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Nobody expected this week's edition of SmackDown to be as packed as it was. And yet, it turned out to be one of the most entertaining episodes of the Blue brand in quite some time.
WWE has a point to prove and with the whole world watching as it's the only 'sports' based program in the world airing at the moment, they will definitely put their best foot forward in the coming weeks. They will up the ante with a constant dose of exciting content that is guaranteed to be packed with surprises galore to give the viewer an escape.
At the end of the day, what is happening in the world around us is unfortunate and WWE provides a distraction, a welcome break in these times of sheer duress. So, with that said, I present 5 surprises that we could potentially see this week.
#5 The Viking Raiders turn heel and ally themselves with the Monday Night Messiah
Seth Rollins launched a vicious attack on Drew McIntyre last week. It has become abundantly clear that McIntyre and Rollins will be part of a WWE Championship feud in the weeks that follow. Unfortunately, with one-half of the Authors of Pain getting injured, Seth Rollins' faction is no more.
However, with it becoming abundantly clear that The Viking Raiders will take on The Street Profits next, I can totally imagine them turning heel and become a part of Seth Rollins' stable, going forward. Even though we know that Drew McIntyre will not lose the WWE Championship so soon after winning it, the fact that Rollins has the numbers advantage may make one think otherwise and add interest to the feud.
It may even force The Street Profits to become allied with The Scottish Psychopath.
#4 Zelina Vega finds a brand new member for her stable
Last week, we saw a very formidable faction being formed under the able guidance of Zelina Vega. The United States Champion Andrade teamed up with Angel Garza and Austin Theory to form the most dominant faction since Seth Rollins' stable.
And yet, I think this may only be the start because Humberto Carillo could potentially join the mix too. Carillo is a man with a wealth of talent but may just need to be a part of this collective by turning heel so that this faction can potentially go up against some top-tier babyface teams over the coming months.
And maybe down the line, Carillo could turn babyface again and turn on Andrade to go on and become the brand new United States Champion, breaking out from the stable. He's not given any of his fans a reason to invest in him and care about him, but maybe a stint as a puppet of Zelina Vega for her evil deeds will convince the audience of his babyface potential.
#3 Jinder Mahal makes a return
Jinder Mahal is someone who's been waiting in the wings for a big return. In fact, it was confirmed recently that he has been cleared and is waiting to make his big return to WWE.
A lot of Superstars who were lower in the card have been let do, and Jinder Mahal could be a valuable asset when it comes to doing jobs or putting other superstars over in a big way. All said and done, he is a former WWE Champion and also, as anyone who has interacted with him can attest, a very nice guy who is committed to making the business better, so passionate about putting on the best show.
Personally, I'd probably book him in a feud with someone like Rey Mysterio shortly after he wins his qualifying match and goes on to Money in the Bank. Mahal could come out of nowhere and lay Mysterio out to begin a feud that could potentially culminate a few weeks after Money in the Bank, where Mahal puts Mysterio over in a big way.
#2 Liv Morgan is revealed to be Lashley's love interest
We live in a strange time when Lana is employed with WWE but Rusev is not after the recent releases. In any case, the way the current storyline is being presented, it does seem like Bobby Lashley is fed up with The Ravishing One. In case you're one of the few people who hasn't done so already, be sure to check out the interview I did with Lana in the link I have shared here.
Bobby Lashley has stated that he needs a new wife and Liv Morgan, in my opinion, would be perfect for the role. Morgan is someone who has not been reluctant to be a part of the more dramatic storylines and her pairing with Bobby Lashley should actually elevate her a notch or two. Lana could go on to ally herself with some other Superstar, leading to a very entertaining feud.
Maybe this week we could see a showdown between Lana and Morgan, both of whom were in a relationship in the past, as per WWE Creative.
#1 Randy Orton finds his next victim
Aleister Black has certainly been on a rampage with a string of impressive victories but he needs that one feud to sink his teeth into, to remain fresh and relevant to fans. We have seen how sometimes a person's stock can fall unless he/she is booked as a big deal.
Randy Orton's next victim should be Aleister Black because both men are great in the ring, and are masters of the 'mind game' too. It would be a great feud and if Aleister Black comes out on top when the whole program is done and dusted, a brand new top-tier Superstar would be created in none other than The Dutch Destroyer.
We all saw how Aleister Black's feud with Bobby Lashley was thrown together at the last minute and what the man needs for sure, going forward, is a reason for fans to connect with him through an engaging and captivating storyline, like the one Randy Orton told with Edge to reach the next level of superstardom in the sports entertainment business.
So, I would love it if Randy Orton lays Black down with an RKO on this week's show.
