It wasn’t that long ago that WWE Superstar Naomi was a non-factor in the SmackDown Women’s scene and even at the center of a brief internet controversy that started when she was left off a Total Divas award announcement.
Now, the woman E! viewers know as Trinity, wife of Jonathan “Jimmy Uso” Fatu, has a title shot on this weekend’s Elimination Chamber pay-per-view (PPV). Heading into that Sunday, Feb. 12 show, she’s also got a new shirt available at WWEShop.com.
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Sure, it’s just a new version of her previous shirt - black on a bright green background as opposed to a variety of neon colors on a black background - but still! New merch on the eve of a championship match can’t be a bad thing!
And - bail now if you avoid PPV betting lines, which basically turn into spoilers the closer we get to bell time - it looks like Naomi has a chance to walk out of Phoenix’s Talking Stick Resort Arena tomorrow night as champ. Though it’s changed several times and is by no means a sure thing, BetWrestling.com currently has her as a slight favorite to defeat Alexa Bliss at Elimination Chamber.
Outside of Nikki Bella, there hasn’t been a lot of chatter in the rumor mill about SmackDown’s women heading into WrestleMania 33, which could bode well for Naomi’s chances, in a weird way. If Vince McMahon and WWE Creative are focused on the reported John Cena/Bella vs. Miz/Maryse mixed tag, they may be willing to take a chance with a new titleholder and see how audiences react.
What do you think, Cagesiders? Are you feeling the glow?