5 things you need to know before tonight's WWE SmackDown Live (January 8th, 2019)

Which of these three Superstars will face Asuka at the Royal Rumble?
Which of these three Superstars will face Asuka at the Royal Rumble?

In just a few short hours, the Jackson Veterans Memorial Arena will host what is shaping up to be an exciting night of WWE SmackDown Live.

As the Royal Rumble pay per view draws nearer, more and more Superstars will be hoping to add their names to the hat, with the Rumble match being the ultimate first class ticket to WrestleMania, and a chance to become a champion at the iconic show this coming April.

But before WrestleMania, and before the Royal Rumble, the men and women will have to survive what the McMahon family have planned for tonight.

Plenty has already been promised for tonight's big episode, and we're sure there will be a few surprises along the way.

Here are five things you need to know before tonight's edition of WWE SmackDown Live.

#5 Who will join the Rumble?

Who will be the next to join the Royal Rumble matches?
Who will be the next to join the Royal Rumble matches?

For the second year ever, the WWE Royal Rumble pay per view will host two rumble matches, one for the men and one for the women.

And whilst 29 out of the potential 60 spots have been filled for the two matches, there are still plenty of spots for the men and women of the Blue brand.

The Rumble match has helped change the careers of several Superstars, such as Asuka, who won the inaugural Women's Royal Rumble and (despite some setbacks), is riding high as the SmackDown Women's Champion.

Only seven male SmackDown Superstars have entered the match, and just four female Superstars from SmackDown so far.

Expect that to change tonight, when more men and women from SmackDown announce their participation, in what they'll all hope will be their first step on the road to WrestleMania.

#4 Title opportunity on the line

The Bar and The Usos will battle tonight on SmackDown.
The Bar and The Usos will battle tonight on SmackDown.

As one of the hottest tag teams in recent history, The Usos had a truly epic 2018.

Entering last year as the SmackDown Live Tag Team Champions, the team of Jimmy and Jey have had a record-breaking 329 combined days as champions of the blue brand, across their three separate reigns.

The team, however, would love to break the record and become four-time SmackDown Tag Team Champions and may get their chance when they meet The Bar tonight.

Whilst this match won't be for the blue-strapped titles, if The Usos do win, they will earn a title shot down the line against the Europeans, presumably at the Royal Rumble.

With so much at stake tonight, expect Jimmy and Jey to throw caution to the wind in their efforts to get that fourth reign as champions.

#3 What's next for the Bulgarian Brute?

A concerned Rusev cares for his wife after an attack by Shinsuke Nakamura.
A concerned Rusev cares for his wife after an attack by Shinsuke Nakamura.

Last week should have been a very happy New Year's and a very happy Rusev Day for the Bulgarian Brute.

After dethroning then US Champion Shinsuke Nakamura on Christmas Day (which just so also happens to be Rusev's birthday), the new champion and wife Lana were in a celebrating mood.

Things took a nasty turn, however, when the King of Strong Style ambushed the Bulgarian, levelling him with a Kinshasa.

When the ravishing Russian attempted to defend her man, things got even uglier, as a Matchka Kick downed Nakamura, and crushed Lana in the process.

This was, of course, an accident, though one has to wonder how Rusev and Lana will be feeling tonight after such a heinous act, and what they will have to say to the founder of Nak-America.

#2 Styles to confront Bryan tonight

Styles and Bryan have been at each other's throats for months.
Styles and Bryan have been at each other's throats for months.

Ever since AJ Styles had the WWE Championship stolen from him by Daniel Bryan, things have been hell for the Phenomenal One.

Failing to recapture the title at WWE TLC: Tables, Ladders, and Chairs, Styles has been in a downward spiral, even being goaded to show some fire by Vince McMahon, whom he promptly floored with a punch.

Perhaps this insult from the boss did work out for Styles though, as he won a 5-man match last week, and will have another shot at Bryan at the Royal Rumble.

Not satisfied waiting until the 27th, the Phenomenal One has vowed he will confront the former Yes! Man tonight.

With the Bearded One firmly in Styles' head, who knows what the former champion will do to reclaim the gold he held for over a year.

#1 Triple threat action to determine Asuka's next opponent

Which of these former Women's Champions will emerge as Asuka's next opponent?
Which of these former Women's Champions will emerge as Asuka's next opponent?

Asuka's win at WWE TLC was a huge turning point for the Empress.

After a shaky 2018, the SmackDown Women's Champion was able to dethrone Becky Lynch in the first ever Women's TLC match, in a bout that also featured Charlotte Flair, the same woman who ended Asuka's undefeated streak.

But there's no rest for the wicked, and tonight, a triple threat match between Flair, Lynch and fellow former Women's Champion Camella will determine a new challenger for Asuka to face at the Royal Rumble.

Each woman has a vendetta against the Empress, and would love to be the one to dethrone her in her first pay per view title defence.

But with Asuka more confident than ever before, the question is pretty obvious: is anybody ready for her?

Quick Links