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How quickly time flies, doesn't it? We've reached the final SmackDown of the year and it's sure to be a packed one, to ensure that WWE ends the year with a massive, unforgettable impact.
And the best way to achieve this is through surprises galore that can transform the landscape of SmackDown. Let's have a look at 5 interesting surprises that could happen during the show, and shake up WWE programming in the coming year.
As always, feel free to leave a comment and let me know what you thought of this list. Moreover, thanks for reading my work through the year and I also hope you'll extend the same kind of support in the coming year.
With that said, I commence this list of surprises.
#5 Roman Reigns is attacked by Sheamus from behind
Where does Roman Reigns go next, because King Corbin has clearly moved on to the Universal Championship picture? There are no top heels left for him to fight because Shinsuke Nakamura and Braun Strowman are quite clearly going to be involved in the Intercontinental Championship feud, from the way that things played out last week. It could only mean that Roman Reigns will enter into a feud with the returning Sheamus.
These two men are no strangers to each other and have had quite a few battles in the past. They have incredible chemistry and work a very hard-hitting style that's always gone over well with the WWE Universe. Plus, if you consider Sheamus' case, there's no bigger feud for him to make a comeback in than a program with Roman Reigns.
Maybe Roman Reigns is walking to the ring when he gets blindsided by Sheamus from behind, to lay him out. This could lead us into the next big feud!
#4 Sonya Deville attacks Mandy Rose, splitting up their team
We all saw what happened last week, when Otis got a kiss from Mandy Rose and then a hug too. It set social media on fire and people wondered where this storyline was heading in the weeks to follow.
What some people may have missed is Sonya Deville feeling all furious that Mandy Rose wasn't at ringside, in a video released on WWE.com. While the two women seemed to reconcile later, one wonders if this was the first crack in their partnership and if their group is destined to break up to close out the year.
It is clear that with her newfound love for Otis, Mandy Rose is going to become a babyface whereas Sonya Deville may just remain a heel because it goes with her MMA persona. Maybe the two women will face one another and in turn, elevate each other too.
#3 Bray Wyatt attacks the winner of the Triple Threat main event
As we are all well aware, The Miz, Daniel Bryan, and King Corbin will go to battle to determine who becomes the Number 1 contender for the WWE Universal Championship next. I think it's all too likely that Daniel Bryan comes out as the winner of this match.
In his case, there is a readymade story now that he's back with a new look and it can also become personal with the involvement of his wife and his daughter. The Miz's storyline was entertaining while it lasted, but I doubt the WWE Universe wants to see a repeat of the same thing.
As for King Corbin, he is a heel and I can't see this match happening. Bray Wyatt is also a heel and such a clash would be odd.
In any case, the surprise in this instance would be Bray Wyatt emerging from underneath the ring and pulling down the winner, all the way to hell.
#2 Showcase match for yet another NXT Superstar
Two weeks ago, we saw Deonna Purrazzo make a surprise appearance on RAW. And then, Chelsea Green, whom you may know as Laurel Van Ness from her Impact Wrestling days made an appearance on RAW the following week. It is clear that WWE wants to introduce the world to NXT talent before they enter the Royal Rumble match next month.
I wonder if yet another Superstar will show up on SmackDown this week, to prove her dominance. One name I can immediately think of is Io Shirai. Another I can think of is Dakota Kai, and because both women have the look that WWE is known to like, they may be fast-tracked and introduced to the world in this manner.
They could certainly take on Carmella or Alexa Bliss or even Nikki Cross. Even if they were to come up short, it would be a big step up for the ladies. SmackDown is watched by a lot more people than NXT every week.
#1 The Hardy Boyz reunite to challenge The New Day
The New Day has pretty much run through the entire division and one wonders who's next for the pancake-loving duo. Heavy Machinery would be ideal but both teams are so beloved that a babyface vs. babyface feud simply doesn't make much sense.
I could say that a Hardy Boyz vs. New Day feud is something that fans can invest their time and energy in, and it could certainly be set in the final SmackDown of the year. Jeff Hardy is slated to return at any time now and Matt Hardy has been putting younger superstars over on RAW.
The Hardy Boyz could really bolster the Tag Team Division and maybe even carry the titles all the way to WrestleMania. If they trade victories with The New Day, it'll help Big E and Kofi Kingston increase their number of reigns.
Plus, it's a fresh feud and one that fans would love to see!
