5 things that could happen on SmackDown Live next week: Fastlane takes shape

This week’s episode of SmackDown Live was extremely easy to get through. It had some good wrestling, didn’t feel overly long, and they actually got some stuff accomplished! I have a few nits to pick, like how Randy Orton was just given a US Title match with Bobby Roode instead of having to earn it.

I get that he answered the US Open Challenge last week, but the match didn’t happen and there’s a third man involved. Plus, that 'third' person stood tall over the US Champion and his opponent at Fastlane! Why wouldn’t you make Orton vs Jinder Mahal next week with the winner going on to face Bobby Roode?

They should have booked that feud this week instead. However, let’s talk about my predictions for this week’s show and see how I did.

- Ruby Riott pins Charlotte in the six-woman tag match

I was close on this one. Ruby did get the pinfall, but it was Becky Lynch who took the loss via pinfall instead of Charlotte Flair. The match was actually very entertaining, and I enjoyed it a lot. Later on in the show they did the dopey selfie video promos, and I think they aired them out of order.

Charlotte’s was first, and she said that she was going to go through all three members of the Riott Squad, and Ruby was the last one left. If she has to put the title on the line to get that match, then she’s ready to accept that challenge.

Shortly after, Riott and her girls did their selfie video, in which Riott said that the only way Charlotte would get a chance to wrestle her would be to put the Women’s Title on the line. Sounds out of order to me.

- Corbin vs Zayn and Ziggler vs Owens take place

Again, I was close on this one. Ziggler did indeed take on Kevin Owens, but Baron Corbin wrestled AJ Styles in the main event. They were both enjoyable matches, and I am intrigued to see where the Zayn and Owens storyline goes from here.

Zayn claimed that he would help Owens take out the other three men and then when it came down to the two of them, he would lay down and let KO become the WWE Champion, but that’s obviously not going to happen.

It’s pretty guaranteed that Owens vs Zayn will be on the card at WrestleMania, which makes this whole Daniel Bryan/Shane McMahon bickering situation that much worse. What’s the point? I’m begging to find out what the endgame is for this whole thing, and not because I’m interested. Because I want it to be over.

- No real advancement in the tag team division

There wasn’t necessarily any “advancement”, per se, but they did set up the SD Live Tag Title match for Fastlane, so that’s something. The New Day beat Gable and Benjamin in a good match, so we will get to see another instalment in one of the best rivalries that 2017 had to offer.

It’s like a lateral move. They didn’t want to actually move anything forward quite yet because there aren’t any solid plans for WrestleMania, but they also aren’t ready to put Harper & Rowan in there with The Usos.

The Bludgeon Brothers did indeed destroy a pair of tiny little guys after making their entrance before New Day was able to leave the ringside area. I have a hard time believing that The Usos vs The Bludgeon Brothers is going to be the title match at WrestleMania, but I certainly wouldn’t be against it.

- Rusev Day is cancelled for the second week in a row

I was mostly joking with this one. What the hell? Where are Rusev and English?

- Randy Orton beats Jinder Mahal

I actually said that this match would happen but wouldn’t be for the #1 Contendership for Roode’s US Title. I guess I was just thinking about long-term booking. Silly, right guys? Instead, Jinder Mahal did a bizarre “Bobby Roode has a big ego” promo (no, really?) and then Orton came out and yelled at Roode without taking a microphone.

They both took out Mahal, then Orton failed with the RKO outta nowhere and ate a Glorious DDT, but Jinder stood tall after hitting the Khallas. And because he’s a petty jerk, Shane awarded The Viper with a title match. Okie Dokie!

Overall, I went 2 out of 5 this week. I’m giving myself half a point for Ruby vs Charlotte being made for Fastlane, half a point for Ziggler vs Owens and a full point (sadly) for Rusev being nowhere to be seen.

It was another sad Tuesday as Rusev Day was cancelled again. How about next week? Will there be a Rusev Day next week? Let’s see.

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#5 Nakamura appears in a quick selfie cam promo

Nakamura won the Royal Rumble but is unlikely to be featured in any capacity at Fastlane

Instead of running with the great idea of turning Orton heel and having him challenge Nakamura for the WrestleMania title shot, Orton is instead wrestling for the United States Title and Nakamura isn’t even around.

