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SmackDown Live has seen its value crawl up in recent weeks with good rivalries and great matches leading the brand into a good end for the year. This has made the fans believe that it is slowly becoming a better show than Raw.
Randy Orton and Jeff Hardy have put on some of the best matches in recent memories, while AJ Styles has been teaming up with Daniel Bryan to take on the Usos in the past two weeks. Also, a combination of Natalya, Bayley, and Sasha Banks has taken on one or more members of The Riott Squad.
Even though the Evolution pay-per-view is now around the corner, we were deprived of some top-quality women’s matches which came as a surprise.
Fans were expecting to see a women’s match main event either on Raw or SmackDown Live this week to close out the show and build towards Evolution.
Rusev and Aiden English began a really interesting angle, which fell apart a bit too quickly and now we can’t wait for it to end so that Rusev can get on to some more interesting rivalries and get in the title picture once again.
The WWE now seems to be in a position where it needs to shake-up the match card a bit to make things more interesting, and get deserving superstars on track for better rivalries. Which feuds should SmackDown end, and which ones should the brand begin? Let’s find out.
#3 End – Rusev vs Aiden English
Rusev is undeniably one of the best wrestlers on SmackDown. He has the in-ring skills very few men his size and strength have.
Couple that off with a persona that has worked great both as a heel and as a face, and he has ensured that the fans are behind him every night, and celebrate Rusev Day every day.
Rusev and English’s partnership fell apart in recent weeks due to Lana’s role in the middle. This gave a push to a very interesting angle, that fell apart badly only a couple of weeks after ignition.
With their last match on SmackDown Live, it seems like this rivalry needs to stop as soon as possible, as it’s harming both men’s reputation more than helping it.
Rusev is more of a top-level superstar who should be engaged in top feuds, while Aiden English deserves a place only in the mid-cards at the moment.
#3 Begin – Rusev vs The Miz
The Miz is one of SmackDown’s best heels, and also in the entire WWE. He is currently left with no real rivalry and can be used to his fullest when he is faced with a babyface of the brand.
Rusev is one babyface who can do justice to a top-level feud with The A-lister. Even though the two men have had matches in the past, a full-on rivalry similar to that of Randy Orton and Jeff Hardy can help both superstars find a comfortable place on the blue brand where the fans wait for their entrance.
Even though Lana was a vital part of his character at the beginning of Rusev’s career and the couple worked better together, it now seems like Rusev is doing Lana a favour, having her at his side.
A future rivalry between Lana and Maryse can also spin-off from this, as Maryse is not wrestling at a 100% after the birth of her child, and Lana has never been an outstanding wrestler herself.
#2 End – Beck Lynch vs Charlotte
Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair are two of the best wrestlers in the business today. Along with that, the two demonstrate great chemistry in the ring, which allows them to have very good matches.
Both of the hard-working women have been battling it out for the Women’s Championship for quite some time now, and as Becky is holding the title at the moment as a heel, Charlotte is getting shots at the prize repeatedly.
It was already baffling to see Charlotte immediately get into the title picture on her return and has now been a part of a few bouts for the championship after she lost it to her longtime friend Becky Lynch.
It’s no secret that Charlotte is known to get pushes due to the high opinion she is held in, but the WWE can work on toning that down by first stepping Charlotte down a step and put her in matches to earn a title shot.
While it’s only fair for the former champion to receive her rematch for the title, the continuous presence of Charlotte at the top of the women’s roster results in a waste of the other talented women on SmackDown.
#2 Begin – Charlotte vs Asuka
Asuka faced her first defeat after an illustrious undefeated streak at the hands of Charlotte at WrestleMania.
The two women did battle for the Women’s Championship, which was held by Charlotte at the time, and Asuka got her shot at the Women’s Royal Rumble winner.
Asuka now sadly finds herself in the mid-cards, working matches to the best of her abilities but receiving little praise and rewards for her effort. She’s been paired with Naomi recently to compete as a Tag Team until the WWE finds something worthy for both the extremely talented women.
Charlotte should engage in a feud with Asuka soon to determine the deserving woman for the Women’s Championship. Asuka deserves a title shot as much as Charlotte at the moment, and the fans should first see which woman comes out on top to actually determine the number one contender for the title.
#1 End – Randy Orton vs Jeff Hardy
One of the best rivalries on SmackDown since some time, Randy Orton and Jeff Hardy brought back memories of the Attitude Era to some extent.
The two put on some A-grade matches that have made 2018 a much better year for wrestling. From attacking each other, to bringing the fight to the arena floors, they showed what it means to be the top stars in the WWE.
However, the rivalry should have ended at Hell in a Cell when Orton defeated Hardy after Hardy came crashing down through a table.
Many were surprised to see Hardy make such a quick return after a legit injury, and even more, surprised when the two again faced each other on the 23rd of October on SmackDown Live.
While both men can still put on some top-grade matches together, this rivalry needs to stop for the reputation of both the superstars.
#1 Begin – Randy Orton vs Rey Mysterio
Rey Mysterio announced his return to the WWE in grand fashion on SmackDown 1000, where he beat the United States Champion Shinsuke Nakamura to earn a place in the World Cup at Crown Jewel.
The return of Rey Mysterio will spark some great old and new rivalries between him and his fellow wrestlers, and Mysterio has always enjoyed his time as a babyface.
With that said, the first major rivalry he should get in should be with none other than The Viper. Orton and Mysterio have had great matches in the past too, and there is no doubt that they can put up even better showings now after all these years.
As the storyline of Orton out to destroy those who are cheered by the WWE Universe continues, he can take a shot at one of the biggest babyfaces around and the two can get into a long rivalry.
On top of that, who wouldn’t love a World Cup final between the two men which could lead to a feud between the two?
Do you have any other suggestions? Please leave your thoughts in a comment below!
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