We’ve been wondering what was going on with Naomi and the knee injury she suffered when she won the SmackDown women’s championship from Alexa Bliss. WWE has kept quiet on it since last week, only teasing what Alexa might do if Naomi couldn’t defend her title in a rematch.
This week’s episode of SmackDown Live opened with General Manager Daniel Bryan revealing a look at her medical paperwork showed she would be unable to defend the title within the required 30 days. Then he asked her to relinquish the championship.
Before giving up the title, Naomi, through tears, said she felt like she was letting her fans down. After she handed the belt over, Bryan gave her a hug.
“I promise you this: when I come back, everybody is going to feel the freaking glow!”
The fans gave her a standing ovation on her way out.
Due to injury, @NaomiWWE must relinquish her SmackDown Women's Championship. #SDLive @WWEDanielBryan pic.twitter.com/2WMeZWfvDi
— WWE (@WWE) February 22, 2017
Before she even got to the back, Bliss showed up to laugh about it while telling Bryan he should give her the title back. He didn’t, of course. Instead, he booked her in a match against Becky Lynch with the championship on the line.
Stay tuned for a winner.