What’s the story?
As reported by The Observer, the WWE has big plans for Charlotte as a babyface on SmackDown Live.
In case you didn’t know...
Charlotte Flair has performed with the WWE for the past 5 years, making her NXT debut back in 2012 and her main roster debut in ’15. The 31-year old is a former NXT Women’s champion and Divas champion. The Queen is also a 4-time RAW Women’s champ.
The heart of the matter:
Flair has been drafted from RAW to SmackDown and has been touted by SmackDown Live Commissioner Shane McMahon as perhaps the biggest acquisition of this year’s WWE draft.
The WWE are reportedly intent on making Charlotte the biggest female representative of professional wrestling, by according her a huge push that many believe will be akin to that of Alundra Blayze or Wendi Richter.
Nevertheless, a significant hurdle in the WWE’s plans for Charlotte seems to be the lack of a competent heel on the blue brand, with SmackDown’s biggest heel Alexa Bliss being drafted to Monday Night RAW. The WWE, on its part, is rumoured to be pushing a potential feud between Charlotte and Natalya who as of now is the most recognisable heel on SmackDown Live.
What’s next?
Since being introduced by Shane O’Mac on the April 11th edition of SmackDown Live, Charlotte went on to defeat the blue brand’s reigning Women’s champion Naomi the following week, and challenged the latter in the main event of SmackDown’s most recent episode this Tuesday night.
The championship matchup ended in a No-Contest owing to outside interference by Natalya, Carmella (w/James Ellsworth) and Tamina, however, fans can expect Charlotte to be booked strongly en-route to the SmackDown Women’s Championship in the weeks to come.
Author’s take
Regardless of what the vast majority of the pro-wrestling ‘experts’ say about the alleged lack of heels on SmackDown, I, for one, disagree with their assessment.
WWE Creative seem to be scurrying around to find a heel who could stack up well against the Queen, and the answer is right under their noses. Apart from Natalya, a potential long-term feud featuring Charlotte vs Naomi isn’t a bad idea at all.
Now I know that Naomi is ‘over’ as a babyface right now with the WWE Universe, but at this point, her dancing ‘Glow’ gimmick really feels dated and a heel run from Naomi would not only help boost her own career, but also provide Charlotte with a formidable, big-name, athletic opponent to feud with.
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