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The latest episode of WWE SmackDown Live will take place in Orlando, Florida on Tuesday.
One of the biggest storylines heading into the show surrounds the ongoing rivalry between Daniel Bryan and The Miz, with the latter set to make a SummerSlam announcement after declining D-Bry’s challenge to a match at the PPV last week.
This week’s in-ring action will see The New Day take on The Bar in the final match of the tag team #1 contender tournament, with the winners earning an opportunity to face The Bludgeon Brothers, and Charlotte Flair will join forces with Becky Lynch in a tag match against The IIconics.
Elsewhere on the show, WWE champion AJ Styles is set to make his first appearance since being attacked by Samoa Joe two weeks ago, while Randy Orton looks set to remain in the United States title picture despite the announcement that Jeff Hardy will face Shinsuke Nakamura at SummerSlam.
Further down the card, there has been speculation that there could be a twist in the SmackDown Women's Championship storyline ahead of SummerSlam, and the rivalry between Rusev & Lana and Andrade “Cien” Almas & Zelina Vega looks set to continue.
In this article, let’s take a look at seven last-minute predictions ahead of the episode.
#7 The New Day vs. The Bar
At the start of the SmackDown Tag Team Championship #1 contender tournament, it looked like SAnitY were the obvious favourites to emerge as the next challengers for The Bludgeon Brothers’ titles, so credit to WWE for keeping fans guessing over the last couple of weeks.
Regular readers of these weekly predictions will have seen that we’ve doubted from the start whether The New Day or The Usos would go all the way, simply because both teams have already been dismantled by Harper & Rowan on multiple occasions in 2018.
For that reason, it would make the most sense for WWE to give fans a fresh match-up between The Bludgeon Brothers and The Bar at SummerSlam.
Prediction: The Bar defeats The New Day
#6 What next for Aiden English?
Last week’s SmackDown Live saw Andrade “Cien” Almas’ business manager, Zelina Vega, pick up her first win on the main roster after Aiden English inadvertently cost Lana by getting involved at ringside towards the end of the match.
Lana reacted by telling Rusev backstage that she needed him to support her, as opposed to the increasingly unreliable English, and the angry “Bulgarian Brute” was unable to find his tag partner following the match.
As of the time of writing, nothing has been announced for this storyline on this week's SmackDown, so let’s predict that English will try (and fail) to make it up to Rusev and Lana by facing Almas in a one-on-one match.
Prediction: Andrade “Cien” Almas defeats Aiden English
#5 Will Asuka be added to the SummerSlam title match?
The WWE rumour mill has been running wild over the last week that Asuka could be added to the SmackDown Women’s Championship match at SummerSlam, joining Carmella, Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair in a Fatal 4-Way match.
It would certainly make sense from a storyline perspective – Asuka’s two recent title matches were ruined by James Ellsworth – and Carmella’s two confirmed challengers for the title at SummerSlam will be preoccupied this week when they face The IIconics.
That leads us to believe that the rumours are true and, whether it happens this week or next week, Asuka looks set to defeat Carmella in a non-title match to earn another title opportunity at SummerSlam.
Prediction: Asuka defeats Carmella
#4 Charlotte Flair & Becky Lynch vs. The IIconics
SmackDown GM Paige announced on Monday that Charlotte Flair & Becky Lynch will face The IIconics on this week’s show after a back-and-forth argument between the duos on social media over the last few days.
Charlotte and Becky showed signs of dissension in their friendship last week, which suggests they might not be on the same page if they team up in a tag match, but then are they really going to lose against two Superstars who haven’t won since April?
This is tough to call. Let’s go for a rare win for Billie Kay & Peyton Royce!
Prediction: The IIconics defeat Charlotte Flair & Becky Lynch
#3 What does AJ Styles have planned for his return?
With AJ Styles absent from SmackDown Live last week, Samoa Joe described his upcoming opponent as a “failed husband and father” and promised that Styles’ wife and kids will “get their daddy back” after he loses the WWE Championship at SummerSlam.
“The Phenomenal One” will have his chance to respond when he returns to SmackDown this week, but something tells us the talking won’t last for long.
After Styles’ family was brought into the rivalry, let’s predict that the two SummerSlam opponents will be involved in a huge brawl which will have to be separated by the rest of the locker room.
Prediction: SmackDown roster separates AJ Styles and Samoa Joe
#2 Where does Randy Orton fit into the US title scene?
Since making his WWE return at Extreme Rules last month, Randy Orton has viscously attacked Jeff Hardy (and his earlobe) on two occasions and blamed fans for “killing” his legendary status.
It was announced over the weekend that Jeff will get another opportunity at Shinsuke Nakamura’s United States Championship at SummerSlam, which came as somewhat of a surprise considering that this storyline is all about Orton and he has been one of the most must-watch performers on WWE television recently.
It’s difficult to predict what “The Viper” will do next, but let’s assume that he’ll re-enter the US title picture by adding Nakamura to his list of victims.
Prediction: Randy Orton attacks Shinsuke Nakamura
#1 What will The Miz announce for SummerSlam?
The Miz declined Daniel Bryan’s challenge to a match at SummerSlam after last week’s episode of SmackDown Live, and he has since revealed that he will make an announcement “on my terms” about the PPV on Tuesday night.
The phrase “my terms” seems to suggest that The Miz would be willing to face Bryan at SummerSlam, but only if certain stipulations are met that would favour the eight-time Intercontinental champion.
With so much real-life speculation about Bryan’s future right now, let’s predict that Miz will accept the SummerSlam challenge – but only if D-Bry puts his WWE career on the line.
Prediction: The Miz wants Daniel Bryan's WWE career at stake at SummerSlam
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