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A few interesting matches and segments ensured that WWE kept the fans interested in their three brands last week. During WWE RAW, Drew McIntyre got his revenge by delivering three massive Claymore Kicks to Randy Orton.
Asuka found an unlikely partner in Mickie James to defeat Lana and Natalya. The Empress of Tomorrow will defend her RAW Women's Championship this week against James. Shinsuke Nakamura and Cesaro made a surprise appearance during WWE RAW to lay down a challenge for the Red brand's Tag Team Champions, The Street Profits.
WWE NXT began with a massive match between Finn Balor and Adam Cole. By the end of it, the Black and Gold brand had a new Prince at the top. During the night, it was also announced that Breezango would defend their NXT Tag Team titles against Imperium, while NXT North American Champion Damian Priest will defend his title against Timothy Thatcher.
Rhea Ripley ended the night with a big victory inside a Steel Cage against Mercedes Martinez.
WWE SmackDown opened up with a segment involving Paul Heyman and WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns and saw a few surprises throughout the night. The Intercontinental Championship match was interrupted by Sami Zayn, while Reigns and Jey Uso teamed up to defeat Seamus and King Corbin later in the night.
In this article, we will look at the five things that must happen on the three brands of WWE this week.
#5 Lana and Natalya ruin the WWE RAW Women's Championship match
Asuka and Mickie James formed an unlikely alliance on last week's WWE RAW to take on Lana and Natalya in a tag team match. The heels isolated James for a majority of the match, but in the end, it was James and Asuka who emerged victorious after The Empress forced Lana to tap out to The Asuka Lock.
This week's RAW will host a Women's Championship match between Asuka and James. Having returned not too long ago, James will be looking to make the most out of this opportunity to win the top title of the brand.
While Asuka is no pushover, WWE must allow Natalya and Lana to play some role in sabotaging the outcome of the match so that the rivalry can continue. Natalya is one of the top women on RAW and deserves to get some spotlight during this feud.
We could see Asuka retain her title as a result of Natalya and Lana's antics, and it could lead to a Triple Threat between Asuka, Natalya, and James for the RAW Women's title at WWE Clash of Champions.
With a lack of top contenders for Asuka, having multiple Superstars contend for the RAW Women's Championship will give all these talented women some screen time on WWE.
#4 Cesaro and Shinsuke Nakamura take down The Street Profits on WWE RAW
Last week on WWE RAW, The Street Profits competed in yet another match against Angel Garza and Andrade. The rift between Garza and Andrade was becoming even more evident to the WWE Universe as Garza decided to leave El Idolo on his own during the match.
It did not take long for Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford to defeat Andrade after that, but they were met with a surprise soon after the match. SmackDown Tag Team Champions Cesaro and Shinsuke Nakamura showed up and laid down a challenge for The Street Profits, which was accepted by the RAW Tag Team Champions.
This week, WWE must allow Cesaro and Nakamura to get one over the RAW Tag Team Champions after using some heelish tactics.
The Street Profits cost Cesaro and Nakamura their match against Gran Metalik and Kalisto on WWE SmackDown last week, and it would be the perfect way to avenge the loss as stretch the rivalry.
This will allow the makeshift duo to come across as a more threatening team, and WWE will get a chance to book a few more matches between them. Given that Clash of Champions on the horizon and both teams do not seem to have opponents, there could even be a title unification on the cards.
#3 Shotzi Blackheart turns heel against Io Shirai on WWE NXT
WWE NXT saw Robert Stone and Aliyah try to sabotage Shotzi Blackheart’s tank before they were caught in the act by Blackheart and Io Shirai. The two WWE Superstars chased the heels to the ring and laid them out with a couple of moonsaults.
It was however only a temporary alliance as Blackheart picked up Shirai’s NXT Women’s Championship and hesitated in returning it to The Jodi Judas. Shirai threatened Blackheart before snatching her title and walking up the ramp.
This week, the two are scheduled to compete in a match on NXT. While Shirai is the NXT Women’s Champion and will have the momentum behind her, WWE must allow Blackheart to turn heel during or after the match to build a rivalry between the two Superstars.
This non-title match can easily lead to a few great Championship matches, and turning the crowd-favorite Blackheart heel will allow the Superstar to show a new side of herself to the WWE Universe.
#2 Damian Priest retains WWE NXT North American Championship against Timothy Thatcher
At NXT TakeOver: XXX, Damian Priest won his first-ever Championship in WWE after winning the North American Championship match at the event.
After his victory, Priest celebrated in grand fashion, but he will be defending his title against his first challenger during this week's show. While The Archer of Infamy is a tough WWE Superstar himself, his first challenger won't be easy to overcome.
Timothy Thatcher will be the first man to challenge for Archer's NXT North American Championship, and we all know that Thatcher does not know any boundaries once he enters the ring. The submission specialist will be looking to earn his first title in WWE too, and we could see him give Priest a tough time during the contest.
However, WWE must allow Priest to overcome his first challenger as he's worked hard and waited for a long time to become the NXT North American Champion. NXT currently has a lot of heels at the top, and that has forced them to book several heel vs. heel matches.
Priest is a dominant heel and NXT should protect him for some major rivalries in the months to come as men like Bronson Reed, KUSHIDA, and even Drake Maverick are shaping up to be good babyface competitors who can challenge The Archer.
#1 Sami Zayn and Jeff Hardy agree to crown a single Intercontinental Champion on WWE SmackDown
Jeff Hardy was set to defend his WWE Intercontinental Championship against AJ Styles this week, but Sami Zayn was not too happy with the match as he believed that he was still the actual Intercontinental Champion.
After ranting before the match began, Zayn returned to attack Styles and Hardy during their match to end it without a result and draw more heat towards him.
After the match, Zayn continued to taunt Hardy backstage and another brawl broke out in the backstage area. This week, WWE must allow Hardy to come out and challenge Zayn for the Intercontinental Championship, telling Zayn that it would help rest the debate regarding who is the real Intercontinental Champion once and for all.
The match between the two Champions should end with Styles’ involvement. This could eventually lead to a Triple Threat Match at WWE Clash of Champions between Styles, Zayn, and Hardy for the Intercontinental Championship.
All three men are the finest wrestlers on WWE SmackDown, and a Triple Threat Match between them could be a potential show-stealer at a big event.
