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This week’s SmackDown has a handful of returns scheduled that will definitely keep the viewers on the edge of their seats. Moreover, we will see the newly crowned Intercontinental Champion Braun Strowman celebrate his first-ever Single’s title reign in WWE.
While the last week marked the beginning of a few fantastic storylines, it also saw the end of the rivalry between ‘King’ Corbin and Roman Reigns with the ‘Big Dog’ having the last laugh. In other news, the SmackDown Women’s Championship feud between Lacey Evans and Bayley has also ended and we could see a new challenger stepping up this week.
So without further ado, let’s take a look at everything that can happen on tonight’s episode of SmackDown.
#5 Daniel Bryan will be back on the Blue brand
Daniel Bryan was engaged in a lengthy feud with The Fiend which saw the latter gaining an upper-hand in all their encounters. The best possible outcome of this feud was the return of old Daniel Bryan who donned his classic personality and put the ‘#10yearchallenge’ to shame.
He locked horns with The Fiend at Royal Rumble and missed the SmackDown after that. But earlier this week, WWE confirmed that the leader of the ‘Yes!’ movement is set to grace the Blue brand with his presence tonight. It is widely believed that his rivalry with The Fiend has come to an end and both Superstars will now look to participate in fresh storylines.
It would be interesting to see what Bryan has to say about his future plans. There were also rumors about him taking some time off as his wife is pregnant with their child. However, his recent makeover and intense revival of the ‘Yes!’ chants suggest otherwise. Could we see him initiate a non-title feud with someone?
#4 Goldberg’s return and possible feud with The Fiend
Recently, it was confirmed that WWE Hall of Famer Goldberg is set to make an appearance on Friday Night SmackDown. His last appearance in WWE dates back to 2019 when he defeated Dolph Ziggler in a short match at SummerSlam.
The recent rumors suggest that Goldberg will engage in a short feud with the Fiend and the duo will lock horns at WWE Super ShowDown in three weeks. The Fiend has a long, unpleasant history with WWE legends and he would like to maintain that reputation with his action on tonight’s show.
We could see The Fiend interrupting Goldberg and attacking him to kickstart their rivalry before he ultimately turns his attention towards his potential WrestleMania opponent (read that as Roman Reigns).
While The Fiend vs Goldberg is expected to be a short affair, it is possible that the latter will find an opponent in someone else. If that heppens, we might not see The Fiend making any sort of appearance at Super ShowDown which is quite hard to believe.
#3 Return of the ‘Dirt Sheet’
The ‘Dirt Sheet’, that enjoyed success in WWE almost a decade ago, is set to return to SmackDown – courtesy of The Miz and John Morrison. The duo reunited after the latter’s return to the Blue brand and are now working to re-establish themselves as a dominant force in the Tag Team division. Prior to his reunion with his former Tag Team partner, The Miz was engaged in a feud with The Fiend.
That storyline also saw him briefly aligning with a long-term rival, Daniel Bryan. WWE managed to pull off an exciting narration by involving Miz’s family and it had the viewers hooked. However, the creatives decided to pull the plug on that feud which seemingly came to an end after The Miz was defeated by The Fiend.
As the infamous theory suggests, The Miz also reverted back to his old self after suffering defeat at the hands of the Universal Champion. He has now found an alliance in an old friend and the two are keen on announcing themselves in the Tag Team division. We can expect them to challenge for the SmackDown Tag Team Championships soon.
#2 Is Naomi eyeing the SmackDown Women’s Championship?
The entire Friday Night SmackDown felt the glow when Naomi made her return after spending nearly six months away from WWE television. Just before that, she was seen participating in the Women’s Royal Rumble 2020. Her arrival on the Blue brand has definitely strengthened its roster and she could be the next challenger for Bayley’s SmackDown Championship.
The feud between Bayley and Lacey Evans seems to have to come to an end with the Champion gaining her victory and establishing herself as a dominant force – at least on paper. It is evident that Bayley desperately needs interesting feuds to keep her championship reign interesting. Even the hype surrounding her heel turn has died down.
She is expected to engage in a rivalry with Sasha Banks but the latter is out of action due to an injury. Rumors suggest that the two best friends will lock horns for the title at WrestleMania. Therefore, in the meantime, WWE might be planning to initiate a brief feud between Bayley and Naomi by having the latter challenge for the SmackDown Women’s Championship.
#1 What’s next for Braun Strowman
Last week, Braun Strowman defeated Shinsuke Nakamura to win the Intercontinental Title and kickstarted his first Singles title reign in WWE history. The ‘Monster Among Men’ had defeated Nakamura in a non-title match that won him a shot at the Championship. He made the best use of the opportunity and finally got his hands on the gold.
Tonight, we might see Nakamura return along with Cesaro and Sami Zayn with an intention to challenge Strowman for a rematch. However, it is safe to say that the IC Title will not change hands this week. Moreover, this championship feud may allow room for the development of new alliances on the Blue brand.
Once Strowman successfully defends his title, we may see him engage in several one-off encounters with the rest of the SmackDown roster until the WWE creative stumble across an engaging rivalry. For now, he is expected to use his championship reign as a stepping stone in his journey to the top. If booked well, Strowman can elevate the Intercontinental Championship to great heights.
