I just figured that she was legit injured and so they took the title off her to build the heat in case she was able to come back at Mania.
If they'd kept the belt on her and she wasn't able to come to Mania, we'd have to figure that planning would be down to the minute, and that risks letting heat go to waste.
If they can have her out rehabbing, build sympathy/heat by having her essentially relinquish to Alexa, and come back on the go-home show or AT Mania, then you've got THE money moment.
Imagine them pulling the wool over our eyes thinking that she'll miss the show and then, SURPRISE....Naomi with the glow-in-the-dark entrance as the challenger. Wins it in her hometown after working hard to get healthy.

If they'd kept the belt on her and she wasn't able to come to Mania, we'd have to figure that planning would be down to the minute, and that risks letting heat go to waste.
If they can have her out rehabbing, build sympathy/heat by having her essentially relinquish to Alexa, and come back on the go-home show or AT Mania, then you've got THE money moment.
Imagine them pulling the wool over our eyes thinking that she'll miss the show and then, SURPRISE....Naomi with the glow-in-the-dark entrance as the challenger. Wins it in her hometown after working hard to get healthy.

