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Last week's RAW episode coincided with New Year's Eve and as a result, suffered when it came to viewership. SmackDown Live beat RAW for the second time in a row. It was unfair to compare the two, as a lot more eyes were on SmackDown Live, on the 1st of January. Just like RAW, it was a taped show.
This week, it is not. Which means we'll finally get to see the action as it happens. All eyes are on WWE after the Holiday slump, with one question on everyone's mind- how will they bounce back and attract all their own viewers again?
The easy way to achieve the same is to book genuine surprises that become talking points for the WWE Universe. I will suggest a few surprises for WWE, in this very article.
Chime in with your own thoughts, in the section below.
#5 Nikki Cross is added to the huge Number 1 contender match
So, a huge match was announced for SmackDown Live on this week's show. Carmella, Becky Lynch, and Charlotte Flair would battle it out to determine who faces Asuka for the prized SmackDown Women's Championship. Taking nothing away from any of these women, we've all seen variations of the match in the past.
Remember how the McMahon family promised us new faces and new opportunities? It would be a lot more exciting to have someone like Nikki Cross mix it up with the women in the ring. She doesn't even have to win the match.
Having Cross debut in such a manner would immediately establish her as a top-tier talent. It would give the audience a chance to see a new character up close, if they are not familiar with NXT.
#4 Nakamura and Aiden English join forces to take on Rusev
Nakamura was the United States Champion until the very end of 2018. Rusev won the title on Christmas Eve, his birthday and in a big coincidence, on Rusev Day. We'd assumed that the rivalry was over and done. This was not the case as Nakamura attacked Rusev again.
Now Aiden English had his own heated rivalry with Rusev not very long ago. He has not been seen on TV ever since, which is a shame because he is a gifted WWE superstar. By potentially having him team up with Shinsuke Nakamura, the two men can terrorize Rusev to no end in the weeks that follow.
Aiden English was instrumental in helping Rusev become the sensation that he has. He could do the same for Nakamura, by becoming his aide and ally.
#3 R-Truth goes after Daniel Bryan
We know that AJ Styles will battle Daniel Bryan next, at the Royal Rumble. As always, that's guaranteed to be a good match. But even before that, Daniel Bryan may have his hands full. R-Truth may be seeking retribution against him.
And this stems from the fact that R-Truth dressed up as Santa Claus two weeks ago. Daniel Bryan attacked R-Truth and left him in a pile. It only makes sense for R-Truth to exact retribution on the WWE Champion.
Could this play out in a match between the two men on SmackDown this week? Both men are exemplary workers and I doubt anyone would be opposed to seeing them lock horns.
Do not forget that Bryan had attacked Mustafa Ali later during the show as well, so Ali may be gunning for Bryan on Tuesday night as well.
#2 Samoa Joe takes out John Cena
Samoa Joe and Jeff Hardy seemed to have finished their feud last week. Joe choked Hardy out and went on to qualify for the main event, where he came up short. The problem with Samoa Joe's booking has been that he's come up short on quite a few occasions.
Which is why he needs a major rub from someone in the current roster. What if he were to challenge John Cena and go on to write him off television? In many ways, this may be bigger for Joe than actually winning a Championship.
Samoa Joe may be one of the men that John Cena actually does the job for because Joe and Cena were in developmental together and are known to be quite close. Joe is also a believable superstar when it comes to wreaking havoc on John Cena.
#1 Lacey Evans teams up with Naomi against Rose and Deville
Mandy Rose has been after Naomi's man. Even though Jimmy Uso is married, she has been trying to steal him away with her charms. Jimmy Uso has been faithful to his wife but Naomi finds herself outnumbered by Rose and Deville. All of that could change if Lacey Evans gets called up to SmackDown Live, this week.
Evans calls herself the 'lady' of NXT. While she's used this gimmick in a heel persona, it can easily translate into babyface territory with no effort at all. Mandy Rose has been sending scandalous pictures to Jimmy Uso on his phone and that is not ladylike behaviour.
It also gives Naomi a tag team partner to chase the Women's Tag Team titles with. Asuka would have been the original choice for this, but she's the SmackDown Women's Champion right now.
Plus Lacey Evans has a mean right punch to win matches with!
