5 Last-Minute predictions for WWE SmackDown Live (18 September 2018)

The first episode of WWE SmackDown Live since Hell In A Cell takes place in Tulsa, Oklahoma on Tuesday.

One of the biggest storylines heading into the show surrounds Becky Lynch, who defeated former best friend Charlotte Flair on Sunday to become the SmackDown Women’s champion for the first time since 2016.

We can expect to see all the fallout from Hell In A Cell on Tuesday’s episode, with Randy Orton, Jeff Hardy, AJ Styles, Samoa Joe and The New Day all advertised to appear following their involvement in matches at the PPV.

It has been confirmed that WWE champion Styles will go one-on-one with Andrade “Cien” Almas on this week’s episode, while United States champion Shinsuke Nakamura will put his title on the line against Rusev.

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Elsewhere on the show, following The Miz & Maryse’s victory over Daniel Bryan & Brie Bella, WWE is advertising that there will be a special episode of Miz TV featuring a “mystery guest”.

In this article, let’s take a look at five last-minute predictions for the show.

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#5 Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Rusev (United States Championship)

Will this be the end of Rusev Day?

While Shinsuke Nakamura sat on the sidelines at Hell In A Cell, Rusev teamed with Aiden English in a losing effort against SmackDown Tag Team champions The New Day on the event’s kickoff show.

English produced one of his best performances on the main roster but, once again, he proved a liability to the tag team and a clumsy miscommunication with Rusev ultimately led to them losing the match.

This has happened on so many occasions over the last few months, so isn’t it about time one of them turned against the other and the duo officially split up once and for all?

Instead of Rusev turning heel on his unreliable partner, let’s predict that English will cost “The Bulgarian Brute” in his United States Championship match against Nakamura this week – only this time he’ll do it on purpose.

Prediction: Aiden English turns heel by costing Rusev

#4 AJ Styles vs. Andrade “Cien” Almas

AJ Styles submitted against Samoa Joe on Sunday but the referee missed it

AJ Styles and Andrade “Cien” Almas were involved in one of the best SmackDown Live matches of 2018 so far when they faced each other in July.

“The Phenomenal One” picked up a clean submission victory on that occasion but, with Styles feuding with Samoa Joe and Almas involved in a storyline with R-Truth, it’s difficult to see this week’s match having a fair and square outcome.

In typical SmackDown fashion, let’s predict that this will turn into a tag match involving all four men after interference from Joe, with Styles getting the win for his team with a 1-2-3 pinfall victory over Almas.

Prediction: AJ Styles & R-Truth win an impromptu tag match

#3 What next for Becky Lynch?

Becky Lynch is now a two-time SmackDown Women's champion

With fan support for Becky Lynch more vocal than ever right now, WWE seems to have scrapped plans for the new SmackDown Women’s champion to turn heel in her storyline with Charlotte Flair.

Becky cut a villainous promo shortly after she betrayed her former best friend at SummerSlam, questioning why fans didn’t support her enough when she wasn’t featured prominently on television, but she has barely mentioned the fans since and all of her attention has been on Charlotte.

The new champ is bound to address the audience on this week’s episode following her title victory, so let’s predict that she’ll cement her babyface status by thanking the fans for their support over the last few weeks.

Prediction: Becky Lynch thanks fans for supporting her

#2 Who will be the mystery guest on Miz TV?

The Miz & Maryse defeated Daniel Bryan & Brie Bella on Sunday

WWE is promoting that, two days on from his latest victory over Daniel Bryan, The Miz will host an edition of Miz TV this week featuring a “mystery guest”.

A quick search through social media brings up speculation about a whole host of names who could appear, from Shane McMahon and Rey Mysterio to Finn Balor and Aleister Black.

Unless WWE wants to invite the whole Bella clan on the show, it’s difficult to predict who could be added to this storyline between Miz, Maryse, Bryan and Brie Bella.

Let’s play it safe and predict that Miz will let everybody down by announcing that his wife, Maryse, is his special guest.

Prediction: Maryse appears on Miz TV

#1 What next for Randy Orton and Jeff Hardy?

Randy Orton drove a screwdriver through Jeff Hardy's earlobe at Hell In A Cell

Randy Orton defeated Jeff Hardy in one of the most memorable, incident-packed Hell In A Cell matches in recent memory on Sunday.

This rivalry has been going on ever since the two men fought over the United States Championship at Backlash in May, so it’s likely that the Hell In A Cell match brought an end to their four-month rivalry.

If Jeff appears on the show, there’s next-to-no chance of him getting physical this week following the injuries he sustained on Sunday, so let’s predict that Orton will cut an intense promo warning that he already has his sights set on his next victim.

Prediction: Randy Orton sends an ominous warning to his next opponent