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The week after WrestleMania saw a lot of interesting things happen in all three brands of the company. RAW kicked off with some good matches including a few debuting Superstars many of us had never seen before. The main event showed a pre-taped match between Drew McIntyre and Big Show that took place right after McIntyre’s victory over Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania.
NXT followed with even better matches involving the women of NXT in a No.1 contender’s ladder match for a shot at the NXT Women’s Championship, and the final match between Tommaso Ciampa and Johnny Gargano.
Last but not the least, SmackDown had almost all its Champions out in the middle in segments or matches, and the new Universal Champion Braun Strowman immediately came face to face with his next challenger.
In this article, we will look at the 5 things that must happen on RAW, NXT, and SmackDown to keep the quality of the shows high after the hype for WrestleMania has died down.
#5 Nia Jax pushes her old nemesis
Last week’s RAW saw Nia Jax make an unexpected return to obliterate NXT’s Deonna Purrazzo in a one-on-one match. Purrazzo was no match for the returning former RAW Women’s Champion `who looked better and stronger than ever before.
At WrestleMania 36, Becky Lynch surprised everyone by pinning Shayna Baszler to retain her RAW Women’s title in a similar way Kairi Sane had pinned Baszler to win the NXT Women’s Championship for a short reign.
While The Man managed to overcome her biggest challenger to date, WWE must throw in the next biggest challenger in time to set up a big match for Money in the Bank.
Jax must call out Lynch on RAW this week and remind her of their rivalry before the two had to be separated due to Jax’s injury. The Irresistible Force must remind Lynch of the hard time she’s given her, forcing Lynch to challenge her herself.
This could set up a grand match for Money in the Bank and an opening for the Money in the Bank briefcase winner who could take advantage of a match between these two Superstars and steal a victory like Bayley did last year to become the new RAW Women’s Champion.
#4 Damian Priest demands another shot at the title
A couple of weeks ago Keith Lee took on two of NXT’s giant in a massive NXT North American Championship Triple Threat Match. Damian Priest and Dominik Dijakovic challenged The Limitless One for the title, and we saw the three men deliver some incredible moves to keep each other down.
Finally, Lee was able to pin Dijakovic to pick up the victory and retain his North American Championship. While Dijakovic has had his fair share of shots at the North American Championship, it seems like The Archer of Infamy is just getting started and deserves a clear shot at the title.
Priest has proven to be a premier wrestler in NXT, and it was his attack on Dijakovic with a nightstick that weakened him to take Lee’s finisher and lose the match.
This week, Priest must attack The Limitless One and demand a one-on-one shot at the title as he is one man who truly deserves it. As one of the biggest heels in WWE today, the Superstar can really help put over Lee’s character as a babyface and possibly even win the title at some point to elongate their rivalry.
#3 Johnny Gargano and Candice LeRae get a pleasant surprise
At WrestleMania, WWE sold a couple of grudge rivalries perfectly in cinematic matches. The Undertaker took on AJ Styles in a Boneyard Match, while ‘The Fiend’ Bray Wyatt got the better of John Cena in a Firefly Fun House match.
One match that the Superstars of NXT believed was too big for WrestleMania was the final match between Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa in NXT. The Superstars fought for almost an hour in an empty arena, and Gargano managed to pick up the win with the help of his wife, Candice LeRae. After the match, a suspicious car with two Superstars was spotted outside the building.
This week, we should watch Gargano and LeRae appear in the ring and gloat about their actions and Gargano’s victory over Ciampa. Gargano should brag and call himself the best of NXT before WWE allow Killer Kross and Scarlett Bordeaux to debut and take out the couple.
This will give rise to another outstanding rivalry for the two debutants who could immediately get into the eyes of the WWE Universe and compete in a massive feud on NXT.
While Gargano has become a veteran of NXT, Kross and Bordeaux will need someone to put them over big time to get a push in their WWE career.
#2 The Miz loses the SmackDown Tag Team Championships for his team
Last week’s SmackDown after WrestleMania looked to set new challenges for the Champions of the brand. While Intercontinental Champion Sami Zayn was not around for the show, the SmackDown Women’s Champion, Women’s Tag Team Champions, SmackDown Tag Team Champions, and the new Universal Champion were all around.
The SmackDown Tag Team titles were defended in an interesting match at WrestleMania where only one member of each tag team took part in a ladders match. John Morrison was able to outdo Kofi Kingston and Jimmy Uso to retain the titles, and this week’s SmackDown will set up a new challenge for the Champions.
Big E requested that the other member of each team who did not get a chance to take part in the match get into a Triple Threat Match for the title, and Kofi announced that the match was official.
This week, The Miz will defend the titles against Big E and Jey Uso. WWE must allow Big E or Jey to pin the Champion and take the titles away from the heels. This will not only provide SmackDown with another set of new Champions but also start forming cracks between Miz and Morrison.
A full-blown rivalry between Miz and Morrison will allow the latter to progress as a top individual Superstar and aim for one of the top titles, and WWE needs to plant the seeds soon to set up the stage for SummerSlam.
#1 Cesaro defeats Daniel Bryan
Another match announced for next week’s SmackDown will see former WWE Champion Daniel Bryan take on Cesaro for a chance to make it to the Money in the Bank Ladder Match.
While Bryan has had his shot at the Universal Championship and Intercontinental Championship this year, he’s still searching for a way to secure another belt before he ultimately calls it a day.
While Cesaro has been a victim of mixed bookings, especially since his heel turn and participation in The Artist Collective, fans are aware of the talent he possesses and wish to see him as a World Champion someday.
Bryan is one man who always looks to put some underutilized or underbooked talent forward, and WWE must allow him to let Cesaro pick up the victory in this match and go on to the Money in the Bank Ladder match.
This will allow Cesaro to finally get in the race for a World title and possibly get a storyline similar to Kofi Kingston’s down the road for a chance to compete for a major title later this year.
