Who was going to be Naomi’s partner for the tag team title run before Sasha Banks?

Naomi had a decent run with Sasha Banks as the WWE Women's Tag Team Champion, but the company originally had a different tag team partner in mind for her.

Who was going to be Naomi’s partner for the tag team title run before Sasha Banks?

Naomi and Sasha Banks as the Women's Tag Team Champions (via WWE)

Naomi and Sasha Banks infamously walked out of WWE last year over a creative dispute. While Banks has debuted at NJPW and won the IWGP women’s title under her new name, Mercedes Mone, her tag team partner is yet to return to the ring. Both superstars were still the WWE women’s tag team champions when they left their former company. However, recently a close friend of Naomi’s has revealed the original plans WWE had for her tag team run.

While appearing in a virtual signing with Golden Ring Collectibles, Arian Andrew, aka Cameron, talked about her Royal Rumble return last year. Cameron and Naomi were known as The Funkadactyls as part of the cheerleading group for Brodus Clay. According to Arian, WWE was planning to reunite the unit to have a run in the tag team division again.

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Cameron reveals how she was contacted by the company after her Royal Rumble appearance last year. She said, “So I did the Royal Rumble… and then two days after, lost my dad, got called back to come back to WWE to get the Tag Team Titles with Naomi, and then Thursday, they were (like), never mind, girl.”

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It must’ve been heartbreaking for the former WWE superstar, as she further reveals that she was even planning her tag team gear with Naomi. Arian hasn’t wrestled a match since the 2022 Royal Rumble. The former Funkadactyls are still close friends to this day, even after Cameron departed from the company in 2016.

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Naomi recovering from a shoulder injury

Naomi
Naomi as the SmackDown women’s champion (Via Sacnilk)

At the same virtual signing, Arian Andrews also revealed the reason why Naomi hasn’t returned to the ring after her walkout. According to Andrews, the former SmackDown women’s champion is recovering from a shoulder injury. The former WWE superstar refrained from commenting on Naomi’s future plans, as it was not hers to disclose.

Arian added, “I know she’s recovering from shoulder surgery. But, I’m super proud of her. That’s my sister from another mister and I think you have to ask her for yourself how she’s feeling. See if her shoulder is feeling good because she’s recovering right now. Ask her that question.”

It still isn’t clear whether Naomi will return to WWE under the new regime of Triple H or if she will join her tag team partner in NJPW. While Sasha’s contract status was known before her appearance at Wrestle Kingdom, there is still a shadow of doubt over Naomi’s status with WWE. The fans would have to wait before the former tag team champion recovers from her injury and starts to prepare for her return.