'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
After what was a very disappointing episode of Monday Night Raw, all eyes were on SmackDown Live who followed up pretty efficiently, but ultimately ended up being just an average episode.
With Kofi Kingston and Becky Lynch walking out of WrestleMania 35 with the gold, WWE continued to advance the narrative on the blue brand for things that might happen in the coming weeks.
We saw The Bar interrupt Kofi Kingston's WWE Championship celebration again and this time they didn't come alone. Drew Mcintyre came out of nowhere and joined forces with Sheamus and Cesaro to tussle it out with The New Day.
On the other hand, Lacey Evans made the most of her opportunities by savagely attacking Becky Lynch in what feels like the next big feud for The Man.
Furthermore, Samoa Joe's interesting brawl with Braun Strowman has gravitated tremendous attention on social media with the possibility of the two feuding over the United States Championship looking very likely.
Since the show was a pretty average affair, there were many things that felt intentional tonight. Did Vince McMahon wanted us to know something? Let's find out.
#1 Bringing main-event superstars from Raw to keep the fans excited about the Superstar Shake-Up
With the Superstar Shake-Up all set to commence next week, Vince McMahon took this opportunity to keep the fans hooked and enticed for what could happen next week.
Names like Drew Mcintyre, Braun Strowman, Lars Sullivan, and Sami Zayn were featured prominently. Since Mcintyre and The Monster Among Men are two of the most prominent superstars on the red brand, bringing them to the blue brand felt intentional.
This could be a strategical way for the company to bring some attention to the shake-up by letting the fans know that anything can happen next week.
#2 Giving Ali the spotlight to prove his mettle on the blue brand
In my honest opinion, Ali possesses all the credentials in the world that could propel him as the next big thing on SmackDown Live.
His athletic prowess intertwined with his heartfelt journey makes for a brilliant recipe for success on the blue brand and judging by the way he was presented last night, it seems like he will be in line for a big push.
Vince McMahon booking Ali to get the victory for his team followed by an unexpected RKO from Randy Orton only signals that The Chairman of the Board has big plans for him.
Considering that A.J. Styles is also rumored to be out with an unfortunate injury, Ali could step up and prove his mettle as a singles performer on the main roster against an interesting antagonist like Randy Orton.
#3 Igniting a feud between Samoa Joe and Braun Strowman
One can't deny that if provided with the right creative direction, Samoa Joe could run riot on any brand he is a part of. The guy brings an element of intrigue and looks like a million bucks making his way to the squared circle.
Last night's edition of the blue brand saw Braun Strowman shockingly interrupt Samoa Joe's compelling promo followed by a brawl between the two behemoths.
Whilst plans are always subject to change, I definitely believe that Vince McMahon will be going ahead with the idea of having these two lock horns for the United States Championship.
The Destroyer certainly needs a strong protagonist and with The Monster Among Men struggling to find his feet as a main-event performer, a feud with Joe could do wonders for him.
Vince certainly entertains the idea of watching two extremely strong performers fight for a prize and if things are allowed to get personal between the two, we could be in for a stellar feud.
#4 Testing Sami Zayn's ability as a legitimate main-event heel
After making his sensational return to the squared circle, Sami Zayn wasted no time in turning his back on the fans and vehemently criticizing them for creating a toxic environment in the world of professional wrestling.
Whilst nobody expected Zayn to go on an absolute rant on his return, his decisiveness as a heel has many fans intrigued on what could transpire in the coming weeks.
Zayn's work as a heel could make him a genuine contender for the WWE or Universal Championship. Since he received a monumental reception for his promo on Monday Night Raw, the former NXT Champion interrupted the main event bout involving The New Day.
Zayn certainly delivered a very short promo last night, but his appearance on the blue brand only suggested that Vince McMahon could be testing his prowess as a legitimate main-event heel.
#5 Presenting Lars Sullivan as a monstrous heel who feeds upon the superstars of the past
Lars Sullivan is one of the promising superstars on the main roster. The NXT sensation has all the credentials that could make him a legitimate superstar in no time flat.
There were multiple speculations of Vince McMahon wanting to ascend Sullivan to unimaginable heights and judging by the way he has been presented, it genuinely seems like he wants to free the company from the superstars of the past.
Whilst the idea may not have an element of novelty, it could still prove beneficial in ascending his stature as the next big thing on the main roster.
His savage assaults on Kurt Angle and The Hardy Boyz only proves that The Freak is following a pattern here which could see him become the main antagonist under Vince McMahon.
Personally, I do feel that Sullivan will be running riot on the red brand and could be seen locking horns with Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, and Finn Balor.
