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Charlotte Flair has been there and done it when it comes to her time in the WWE. There is no question that she is the most decorated WWE women's champion. With her recent loss of the NXT Women's Championship, the question as to what is next for her will need to wait. She is currently sidelined and with a timetable of a return not necessarily ironed out, she is waiting to hear about a return.
While Charlotte Flair will be absent from the ring, a number of questions about her 'spot' are asked and who will be involved in her absence. Several women are more than capable of being elevated in that role but the question is who among them will be the ones to do so.
The list of names of women that this could include involve former champions and some that have never before held a championship in the WWE. The question as to who will fans buy into more in that place as a contender is an argument we want to try and make.
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Charlotte Flair has had a great deal of success behind her so the question as to whether or not others will be able to step up and make us take notice is key.
#5 Natalya
While Charlotte Flair is absent, a number of women will likely be put in a position to contend for a women's championship. A former Divas and Women's Champion and likely the longest standing female on the roster, Natayla, is in line to receive another resumed push with Charlotte Flair absent.
Her role as mentor and guiding force for so many of the women on the roster only shows how valuable a commodity she is in the women's division. Natalya has been in several different roles within her time on the roster.
The biggest concern was the ability transition from a face to a heel and back again.
Would fans believe it and if they did how long does she have left in her run with the WWE? With a seemingly new alliance appearing to form with Lana, a push in the right direction towards a women's championship run could be exactly what Natayla needs.
She was a very convincing heel during her feud with Nikki Bella and a sympathetic babyface when Sasha returned and quickly turned heel on her. What could this run look like and who will fall under her attack when she lays waste to several on the roster?
#4 Naomi
Charlotte Flair's absence once again shows that opportunities can lend themselves to other equally successful females on the roster.
With her absence seemingly tied to COVID-19 and the threat of illness and potentially injury, to see her thrust once again in contention would be a welcome sight.
When we last saw Naomi she made her return during the pandemic. While she had run-ins with her former Team BAD members, more could have been done with her.
Her title run and matches during her time on Smackdown Live really gave fans a chance to see what she could do. Her athleticism and creativity in the ring truly showcased what she is capable of doing. The question that remained was how can they parlay that now with Charlotte Flair absent?
Do they remind fans of who she was? We know she is more than capable of doing any and all of these things. A feud with Asuka could be really intriguing and open up new possibilities for her, if she is brought to the Raw roster. That said, if she remains on Smackdown, having her contend with the likes of a heel Bayley may really push the envelope and create a fun and exciting exchange.
#3 Rhea Ripley
After losing to Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania it seems the rise of Rhea Ripley has come to a halt. While she can't win every match and seek to maintain their time at the top, it appears as though first losing the high profile match followed by being the one that took the pinfall and not recapturing the title at In Your House has left some to question why.
Ripley is about as solid a competitor as anyone on the roster and a loss to Charlotte Flair was disappointing. She can bring a new sense of legitimacy to the title if given an opportunity once again.
A longstanding feud with Io Shirai is exactly what fans need to see with Rhea Ripley. She had worked too hard and long to not be used in the same capacity as others on the roster.
A feud between the two would showcase true athleticism, hard-hitting action with a flair for the dramatic. We have seen them both on the same side in battle against the best that both Smackdown and Raw have to offer; now it's time to see them do battle with one another.
#2 Shayna Baszler
With Charlotte Flair seemingly out of action for the foreseeable future, it ironically could be a member of a different version of the Four Horsewomen that presents themselves as a new threat for the title. Shayna Baszler is a former two-time NXT women's champion and a legitimate threat each and every time she steps into the ring.
With that said the question of a feud with Asuka and Baszler facing one another would seemingly be intriguing with Charlotte Flair out of action. Both achieved a great deal in NXT and their title reigns were seemingly two of the most important in the brand's history. Both were dominant champions.
While one was more of a bully, the other was simply a confident - dare we say - cocky champion that no one could beat. Now it would be interesting to see how a feud between Baszler and Asuka could play out. Both are capable of dominating matches.
To have her involved in a feud with Asuka gives us an opportunity to see who really was the more dominant champion in NXT. What better way to do that then to have the Raw women's championship as the one in line for that without Charlotte Flair as a part of the process.
#1 Ruby Riott
While an injury took Charlotte Flair out of action, the returning Ruby Riott could also be a threat for said women's championship contention.
While an early feud with Liv Morgan may have turned into something else, it appears Riott has seen opportunities come and go, and unfortunately, it was an injury to her that spelled the end her chances a year ago. Now, however, with Charlotte Flair absent it presents itself with a new day and new set of opportunities to have her grow as both a competitor and as a threat to Asuka's title.
One of the most remarkable things to note is that Riott hasn't held a title either in NXT or as part of Raw or Smackdown. It's remarkable because she has captured championships prior to her time in the company. Her time to be elevated is now.
She is too talented and well versed in a variaty of wrestling styles for her not to be elevated. Will that happen and can fans anticipate a match between her and Asuka in the future? Only time will tell.
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