5 things you need to know before tonight's SmackDown Live (November 20th, 2018)

The men and women of SmackDown Live can't exactly be feeling too great right about now.

After all, the blue brand's Superstars lost 6-0 at this past Sunday's Survivor Series pay per view, though they did pick up a win on the pre-show, in ten-team elimination action.

Fortunately for team blue, the show is in the past, as the Superstars now look forward to TLC, the final pay per view of 2018.

And with this being the final pay per view, it won't be long before the Royal Rumble, and for the road to WrestleMania 35 to get underway.

But before any of that, the SmackDown Live roster need to get through tonight, which is shaping up to be a truly can't-miss episode of WWE TV.

Here are 5 things you definitely need to know before tonight's episode of WWE SmackDown Live.

#5 Charlotte Flair is on the warpath

Flair decimates Rousey at Survivor Series

At Survivor Series, Charlotte Flair faced off against RAW Women's Champion Ronda Rousey, replacing Becky Lynch who had been concussed last week.

Losing via Disqualification, Flair certainly made her presence known, attacking the UFC Hall of Famer with a Kendo stick and a steel chair, in one of the most shocking moments of the show.

Possibly the evilest we have seen the Queen, who joined SmackDown as a face last year, fans will certainly be interested to see what she has to say tonight on SmackDown Live.

It will be just as interesting to see what Lynch has to say, as The Man may have told her former friend to stick it to Rousey at the pay per view.

Whilst we don't currently know what Flair's motivations were for snapping on the Hot Rod, hopefully she will clear the air and be able to explain herself tonight on the show.

#4 How will the blue brand recover after Survivor Series?

The pay per view was not a good night for team blue.

In the near 2 decades of SmackDown, it's hard to imagine the brand had a worse pay per view than at Survivor Series.

In cross-branded matches, SmackDown lost to Monday Night RAW in every single match on the main show, though the tag teams of SmackDown did win on the pre-show over their red-brand counterparts.

Despite this hollow victory, perhaps no-one is feeling worse than Shane McMahon, who was not only eliminated in the men's 5-on-5 elimination matches, but now must also face the humiliation of losing to his sister and RAW Commissioner Stephanie.

Who knows how Shane will react to the brand's losses tonight?

Perhaps he will risk suspension, or maybe even fire some of those who came up short this past Sunday.

Whatever happens, expect the 'Best In The World', to not be his usual jolly, fun-loving self tonight.

#3 What's next for the King of Strong Style?

The United States Championship reign of Shinsuke Nakamura has been a strange one, to say the least.

After capturing the title from Jeff Hardy in just six seconds at Extreme Rules, Nakamura has had strange feuds, with the former NXT Champion being the third-man in the epic encounters between Hardy and Randy Orton.

Things didn't get much better at Survivor Series, when Nakamura came up short against RAW's Intercontinental Champion Seth Rollins, despite the Architect having the Lunatic Fringe Dean Ambrose on his mind.

Hopefully, a new challenger will emerge tonight for the King of Strong Style, who is yet to receive that big, iconic feud since joining the main roster just over a year ago.

Tonight, expect WWE's resident rock-star to address his loss at Survivor Series, and continue his efforts to strengthen Nak-America on the road to Tables, Ladders, and Chairs.

#2 The Bar and The New Day to clash in Thanksgiving Feast Fight

Thanksgiving is just days away, and for many in the U.S, it's time to start prepping the Turkey, invite family around, and avoid awkward small talk.

But for The Bar and The New Day, they may be a bit sore at the dinner table, as the teams will clash in the first ever Thanksgiving Feast Fight.

The 6-man match will include the Big Show, who has proven to be the difference maker for Sheamus and Cesaro since siding with them recently.

In fact, it was thanks to the World's Largest Athlete that the European Superstars were able to win the SmackDown Tag Team Championships at SmackDown 1,000.

I'm sure the New Day haven't forgotten that, and are hoping to get revenge on the three men in Turkey Day action.

Expect plenty of Turkey, Stuffing (and yes, Pancakes too) tonight.

#1 Will Daniel Bryan explain his actions tonight?

Last week, Daniel Bryan won the WWE Championship in very controversial fashion.

With the referee down, Bryan hit then-Champion AJ Styles with a low blow (something you'd think the Phenomenal One would be used to), before crushing him with a Running Knee to pick up the win, and the title.

Since then, Bryan has remained very cagey about his actions, refusing to answer questions about it, instead just grinning evilly.

Whilst the YES! Movement leader lost to Universal Champion Brock Lesnar at Survivor Series, Bryan was definitely cockier than the fans are used to seeing from him, even mocking Lesnar's pre-match bounce.

Styles, of course, is owed a rematch, and presumably will get it at the TLC pay per view, presumably in some stipulation match.

Until then though, hopefully Bryan will give the WWE Universe an explanation for why he turned on them tonight.