More NXT Superstars Debut On SmackDown
Ruby Riot, Sarah Logan, and Liv Morgan ambushed several of the women's division.
This week's SmackDown saw the debut of three members of the NXT women's division, as Ruby Riot, Sarah Logan, and Liv Morgan attacked Naomi and Becky Lynch backstage. They later interfered in the WWE SmackDown Women's Championship match between Charlotte and Natalya, again beating down both women and standing tall.
This angle shares obvious similarities with the return of Paige on this week's Raw. The former Divas Champion attacked several members of the women's division with the help of NXT call-ups Sonya Deville and Mandy Rose, both of whom appeared on the 2015 season of Tough Enough (where Paige was a judge). They interfered in a four-way number one contender's match for Alexa Bliss' title, before attacking the champ herself backstage.
The makeup of the SmackDown trio is a little different. None have appeared on Tough Enough, with Riot and Logan boasting several years of experience on the independent circuit. The latter also competed in this year's Mae Young Classic tournament, losing an entertaining first round match to Mia Yim. Morgan is a product of the WWE Performance Centre, and (prior to this week's SmackDown) has spent her entire professional career in NXT.
Quite what this means for future booking plans is uncertain, although it's interesting to note that all three women were considered babyfaces before the debut. As on Raw, none of the newcomers could really be considered part of the upper tier of the NXT women's division - with the possible exception of Riot, who fought for the NXT Women's Championship in a four-way match at TakeOver: Chicago.
It hasn't yet been revealed whether the six women will be considered part of the same stable, or whether both angles will operate entirely independently of one another on their respective brands. Regardless, these are certainly interesting developments - especially ahead of WrestleMania season.
This angle shares obvious similarities with the return of Paige on this week's Raw. The former Divas Champion attacked several members of the women's division with the help of NXT call-ups Sonya Deville and Mandy Rose, both of whom appeared on the 2015 season of Tough Enough (where Paige was a judge). They interfered in a four-way number one contender's match for Alexa Bliss' title, before attacking the champ herself backstage.
The makeup of the SmackDown trio is a little different. None have appeared on Tough Enough, with Riot and Logan boasting several years of experience on the independent circuit. The latter also competed in this year's Mae Young Classic tournament, losing an entertaining first round match to Mia Yim. Morgan is a product of the WWE Performance Centre, and (prior to this week's SmackDown) has spent her entire professional career in NXT.
Quite what this means for future booking plans is uncertain, although it's interesting to note that all three women were considered babyfaces before the debut. As on Raw, none of the newcomers could really be considered part of the upper tier of the NXT women's division - with the possible exception of Riot, who fought for the NXT Women's Championship in a four-way match at TakeOver: Chicago.
It hasn't yet been revealed whether the six women will be considered part of the same stable, or whether both angles will operate entirely independently of one another on their respective brands. Regardless, these are certainly interesting developments - especially ahead of WrestleMania season.
Written by Jack King
jack.king@cultaholic.com Twitter: @JackTheJobber
