need the win at this point. Giving Ronda Rousey a second win in back-to-back years would be a massive mistake. There isn’t another name that has the momentum needed to be seen as a top threat to the match. Naomi fits as a big win in this space that would immediately create interest from fans who have supported her for years.

It was reported that Naomi was supposed to win that match back in May which would have made her the next challenger for Bianca Belair. 2023 would be the perfect year to make that happen, beginning with Naomi winning the Royal Rumble. Having her and Belair face off at WrestleMania 39 would be an attention-grabbing match for many. Naomi is a veteran who has contributed to this promotion year after year for more than a decade. Seeing her stand across from Belair in one of the central matches for WrestleMania is a huge moment. And her picking up the victory wouldn’t be too far off, because once again – she carries weight as a fan favorite in the promotion.

Naomi has experienced one big return pop at the Royal Rumble and seeing her get another in 2023 would be massive. She could be a surprise favorite to win the event and that’s a major step for WWE to rectify how they handled the fallout from the situation back in May, and its developments since. Naomi has long deserved the recognition that comes with big moments in the industry and many of her fans are looking for that to happen this year.