Is This Why Natalya Was Moved From SMACKDOWN LIVE To Monday Night RAW During The Shakeup?
One of the wrestlers to make the jump from SmackDown to Raw last night during the Superstar Shakeup was former Women's Champ Natalaya, and her close relationship with Ronda Rousey may be the main reason why.
Natalya was one of over a dozen Superstars to move from SmackDown LIVE to Raw last night during the big shakeup, but there might be a very specific reason why the Queen of Hearts made the jump.
During the show, Ronda Rousey - who was trained by Nattie - saved her friend from a beat-down by Absolution (minus Paige, of course), which seems to suggest that WWE has plans for a storyline involving the two.
This was backed up by a report from Dave Meltzer:
Natalya’s probably a really good first program to do it with because they’re comfortable with each other, they know how to work with each other. I mean they’ve worked enough with each other that Natalya has a better read on Ronda’s wrestling strengths and weaknesses than almost any other woman on the roster. And it was made pretty clear from the start with Natalya going over. So in that sense, It’s a positive [for Natalya] I mean protecting Ronda Rousey is one of the main things that they’re gonna be doing over the next year.”
They'll most likely team-up initially, but our guess is Natalya will eventually turn of Rousey, ensuring the Baddest Woman on the Planet's first singles feud is with someone who can... well, carry her a little.
No disrespect meant Ronda - please leave my arm where it is!