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The latest episode of WWE SmackDown Live takes place in Denver, Colorado on Tuesday.
One of the biggest storylines heading into the show surrounds SmackDown Women’s champion Becky Lynch, who insulted Charlotte Flair last week by demanding that her former best friend raise her arm and call her “Queen”.
Elsewhere, the WWE Championship No Disqualification match between champion AJ Styles and challenger Samoa Joe at Super Show-Down will be made official when the two rivals have a contract signing this week.
As for the other titles on the blue brand, Tye Dillinger has challenged United States champion Shinsuke Nakamura to a match, while Big E will face Sheamus to continue the build to The New Day vs. The Bar in Melbourne, Australia on 6 October.
In the non-title storylines, the build-up to Daniel Bryan vs. The Miz at Super Show-Down will rumble on, Randy Orton is set to feature after warning last week that he has his sights set on his next victim, and Rusev, Aiden English, Carmella, Asuka and Jeff Hardy are also advertised to appear.
In this article, let’s take a look at five last-minute predictions for the episode.
#5 WWE Championship contract signing
WWE contract signings never end well, as AJ Styles found out earlier this year when he got so frustrated by Shinsuke Nakamura’s actions that he lent across the table and slapped him in the face.
“The Phenomenal One” tweeted on Monday that this signing will not end like the last one, so it’ll be interesting to see what he does if and when Samoa Joe makes another comment about his family.
Let’s predict that they’ll both sign the contract and the WWE champion will flip out at the end when Joe makes another remark about Wendy, Styles’ wife.
Prediction: AJ Styles attacks Samoa Joe
#4 Big E vs. Sheamus
The war of words between The New Day and The Bar, specifically Big E and Sheamus, reached new heights on Monday when ‘E accused the Irishman of being a bully during their time in FCW.
This is all part of the storyline, of course (anybody who has watched Sheamus’ Celtic Warrior Workouts will know that he’s the total opposite!), but at least it’s a development in what has been a relatively underwhelming build-up to the SmackDown Tag Team Championship match at Super Show-Down.
Cesaro defeated Kofi Kingston in a one-on-one match last week, so let’s predict that The Bar will continue to build momentum before next week’s title match with another win on Tuesday.
Prediction: Sheamus def. Big E
#3 How will Rusev respond to Aiden English?
WWE is promoting in its SmackDown Live preview that Rusev will demand answers from Aiden English following last week’s shocking attack from his Rusev Day partner.
This storyline has taken a long time to unfold over the last several months, so there is bound to be a match between the two in the not-too-distant future.
With November's Survivor Series PPV too far away, let’s predict that Rusev will challenge the former Vaudevillian to a match at Super Show-Down.
Prediction: Rusev challenges Aiden English
#2 Who is Randy Orton’s next victim?
Randy Orton played mind games with a member of the production team last week before ominously warning that what he did to Jeff Hardy at Hell In A Cell will pale in comparison to what he does to his next victim.
SmackDown Live is desperately lacking singles babyfaces right now, so it wouldn’t be surprising if Orton ends up feuding with one or two members of a tag team (The Usos, perhaps?) next.
Either way, with so many prominent storylines going on right now, it would make more sense for “The Viper” to send out another cryptic warning this week before striking at a later date.
Prediction: Wait until next week to find out!
#1 Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Tye Dillinger (United States Championship)
Tye Dillinger laid down a title challenge to Shinsuke Nakamura on social media over the weekend, which presumably means that SmackDown Live GM Paige will confirm this match for Tuesday’s episode.
“The Perfect Ten” has zero momentum right now, so it’s difficult to see him picking up a win here, even via disqualification.
Unless Tye’s buddy R-Truth gets involved, this has got to be a victory for Nakamura.
Prediction: Shinsuke Nakamura def. Tye Dillinger
