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As we are heading closer to the Grandest Stage of Them All, WrestleMania. WWE is firing on all the cylinders to make the show feel more interesting in the coming weeks.
A night ago, Monday Night Raw witnessed a bunch of surprises with the return of Batista and The Shield getting closer to a reunion. SmackDown Live followed the same pattern and a returning Kevin Owens was added into the WWE Championship Match replacing Kofi Kingston, at Fastlane.
The decision made the fans happy and sad at the same time. While the return of Kevin Owens was a huge deal, the removal of Kofi Kingston from the WWE title picture is inappreciable.
Here are 3 questions that need to be answered following this week's edition of Smackdown Live.
#3 What's next for Kofi Kingston?
"Hard work pays off, Dreams come true." The infamous quote by the great Razor Ramon doesn't apply for someone like Kofi Kingston. For 11 years, the guy has been working his socks off. Eleven long years!
Kofi Kingston has been a mid-carder for a long time now and has only tasted the tag-team and Intercontinental title gold while merely being on the main event scene.
He finally got his big break when the plans were shaken up because of an unfortunate injury occurring to Mustafa Ali before the Elimination Chamber PPV. Kofi Kingston replaced Ali and delivered a memorable performance in the gauntlet match, and carried this momentum for a praise-worthy performance at the Elimination Chamber where he came close to winning the WWE Championship.
All was looking good for Kingston as he got the WWE title opportunity once again at Fastlane, and this is the closest the African superstar has ever come to the biggest prize in the WWE.
But tonight on SmackDown live, that opportunity was snatched away from his hands and given to the returning Kevin Owens for the sake the box office.
What's next for Kofi now? Is this just a storyline to add more intrigue for WrestleMania or this was the closest Kofi will ever come near the WWE Title?
#2 Why is the WWE Champion losing non-title matches?
WWE showcases their top champions in non-title matches, matches where the champions lose again and again.
Same is the case with Daniel Bryan, who is losing matches in which he is not defending his WWE Championship. He got pinned tonight on SmackDown live by the returning Kevin Owens and has been doing jobs to Kofi Kingston for the past few weeks.
I understand that a shocking victory over the WWE Champion is a big deal, but having a champion lose so often that it becomes conventional, is immensely futile.
When it comes to a babyface, the established champions, for example, John Cena and Randy Orton lose sporadically, and when they do, it happens via a distraction or outside interference.
Why the case is different when it comes to heel champions? I just don't get the benefit of booking them as cowardly champions. Aren't the gold belts around their waists designated to certify dominance?
#1 Will Randy Orton vs AJ Styles happen at WrestleMania?
The well-anticipated match between Randy Orton and AJ Styles is finally looking to be in the books. The Viper interrupted Styles tonight on SmackDown Live when he was being interviewed backstage.
Both Orton and Styles haven't been in the WWE title picture for quite some time, and both need to do something at the Grandest Stage of Them All.
This match will breathe a new level freshness and excitement around the WWE Universe and would add much-needed star power for the WrestleMania card. From an in-ring perspective, this has the potential to be a show-stealer, and the possible opener for the thirty-fifth edition of WrestleMania with this match will be best for business.
In my opinion, WWE should not make this match for the Fastlane PPV but save it for the biggest stage. It would have a bigger feel since Fastlane will already be stacked with marquee matches.
