5 WWE Superstars who could return to SmackDown to challenge Bianca Belair

WWE has a number of options for Bianca Belair heading into SummerSlam
WWE has a number of options for Bianca Belair heading into SummerSlam

There has been a lot of movement between the three WWE brands over the past few weeks as the build-up to the WWE Draft in October begins and several superstars learn on their new brands.

Mandy Rose has already been moved from the main roster to NXT and there have been a number of names who have been promoted in her place on both SmackDown and RAW.

On SmackDown, Bianca Belair was recently able to defeat Carmella twice in Women's Championship matches, which means that The EST of WWE will be looking for a new challenger heading into SummerSlam.

With Bayley out of action for the remainder of the year and many of the women on SmackDown not considered to be in a position to step up, the company may be forced to be creative when it comes to Belair's next challenger.


#5. Former WWE Women's Champion Naomi could make her return to SmackDown

Naomi has been making a name for herself on Monday Night RAW since she was moved over to the brand as part of the most recent WWE Draft. Naomi was part of a tag team with Lana who were pushing for a Women's Tag Team Championship opportunity before Lana was released from WWE last month.

The former Women's Champion has reportedly been moved back over to SmackDown, a move that is yet to be made official by WWE, which would allow Naomi to link back up with her husband Jimmy Uso.

The money feud on SmackDown right now would have to be The Usos vs The Street Profits for the Tag Team Championships and it's hard to imagine that feud would happen without Naomi and Bianca Belair playing their part.

If Naomi makes her return to the blue brand in the coming weeks, then she could be part of this feud and it could lead to a SmackDown Women's Championship match for her at SummerSlam.

As a former two-time SmackDown Women's Champion, Naomi has stepped into the spotlight in the past but is yet to battle Belair in one-on-one competition. A match for the Championship between the two most athletic women in the company would definitely be worth watching at SummerSlam.

#4. Former WWE Women's Champion Melina

Melina once controlled the Women's Division in WWE and was part of rumors last year that suggested that she had re-signed with the company.

This return was reportedly only hauled because Melina suffered an injury, which could have now cleared up in time for her to make her return and lay down the challenge for SummerSlam.

A few years ago, Trish Stratus returned and took on Charlotte at The Biggest Party of the Summer and nothing is stopping Melina from following suit. As already noted, there aren't many women who are currently contracted to the company who can step up to Bianca Belair, since The EST of WWE has already swept aside all of her challengers including Bayley and Sasha Banks.

Melina was under contract with NWA when the company was open to re-signing her back in 2020, the star has made some recent appearances for the company after suffering a torn ACL, but it's currently unknown if she is under a binding contract.

Melina is one of the few former Women's Champions who hasn't been able to return and wrestle again for WWE as part of the Women's Revolution.

#3. Current WWE Superstar Mia Yim could return

Mia Yim was last seen on WWE TV as part of RETRIBUTION when she was still under the ring name Reckoning. The group went their separate ways back in February when the team turned on Mustafa Ali at Fastlane.

Whilst Mace and T-Bar have since made several appearances on Monday Night RAW, it was reported that Mia Yim had been moved over to SmackDown and been given her old ring name back. Yim and Shane Thorne were reportedly the two members who moved to the blue brand, but both stars are yet to make their debut.

Despite this report, Yim has failed to make any appearances since RETRIBUTION's split and is still waiting in the wings for an opportunity. Yim proved herself on NXT and would be worthy of a shot against Bianca Belair at SummerSlam.

Yim's fiance Keith Lee recently made his return to WWE on Monday Night RAW, which could hopefully mean that Yim could be set to make her return to the ring in the coming weeks and could then be Bianca Belair's next challenger.

#2. Former WWE SmackDown Women's Champion Becky Lynch

Becky Lynch hasn't been seen as part of WWE Programming since May 2020 when she announced that she was expecting her first child with fellow WWE Superstar Seth Rollins.

Lynch has teased a return at The Royal Rumble, WrestleMania, and even as part of Money in the Bank last weekend but is still yet to actually appear. Since her husband Seth Rollins currently appears on the SmackDown brand, it's likely that this is the brand that Lynch will make her return on, and she could then challenge for the SmackDown Women's Championship.

Lynch didn't lose her RAW Women's Championship before she went on hiatus, instead, she was forced to relinquish the title and hand it over to Asuka before she went onto maternity leave.

Whilst WWE could force The Man to go through several matches to prove that she's prepared to face Belair at SummerSlam, she would still be a fantastic challenger to test The EST of WWE. That is if she is now ready to make her return.

#1. Former WWE SmackDown Women's Champion Sasha Banks could return

Sasha Banks would be the perfect choice when it comes to challengers for Bianca Belair at this year's SummerSlam, since the two women already have history on WWE TV.

Banks was last seen the week after WrestleMania when she found it hard to comprehend the fact that she had lost the Championship to The EST of WWE. The former Champion main evented WrestleMania alongside Belair and has since been on hiatus from the company.

Banks' return date is currently unknown, but with Bayley out of the picture for the foreseeable future, Banks looks like the next woman in line.

While WWE Superstars are no longer handed automatic rematches, The Boss could definitely find a loophole that would allow her to challenge Bianca Belair for the SmackDown Women's Championship next month at SummerSlam.

The two women were able to steal the show at WrestleMania, so if WWE had the option, this would definitely be the re-match that the company would choose to take place at SummerSlam.

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Edited by Greg Bush
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