Now that the dust has settled on Night of Champions weekend, let’s take a moment to celebrate our new Women’s United States Champion, Giulia! The recent NXT call-up overcame former champion Zelina on SmackDown in Riyahd the night before the Night of Champions PLE.
What lies ahead for the newly crowned champ? Read on to speculate who might rise up and challenge Giulia for her newly-acquired gold.
1. Chelsea Green
I don’t know about everybody else, but when I pledged my allegiance to Chelsea Green, I meant it. Over the course of the past year plus, Green has had a rainbow-colored, self-made rocket strapped to her back. Losing her title hasn’t slowed her down, she turned a broken nose into an opportunity for a new fashion accessory—and frankly, I don’t see any end in sight. The sky’s the limit for Chelsea Green.
Honorable Mention: The Secret Hervice
I am, admittedly, a huge Piper Niven fan, but it would be delusional to downplay what a great addition Alba Fyre has been to The Secret Hervice. Both technical wrestling marvels in their own right, either Niven or Fyre would absolutely be a great choice of challenger for Giulia’s first title defense; although, it seems unlikely that either will step out from under Green’s shadow anytime soon.
2. Zelina Vega
The rematch clause is dead; long live the rematch clause.
I know that technically-speaking, Zelina has no real claim to challenge Giulia for the title again so soon, except that the most surefire way to earn a title match is having bad blood with a champion, and there’s definitely some bad blood between these two. Giulia came up from NXT and almost immediately set her sights on the Women’s United States Championship—and by association, on Zelina Vega herself. And while Giulia was ultimately successful in her mission to claim the title, it’s hard to imagine that the war between these two is over.
3. Charlotte Flair
If the interviews Charlotte was doing leading up to WrestleMania (as herself, Ashley Fliehr) are to be believed, we might see her moving away from “The Queen” character, sooner than later.
“On the opposite side of WrestleMania, I think I will tap more into that and kind of try to bring me — Ashley, the real person — to Charlotte, because I do feel like Charlotte really isn’t, the character I made is not relatable,” Fleihr told PEOPLE back in April. “I feel like at this stage in my career I’d like to pull the curtain back a little bit and show them like, hey I’ve been this hardcore, dominant b—- for however many years. But I’d like to also be able to high-five the kids as I walk down the aisle.”
With that added context, is the Women’s United States Championship the perfect stage for Charlotte’s long-awaited face-turn? Who better to humanize the decorated former Women’s World Champion than a fresh new heel? And what better way to legitimize the still very new lineage of the Women’s United States Championship than to hang it on the legendary Charlotte Flair?
4. Alexa Bliss
Bliss may be Back, but we haven’t gotten to see as much of her as some fans were hoping. With her joint Wyatt Sicks plans shelved due to Bo Dallas’ injury on the lead-up to WrestleMania, Alexa has been relegated to making semi-regular appearances on SmackDown & PLE’s. After her most recent attempt at clinching the Queen of the Ring semi finals ended in a loss to Auska, she’s tried to align herself with a seemingly apathetic Charlotte Flair—so far, unsuccessfully. A United States title run could be just the thing she needs to get her groove back—and give audiences the increased dose of Bliss they’ve been looking for.
5. Michin
Okay, this one’s a wildcard, but I think she deserves it! Michin is a vet by today’s standards: signed in 2018, she’s done her time in NXT, run with the likes of AJ Styles in The OC, AND she threw a drink in Nia Jax’s face. Her dumpster match with Chelsea Green was an instant classic, and she’s only continued putting in the work then, appearing regularly on SmackDown in an admittedly minor capacity, seemingly searching for a viable angle.
In a roster heavy with over heels and smug faces, Michin’s character is a classic, salt of the earth good guy; and while I don’t see Giulia dumping the title any time soon regardless, it’s hard to imagine a more appropriate match up for her first title defense.
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