'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
#3 Bianca Belair changed the landscape of the SmackDown Women's division
The SmackDown Women's division is in a strange place. Bayley and Sasha Banks, two of its biggest stars, were the last two women to hold the title. Belair joined the main roster last year after WrestleMania 36. Bayley held the title at that point in time and is now the first challenger for the newly-crowned Belair.
Carmella would seem to round out the top four in the division, but she has lost every big match since returning in late 2020. Natalya and Tamina, despite being long-tenured, are not viable threats to any SmackDown Women's Champion right now. They are being positioned, however, as the next WWE Women's Tag Champs.
Ruby Riott and Liv Morgan are the underdog tag team but are never treated as real threats. These are all of the major names that have been on SmackDown TV over the last few months.
The depth in this division was non-existent after last year's draft and it is still a problem. Billie Kay was never likely to be a singles titleholder in WWE, but she at least added some entertainment value to the division.
Recent reports have suggested RECKONING, aka Mia Yim, was "quietly" moved to the SmackDown roster. With the break up of RETRIBUTION, it makes a lot of sense. She needs a new start and the division needs another potential main-eventer.
Someone like Peyton Royce would have been a great addition to the blue brand. The same goes for Nikki Cross, who is not being used on RAW. It seemed like some sort of reinforcement would be on the way following WrestleMania, but the post-pay-per-view episodes went on without any big additions to the SmackDown Women's division.
The division is top-heavy with Banks, Bayley, Belair, and Carmella. Other than that, changes and additions are needed to truly make the division shine.
Grade: C+
Bayley gives us a HUGE update on a top Superstar's upcoming return RIGHT HERE.
