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At the outset, let me just start off by saying that this is not an article that I usually do, but I will be filling in for Rohit Nath this week, who is unable to cover WWE SmackDown as he is currently on a trek. Fear not, because he should be back by the time WWE RAW comes around, and I do hope that you will be merciful as I attempt this article- 5 things that WWE subtly told us on SmackDown this week.
Seinfeld has traditionally been known as the 'show about nothing', but I would have to say that SmackDown can don the mantle now. Very little happened on this week's episode of SmackDown, although a lot of things were subtly implied during the show.
So, with that in mind, I present an article about 5 things that WWE told us on SmackDown this week, in a subtle manner.
#5 Possible spoiler about Nikki Cross becoming the new WWE SmackDown Women's Champion at Extreme Rules?
Generally, when a Champion picks up a big win on a RAW or SmackDown leading up to a major pay-per-view, it is an indication that he/she is going to lose the match coming up and this has been a WWE tradition for a long time now.
Yes, I realize that this wasn't the go-home show but Bayley winning in the manner that she did is a sign that WWE may not want to keep the SmackDown Women's Championship on her much longer. And there was yet another thing that WWE subtly told us on SmackDown this week.
Why did Lacey Evans turn heel, all of a sudden, on this week's episode of WWE SmackDown? Could it be, so that Nikki Cross has another woman to feud with, once she becomes the SmackDown Women's Champion?
#4 WWE to push SmackDown star- Matt Riddle all the way to the very top of the food chain
It is clear that WWE is very high (no pun intended) on Matt Riddle right now on SmackDown, who has come into the roster with a lot of momentum at the moment. And this is certain from the fact that he beat the Intercontinental Champion AJ Styles in his debut WWE SmackDown outing already.
And now WWE has confirmed that on the following episode of SmackDown, we shall see Matt Riddle take on the current reigning and defending Intercontinental Champion AJ Styles in a singles match for the title.
This is a big deal because there are people who come up from NXT who have to wait forever to be in the title picture or even in the spotlight (Apollo Crews immediately comes to mind) but Matt Riddle is being treated as a Superstar from the get-go.
The match next week on SmackDown between Riddle and Styles should really be a contest for the ages and a thrill for the WWE Universe.
#3 Has The Miz's stock fallen drastically on WWE SmackDown?
I don't think it is possible to argue that The Miz is one of the most entertaining Superstars on WWE SmackDown at the moment, but I have to say that he is not the same star that he once was. And this is not because of any fault of his, but just because WWE can't find anything for him to do on the current SmackDown roster.
And so, one week The Miz and John Morrison are portrayed as lackeys for King Corbin and the following week on WWE SmackDown, they are seemingly carrying out Sheamus' bidding in the roster. We all knew that The Miz was going to kick off the show, only to lose to Jeff Hardy, and that is precisely what happened on this week's episode of SmackDown.
I think that Maryse needs to return very soon indeed for The Miz to regain some of the oomph that he has lost on WWE SmackDown. He just seems like a bigger star with her by his side.
#2 No plans for Jey Uso as a singles competitor on WWE SmackDown
Just because one member of a tag team is injured does not necessarily mean that WWE pulls the plug on the other. We saw how much of a push Otis got even though Tucker was out of commission on SmackDown not very long ago, but it seems like The Usos will be treated quite differently indeed.
As we are quite aware already, Jimmy Uso suffered an injury at WrestleMania and will be out of action for 6-9 months.
Sure, he did a commendable job as the compere during the karaoke segment but Jimmy Uso is a Superstar in the prime of his youth, who can go better than most others in the WWE SmackDown roster.
It would have made a lot of sense to use him as a babyface in a singles role but because of how intense the competition is on SmackDown at the moment, I suppose that there just isn't a place for him to branch out as a breakout babyface.
#1 WWE to confirm an Extreme Rules match for the
SmackDown Tag Team Championships?
Well, if you are wondering why the main event match on this week's episode of WWE SmackDown ended in the manner that it did, the answer is very simple. WWE still needs another big match from SmackDown at the upcoming pay-per-view entitled Extreme Rules and the fact of the matter is that The New Day and Cesaro/Nakamura could tear it up when they get the chance.
But because the pay-per-view is called Extreme Rules, there is a big chance that WWE will decide to book these two big teams from SmackDown in a massive Extreme Rules match on the pay-per-view. And this won't be a bad decision at all considering just how talented the men involved are, and how little excitement there has been around the WWE SmackDown Tag Team Championship picture lately.
I think it's only a matter of time until this match is confirmed. Until then, you can check out what Kofi Kingston had to say to Sportskeeda's Rick Ucchino.
