4 things that could happen on WWE SmackDown Live this week (26 February 2019)

The elation is sky-high after Elimination Chamber which was a tremendous show. Some exceptional bouts took place at Toyota Center, but some matches disappointed the fans. Finn Balor won his first Intercontinental Championship at Elimination Chamber, whereas Sasha Banks and Bayley became the inaugural Women's Tag Team Champions. The US title and Universal title were not on the line and rest of the titles did not change hands.

The Smackdown Live after Elimination Chamber had some surprises. The four NXT superstars who debuted in the previous night made their debuts in the blue brand. The Smackdown Women's Champion Asuka appeared for the first time after she defeated Becky Lynch at the Royal Rumble.

The next Smackdown Live is scheduled to take place at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. WWE already announced two matches for the event, as Johnny Gargano will fight Cesaro in a one-on-one match, while the new NXT call ups Aleister Black and Ricochet will take on the heel duo of Nakamura and Rusev in a tag team match. Moreover, there will be a contract signing for the WWE title match between Kofi Kingston and Daniel Bryan.

Here we discuss four things that could happen on WWE Smackdown Live this week (26 February 2019).

#4 R-Truth could have a new challenger

R-Truth

R-Truth shocked the WWE Universe last month when he won the United States Championship. He pinned Nakamura on the Smackdown Live following the Royal Rumble when he grabbed his second US title. As a matter of fact, R-Truth defended the title successfully on the same night when he defeated Rusev.

R-Truth has not been on the TV after he won the US title. In fact, he was not part of the Elimination Chamber, and the US title was not on the line at Toyota Center. With Fastlane around the corner, he is likely to defend the title in Cleveland.

R-Truth is expected to have a new challenger this week for the US title. Considering Rusev and Nakamura are already booked in a tag team match, they are not likely to challenge the current US Champion.

Superstars like Samoa Joe, Andrade Cien Almas or Rey Mysterio could be credible challengers for the US champion.

#3 Gargano and Cesaro might produce the match of the night

Gargano and Cesaro could provide a remarkable match

There is no denying that Johnny Gargano is an incredible athlete who had immense popularity in NXT. The recent NXT call ups Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa made their main roster debuts last week when they fought the Revival on Raw and the Bar on Smackdown Live. The NXT duo got an ideal start of the main roster, and they were victorious in both matches.

Gargano produced some awe-inspiring bouts in NXT after WWE signed him in 2015. He had some memorable matches with Andrade, Aleister Black, Ricochet, Ciampa and many more. Considering Gargano won the NXT Match of the Year award twice in NXT, it proves his proficiency in the squared circle.

Gargano is scheduled to collide Cesaro, who is a great performer in the ring. They are adept of producing the best match of the night if the two superstars are booked well for the match. Since it will be the first one-on-one main roster match of Gargano, he is not likely to lose against the Swiss Cyborg.

#2 Mandy Rose could be announced the opponent of Asuka at Fastlane

Asuka and Mandy Rose in action

The Smackdown Women's Champion Asuka requires a new opponent at Fastlane and Mandy Rose has a big chance to face the Empress of Tomorrow in Cleveland. Rose locked horns with the current Smackdown Women's Champion in a non-title match last week when Rose pinned Asuka. In fact, Rose became the only third woman to pin Asuka in WWE.

The Raw Women's Championship match has been the focal point of WWE after the Royal Rumble, and the match could become first women's match to main event WrestleMania.

Nevertheless, the Smackdown Women's Championship has failed to grab attention. Considering the women's title of the blue brand was not on the line at Elimination Chamber, it is likely to be defended at Fastlane, which is the final PPV before WrestleMania 35.

With Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair competing for the Raw Women's title, Asuka lacks a credible opponent on Smackdown Live. Mandy Rose could be the next challenger after pinning Asuka last week, and it could be announced this week.

Though Rose might not match Asuka's dexterity in the squared circle, she could provide a good match with the Empress of Tomorrow. Asuka is not expected to lose to Mandy Rose twice if the match gets finalized this week.

#1 A massive brawl could happen during the WWE contract signing

The 'New' Daniel Bryan

WWE already announced the official contract signing for the WWE title match at Fastlane. Kofi Kingston will challenge the WWE Champion Daniel Bryan, and the match could be the main event in Cleveland. Since the contract signings have always been exciting, it is expected to be astounding this week.

Kofi Kingston came to the title picture when he replaced the injured Mustafa Ali in the Elimination Chamber match. The New Day member gave a staggering performance in Cleveland where he lasted 31 minutes, but Daniel Bryan overpowered Kingston to retain the WWE title. Moreover, the WWE Universe has been behind Kingston after he came to the title picture.

With the New Day members outnumbering Daniel Bryan and Erick Rowan, the WWE champion needs another superstar as a backup. The WWE Universe could witness a surprise return of Kane or Bray Wyatt this week.

Kane was the former tag team partner of the Daniel Bryan, while Bryan was a member of the Wyatt family in the past. Since there will be a contract signing, a brawl is inevitable.