I get the idea of not wanting to burn him out before WrestleMania, but since the guy can’t cut much of a promo, the best-laid plan would be to have him valiantly defend his Royal Rumble victory against the snake in the grass who used to be his tag partner.

We got a throwaway video package this week for Nakamura, just to remind people he exists, and next week maybe he’ll make some faces into a phone camera!

#4 Roode vs Orton becomes a triple threat with Mahal at Fastlane

Jinder Mahal stood tall on SD Live this week, but he has nothing to show for it

It doesn’t make any sense whatsoever to tease a triple threat feud for a few weeks only to book a one-on-one match at the PPV completely arbitrarily. Of course, just like everything else, the Orton/Roode match was booked because Shane didn’t want to agree with Bryan, who thought Mahal earned a shot by being the last man standing in their promo segment this week.

Next week, Bryan will put Orton in a match with Mahal, and if Mahal can win, he will get added to the Fastlane match and it will become a triple threat. Sounds familiar, almost like something they’re doing on this Sunday’s RAW PPV. It’s going to happen, though, and the "Modern Day Maharaja" is going to win, probably due to some shenanigans that involve Bobby Roode sitting ringside.

You know, there are only two episodes of SmackDown Live left until the Fastlane PPV, and only four matches have been made. And it’s not like the Elimination Chamber show where you have two matches guaranteed to go at least 35 minutes each, not including entrances.

There are just four regular matches. It’s all of the title matches, so that’s cool… but there are literally ZERO other feuds happening on SmackDown Live right now. This is ridiculous. And this right here is why I don’t think going back to co-branded PPV is a bad idea that’s going to waste or screw talent. It’s already happening!

#3 Charlotte & Becky vs Liv & Sarah

Charlotte boots Sarah Logan directly in the face

In a prelude to the Women’s Title match in a couple weeks, the next episode of SmackDown Live will feature another women’s tag match. Instead of having six of the seven (or eight, if you count Lana) women compete in the match, it will be the Women’s Champion.

The woman who ate the pinfall at the hands of Ruby Riott this week is going up against Riott’s two teammates. Riott will be at ringside (Naomi probably will be there as well, because heaven forbids, we don’t split everything right down the middle) and distraction from her will help her team gain a victory.

Since there’s no women’s battle royal at WrestleMania, where does it leave all of the other poor women who have been booked so terribly that they won’t get even a sniff of the WrestleMania card?

Maybe a tag match with the leftover RAW women vs the leftover SD Live women on the pre-show? Mickie James, Sonya Deville, Mandy Rose, and Dana vs Ruby Riott, Liv Morgan, Sarah, and Carmella. It’s better than leaving them off the show.

#2 Rusev Day returns, get booked for Fastlane against the Bludgeon Brothers

I fear for their lives if Rusev and English return next week

It could be worse. Maybe they will come out and do their schtick, the crowd will give them a huge reaction, and then Harper and Rowan will come out and beat them in two minutes. Oh, no. That’s going to happen, isn’t it?

Chad Gable complained on Twitter that he and Shelton were screwed thanks to Kofi’s interference. I wonder if that’s going to go anywhere? Probably not. Maybe they’ll be the ones to get squashed by The Bludgeon Brothers, because why not? Nothing makes sense anyway.

#1 Kevin Owens accidentally costs Sami Zayn a match against Baron Corbin

Kevin Owens is confused as to why Sami Zayn helped him defeat Dolph Ziggler

After Corbin took out both Owens and Zayn to end SmackDown Live this week, the member of the Kevin and Sami show that hasn’t already faced Corbin one-on-one will get his shot next week. Last week, Owens lost to Corbin.

This week, Owens beat Dolph Ziggler thanks to Sami Zayn causing the distraction, allowing Owens to capitalize with a superkick to the back of the head. Next week Owens will try to return the favour in a showing of goodwill, but it will backfire and Sami will end up losing his match because of KO’s attempted assist.

The stuff with Owens and Zayn beginning to crack as a unit is getting me interested a bit because it means that the feud between them and the bickering bosses is almost over. Things will reach a breaking point at Fastlane when Zayn doesn’t, in fact, lay down for Owens, and instead tries to catch him in a small package after laying on his back and offering himself to his “best friend”.

They will fight, Shane will rejoice, and we will get KO vs Zayn at WrestleMania. I’m all in for that one.

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