'%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)
The world may be on lockdown because of the coronavirus pandemic, but WWE has shown us no indication of slowing down, at the very slightest. And they cannot afford to either if you consider the fact that WrestleMania is right on the horizon.
This week's episode of SmackDown is a critical one as we head into the grandest show of them all, and a lot could change during the broadcast. In fact, I am going to jot down five surprises we could potentially see on WWE SmackDown this week, to get you geared up and pumped up for the show.
While none of these may actually happen, it will be a great thing indeed if they do, in my humble opinion. One of the reasons we love pro wrestling so much is because of the element of 'anything can happen, at any time', I feel.
#5 John Cena puppet joins the Firefly Fun House
WWE works with the most talented minds in the business to tell compelling stories and hype up their matches ahead of big events and John Cena vs. The Fiend is definitely a very big match. And to promote the same, could we potentially see a John Cena puppet in the Firefly Fun House this week, in conversation with the other puppets Bray Wyatt owns.
And then, in a creative manner, Bray Wyatt can actually put across the threat that he poses to someone like John Cena in a very unconventional way, different from anything else in the card. While The Undertaker becomes a lot more 'human' as WrestleMania approaches, The Fiend could start becoming more supernatural.
And then John Cena finally realizes that the man he's facing is not the same being he faced all those years back at WrestleMania.
#4 Bayley turns on Sasha Banks, turning her face
Yes, yes, I know that Bayley is technically defending her title against four other women. There's, of course, Lacey Evans, Tamina, Naomi and Sasha Banks.
But deep down, we all know that the big showdown at WrestleMania will be between Sasha Banks and Bayley, two women who have been friends for the longest time but now have no choice but to face one another for the top prize in the SmackDown Women's Division. And Bayley may just choose to get the early advantage against her best friend by knocking her down.
If Bayley ends up attacking Sasha Banks, it will ensure that she remains a heel but turns Sasha Banks into a babyface and gets the crowd to root for The Boss as we head into WrestleMania 36.
Except, in this case, there will not be a crowd in the arena. So, in this instance I mean the crowd sitting at home and watching the show on the WWE Network.
Are you ready for a good time?
#3 Drew Gulak loses his big stakes match
Can we just appreciate the fact that we're going to get a match between the charismatic striker Shinsuke Nakamura and the most underrated wrestler in the entire roster in one Drew Gulak? And this is not just a throwaway match either.
If Drew Gulak is to win the match, then Daniel Bryan gets a shot at Sami Zayn for the WWE Intercontinental Champion at WrestleMania. But what if the plan is for Drew Gulak to lose this match so that Daniel Bryan has no option but to do something absolutely titanic next week to earn his WrestleMania shot.
Maybe all of this could lead to one or more men being added to the eventual match at WrestleMania and considering that everyone in this feud, from Sami Zayn to Daniel Bryan, from Cesaro to Drew Gulak, and The Artist Known As Shinsuke Nakamura are world-class workers of the uppermost echelon, it would not be the worst thing in the world to see them all mix it up for the workhorse championship.
#2 Another tag team arrives for a title shot
I just think that Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville are far too integral to the whole WWE process at the moment, to leave them out of WrestleMania. Sure, a Dolph Ziggler vs. Otis match may, in time, be added to the WrestleMania card, but that would just make Rose and Deville cameos in the whole ongoing story, in my personal opinion. I do honestly believe that the best thing to do would be to have Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville inserted into the Tag Team Title mix.
And if the eventual storyline has Otis helping Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville becoming the Tag Yeam Champions, it may be best for business. Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross do not really need the titles right now because they can always have the spotlight on them later. And maybe when Otis helps her win, Mandy Rose realizes who really cares about her (hint: no, his name is not Dolph Ziggler.
If the underdog gets the girl, it would make for a great WrestleMania moment indeed.
#1 Goldberg shows up to attack Roman Reigns
No, Goldberg is not advertised to be a part of this week's show, but of course, it's not a surprise if it is expected. I can totally imagine Roman Reigns cutting the ultimate babyface promo to hype up the upcoming match, and then suddenly he is blindsided by the Universal Champion.
While it effectively won't be a heel turn from Goldberg, Roman Reigns will be the clear babyface going into the contest if this were to happen. Bear in mind that both men are babyface and both men have been portrayed as powerhouses until now, but it's all about getting the edge before you step into the squared circle for the ultimate match.
And let's be fair about this match. Not a lot of people are really excited about this contest in my honest opinion, and it needs an element like a surprise attack to get people invested and make the nature of the contest personal, in my opinion.
What do you think of these options? How many of them could potentially happen?
