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The news of Zelina Vega's WWE release hours before SmackDown took most of the focus away from the latest episode. Nonetheless, WWE offered a stacked show that featured several significant moments.
SmackDown had a little bit of everything. The end of an angle, a huge debut/ return, a dream clash between two top Superstars, and the beginning of a new storyline.
Without any further delay, let's get down to the five things WWE subtly told us on the latest episode of SmackDown:
#5 WWE could be building up for a Street Profits heel turn on SmackDown
The Street Profits and Big E were involved in another comedy segment on SmackDown this week. The SmackDown Tag Team Champions are scheduled to face Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods at Survivor Series, and WWE has been using Big E to advance the storyline on the Blue brand.
While it may just look like harmless banter, there is something brewing between Big E and The Street Profits.
Diet New Day, New Day Lite, New Day Knockoff, and Great Value New Day were the terms that Big E used to describe Street Profits, and while it was hilarious, the Profits wouldn't and ideally shouldn't be too happy with the constant comparisons to the New Day.
Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford laughed it off, but there indeed is some tension that could blossom into a proper heel turn.
A shoutout to Sportskeeda's editor Alan Jose John for highlighting a very believable possibility with The Street Profits. The New Day could beat the Street Profits at Survivor Series, which would accentuate Dawkins and Ford's frustrations.
The inability to beat New Day, coupled with Big E's taunts, could push Street Profits to the dark side, something that we haven't seen in WWE. Street Profits have been babyfaces during their entire run, and a character change would be great to freshen up their act. WWE has also teased the arrival of a new tag team on SmackDown (covered later in this feature), and it would be the right time to change the heel and babyface dynamics of the SmackDown Tag Team division.
#4 The underwhelming ending to Chelsea Green's SmackDown debut
Chelsea Green's SmackDown debut was one of the biggest surprises of the night. The former NXT Superstar had been away from the ring for several months, and her appearance on SmackDown was positively received by the fans.
She was booked to be in a high-stakes Survivor Series qualifying match, which also had Natalya, Liv Morgan, and Tamina, and Green was expected to be prominently featured during the contest. That, however, sadly didn't happen.
Liv Morgan eventually won the match, and Chelsea Green spent a long time outside the ring. It didn't make sense. Why would WWE get Chelsea Green back and not give her a fair share of the spotlight? Does WWE have no faith in her as a performer? These were the questions tossed around immediately after the SmackDown match was over.
However, the reality of the situation was completely different.
Fightful Select reported that Chelsea Green was originally scheduled to win the match and book her spot in the Survivor Series Elimination showdown. Chelsea Green, unfortunately, suffered a broken wrist injury mid-match, and the finish was changed on the fly to get Liv Morgan over. The former NXT Superstar would confirm her injury via Instagram.
Carmella's recent return and the debut of Chelsea Green clearly showed WWE's intentions of changing the landscape of the SmackDown Women's division. The fact that Green was booked to win the match in the first place is a positive sign of how WWE management views her. However, the injury couldn't have happened at a worse time, and we wish her a speedy recovery.
#3 A new tag team and a fresh start for Otis and Chad Gable on SmackDown
There is still hope for Otis and Chad Gable on SmackDown, after all.
Gable introduced the 'Alpha Academy' angle on SmackDown, and his first possible recruit seems to be Otis.
The former Mr. Money in the Bank has endured a horrible phase over the past few weeks. Mandy Rose moved to RAW, the MITB contract went to The Miz, and Tucker turned heel. It was clear as day that WWE had buried Otis after pushing him to be a popular babyface. His world came crumbling down within a matter of months.
WWE, however, kicked off a fresh new angle for Otis on SmackDown. The former Heavy Machinery member picked up a comfortable win over Dolph Ziggler, and Gable was particularly impressed with Otis' effort.
Chad Gable handed Otis a flyer and invited him to join the 'Alpha Academy' wherein the former NXT Tag Team Champion would help Otis 'unlock his inner alpha.'
Otis seemed thrilled by the idea, and we might see the addition of the tag team to SmackDown's division going forward. Gable needed a new gimmick after the forgettable 'Shorty G' experiment, and the 'Alpha Academy' storyline with Otis has tons of potential.
Gable and Otis are two of the most likable guys on SmackDown, and their dynamic could make for a memorable tag team.
#2 The end of a SmackDown storyline
Murphy finally got the approval of the Mysterios on SmackDown, and it was not always expected to happen. All the fears of Murphy being in cahoots with Seth Rollins were dispelled as the disciple helped Rey Mysterio win the feud-ending match against the Messiah.
Rey Mysterio approved his daughter's relationship with Murphy, and the segment solidified the former Cruiserweight Champion's face turn.
The next logical step is to make Murphy look like a credible babyface, and you can trust Seth Rollins to do a fine job.
Rollins wasted no time demanding a match against his now-former disciple, and Adam Pearce also booked it for next week's SmackDown.
The love story between Murphy and Aalyah is here to stay, but what's more critical is Murphy's development as a performer. Seth Rollins is the ideal man to get Murphy over as a top-tier babyface. The former WWE Champion and Murphy have already given an example of their incredible in-ring chemistry, and we can't wait to see them dance inside the squared circle again next week.
Whether you like it or not, Murphy and Aalyah will be pushed as the likable on-screen couple in the weeks and months to follow. The backstage reactions of the WWE management to the angle have also been quite positive, and the company isn't willing to end the storyline due to the online criticism that it has attracted.
Murphy and Aalyah have the backing of the powers that be, and Seth Rollins' impeccable work as a heel should help them get over even more on SmackDown.
#1 WWE showed glimpses of a big-money feud between Drew McIntyre and Roman Reigns on SmackDown
Roman Reigns got SmackDown underway, and that shouldn't surprise anyone. The Tribal Chief is in fine form, and his segments garner the best ratings across the WWE.
What we didn't expect, though, was Drew McIntyre showing up on SmackDown. The former WWE Champion is scheduled to face Randy Orton in a title rematch on the next episode of RAW, and he seemed uberly confident about his prospects of becoming a two-time WWE Champion.
If there is one thing we learned from the opening segment, Drew McIntyre vs. Roman Reigns is a special rivalry just waiting to be written. Both men looked like legitimate stars as they stood toe-to-toe and exchanged words on SmackDown.
McIntyre picked up a win over Jey Uso in an unsanctioned match later on in the main event, and SmackDown ended with another staredown between the Scottish Psychopath and the WWE Universal Champion.
Could this have been a possible spoiler for the WWE Championship match on RAW? There is a strong possibility of Drew McIntyre regaining the title from Randy Orton, and there are several ways that WWE can book it to happen. The Fiend is lurking in the background, and an interference could facilitate the title change.
However, is WWE ready to throw away a big-money singles match between McIntyre and Reigns in an inconsequential Champion vs. Champion match at Survivor Series?
Roman Reigns can't afford to take a loss, and neither would Drew McIntyre if he becomes the Champion again. In the meantime, Randy Orton has a target on his back, and there are many ways to justify a loss to Reigns.
While the teaser was promising, the fans might have to wait for a full-fledged rivalry between Drew McIntyre and Roman Reigns.
