WWE SmackDown Live Preview: January 9, 2018

How will the the Phenomenal One respond to Daniel Bryan's surprising announcement?
How will the Phenomenal One respond to Daniel Bryan's surprising announcement?

#2 Distraught #1 contenders

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Shelton Benjamin and Chad Gable will eventually win the SmackDown Tag Team titles from The Usos. That's a certainty. WWE, however, is doing the right thing and is letting it all unfold slowly. The accomplished grapplers came awfully close in dethroning The Usos last week when Gable pinned Jimmy Usos only for the referee to realize they weren't the two legal men.

Gable and Benjamin ended up falling short and they haven't taken too well to the referee's botch. The Gold Standard and his protege demand justice and they will surely be granted a title opportunity at the Royal Rumble.

But... but... Rusev Day! If recent reports are anything to go by, WWE has planned a big US title push and face turn for the lovable Bulgarian right. We say put the tag team titles around the waists of English and Rusev. Have Rusev defeat Brock Lesnar for the Universal title. Heck, put all the titles on the duo.

What makes Sting special? His first AEW opponent opens up RIGHT HERE.