SmackDown Live after Extreme Rules: 3 things WWE needs to do

SmackDown is coming up, and if I were a betting man, I'd say this upcoming episode will set things in motion for SummerSlam. After they deal with the fallout from Extreme Rules, the blue brand should start getting ready for the Biggest Party of the Summer.

There's a lot that could happen, but instead, let's talk about what should happen. I'm not talking about terrible fantasy booking that is only a good idea to the one who made it ("famous EDM duo The Chainsmokers challenge the New Day to a match for the Tag Team Championship and then win!"). I'm talking about things that just seem like common sense, but tend to get overlooked.

Here are three things that WWE needs to do on the next episode of SmackDown Live.

---

#3 Book another match for Aleister Black

Generally if you are a debuting superstar not named Mike Kanellis, you tend to keep appearing on TV after your debut match so that people don't forget about you. It doesn't matter if you win or lose, just keep showing up.

After Aleister Black defeated Cesaro in a real star-making match, he should not go back to his room backstage and wait for someone to knock. Instead, he should be knocking on other people's doors. WWE should put him in matches against some lower-card guys and let him add a few more notches to his belt.

Mojo Rawley wants to cause some problems for Black? Boom, Black Mass. Jinder Mahal being a bully? Boom, Black Mass. Heck, put him in a 12 Man Elimination Tag Team Match against The Singh Brothers, Jinder, and a whole bunch of other dudes. He just needs to be there.

An even better idea would be to put him in a full-fledged feud, but let's take baby steps here.

See WWE Smackdown Live Updates, Highlights of event, & more on WWE Smackdown updates page

#2 Determine Shinsuke Nakamura's next challenger

For some really strange reason, WWE can seemingly only deal with one midcard title at a time. When Seth Rollins was tearing it up as Intercontinental Champion last year, Shinsuke Nakamura was doing a whole lot of nothing as the United States Champion. Now that WWE is focusing on the United States Championship, the Intercontinental Championship has been all but forgotten.

In a perfect world we wouldn't have such problems, but as some of you have so astutely noted, this is not a perfect world. WWE did Nakamura dirty last time when he was the US Champion. Hopefully they can learn from their mistakes.

Former champion Finn Balor decided to get attacked by Bray Wyatt on RAW in the last episode, so let's rule him out. WWE could book a multi-man match to determine the new contender.

Heck, they could have a Championship Scramble match on SmackDown if they were inclined to do so. At this point, I'd take an Intercontinental Championship on a Pole match against Zack Ryder.

At worst, just have Shinsuke do his usual entrance to the ring with a mic in hand. He enters, crowd eagerly awaiting what he has to say. He then says "Finn Balor, you stink more than the stinkiest cheese in Europe," and then leaves.

That'd be lame, but it'd be something. Or anything. Just don't forget about the Intercontinental Champion anymore.

#1 Find a new challenger for Kofi Kingston

Much like my previous point, another man in need of new opponents is Kofi Kingston. He's been on a superb run as WWE Champion, convincingly beating everyone who steps to him. Daniel Bryan, Kevin Owens, Dolph Ziggler and now Samoa Joe have all fallen to the champ. That list is a who's who of big indie names.

Since Joe lost in under 10 minutes to a Trouble in Paradise out of nowhere, I think it's time to send him to the back of the line. Being an unashamed Randy Orton mark, I'd love it if he found himself in contention for the WWE Championship.

His last WWE Championship match was against Jinder Mahal at Battleground 2017, where he sent a Singh Brother through an announce table and got choked by the Great Khali. He can have another match.

If not Orton, then theoretically anyone is potential competition as long as they can build him up. I might be shocked if Curtis Axel became the number one contender, but if they could convince me that Curtis Axel might actually win, I'd enjoy it.

If Kofi Kingston just fights in a meaningless 28 Man Tag Team Elimination Match on SmackDown, I will be slightly upset.