5 things you need to know before tonight's WWE SmackDown Live (December 4th 2018)

We are just hours away from the first WWE SmackDown Live of December 2018, and the men and women of Monday Nights have a lot to prove.

After a huge show last week, the Superstars of team Blue are certainly hoping to impress, as both main brands continue to build to the WWE TLC: Tables, Ladders, and Chairs pay per view.

With the final pay per view of the year looming, the SmackDown Live Superstars will be hoping to build a wave of momentum to shine on this last hurrah, in what has been an epic year for the company.

But before they make it to TLC, the Superstars of WWE SmackDown Live need to survive tonight's show, with plenty already being promised.

Here are five things you absolutely need to know before the December 4th, 2018 episode of WWE SmackDown Live.

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#5 A huge title match contract signing will take place

Who will leave TLC as Champion?

At WWE TLC: Tables, Ladders, and Chairs, the Man Becky Lynch will face her toughest challenge when she defends the SmackDown Women's Championship against BOTH Charlotte Flair and Asuka.

As if this didn't put the Champion at enough of a disadvantage, the match will also be under TLC rules, the first ever women's match under the stipulation.

But before all of that, tonight will see the contract signing for the huge match, with each woman hoping to make history at the pay per view.

Lynch has been on a roll since she won the title at Hell In A Cell, but even the Man must be thinking that her time as champion may be coming to an end.

And knowing past WWE contract signings, expect fists to fly during the showdown between the trio tonight.

#4 Samoa Joe stoops to new low

Joe took things way too far last week.

It seems that just when Samoa Joe can't get more disgusting in his tactics on SmackDown Live, he finds a new low to stoop to.

Many thought that when he brought up AJ Styles' children, that that was the worst of the worst, but last week, during Jeff Hardy's 20th-anniversary celebration, Joe brought up the Charismatic Enigma's troubling past.

Joe is no-doubt irate after failing to capture the WWE Championship this year and is seemingly looking at Hardy as a stepping stone to get back in the title hunt.

What will Joe have to say for himself when he addresses the WWE Universe tonight, just seven days removed from his heinous remarks.

And how will Hardy retaliate against the former NXT Champion, who has once again crossed a line in his mastery of mind games?

#3 What's next for the founder of Nak-America?

Nakamura assaulted the Bulgarian Brute last week on SmackDown Live.

Last week on SmackDown Live, United States Champion Shinsuke Nakamura ambushed his opponent Rusev before their match, toppling the Bulgarian Brute.

Showing a sadistic side few fans have seen before, Nakamura made it clear that he has no intention of losing the star-spangled strap any time soon.

The Bulgarian Brute is not one who is used to being ambushed, and no-doubt will be hungry to get some revenge on tonight's program.

Already a two-time former United States Champion, Rusev came up short against Nakamura at Crown Jewel, though last week's attack will have lit a fire inside the Bulgarian.

Perhaps a title match at TLC is in order, as these two would definitely bring their A-Game to the final pay per view of 2018.

Expect fists to fly on tonight's SmackDown Live.

#2 Singles action for Tag Team stars

Xavier Woods, Cesaro and Jey Uso will compete without their partners tonight.

Right now on team Blue, The Bar has been by far the most dominant team, capturing the brand's tag team titles at SmackDown 1,000.

But at TLC, the team of Sheamus and Cesaro will have their gravest challenge, when they face two former champions, in the New Day and the Usos.

Tonight though, the WWE Universe will see a different kind of triple threat, as a member of each team will compete, with each man hoping to build momentum.

As Xavier Woods, Jey Uso and Cesaro all battle, one has to wonder to what extent will their teammates have on the match.

The bookie's favourite is Cesaro, as whilst Woods and Uso have pretty much been solely tag stars since joining the company, the Swiss Superman knows how to go it alone.

#1 AJ Styles on the hunt for Daniel Bryan

Bryan will appear on Miz TV tonight, but will Styles also show?

WWE TLC: Tables, Ladders, and Chairs may be just 12 days away, but it seems that AJ Styles can't wait that long.

And to be fair to the Phenomenal One, Styles is still rightly furious over how he lost the WWE Championship a month ago, after being low-blowed by Bryan.

Not only did he lose the title, Styles also lost the chance to avenge his defeat to Brock Lesnar at last year's Survivor Series, as it was Bryan who met the Beast this year in champion Vs champion action.

Bryan will be appearing on Miz TV tonight as well, which whilst it'll allow the champ to gloat once again about his title victory, will also leave the former YES! Movement leader a sitting duck for an assault by the former champion.