The biggest winners and losers of last night's SmackDown (January 31)

It's about time!
It's about time!

Winner: Braun Strowman

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Finally, Braun Strowman has captured his first singles title in WWE. It's astounding that it took this long, but here we are. Shinsuke Nakamura's reign just felt "there," after Survivor Series. Braun Strowman might have a slew of more interesting challengers.

Intercontinental title matches are rarely singles matches if they make the main WrestleMania card, so he'll probably have a triple threat or fatal four way on his hands, but him walking into the biggest show of the year as a champion is a much bigger progression for Strowman than we've seen in years.


Winner: Naomi

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After her return in the women's Royal Rumble match, Naomi followed up by interrupting Bayley last night and sending her a warning sign that she's coming after the champion and her title.

The former SmackDown Women's Champion won't get her title back, and she'll wind up in the battle royal match at WrestleMania, but at least for her, she's back on TV and competing for the title. That's progress compared to nearly a year ago, when she was last seen.

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