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What’s the Story?
WWE announced a big tag team match for SmackDown Live between The New Day and Shelton Benjamin and Chad Gable.
In case you didn’t know...
Gable and Jason Jordan formed the team American Alpha in NXT and would go on to win the Tag Team Championships on the SmackDown Wildcard episode in 2016.
After losing the Tag Team Championships to The Usos and Jordan being drafted to Monday Night Raw by Kurt Angle, Gable formed a new team with Benjamin and the two have been pursuing the Tag Team Championships ever since.
The heart of the matter
The preview on WWE’s website suggests that this match will have implications for the SmackDown Tag Team Championship picture, but the match was never announced as a No.1 Contender’s bout.
The feud between The New Day and The Usos was considered as one of the best series of tag team matches in recent memory as well as a contender for feud of the year, but their Hell in a Cell match back in October seemed like the end of their feud.
Gable & Benjamin defeated The Usos by countout on the taped UK episode when Jey Uso seemingly injured his leg, so they have a win against The Usos in the books which they are using to justify a title shot in the near future.
If this is announced as a No.1 Contender’s match, it will confirm the SmackDown Tag Team Championship match for the upcoming Clash of Champions pay-per-view.
What’s Next?
Tonight’s episode of SmackDown Live seems like it will feature some great wrestling in this tag team match as well as in the match between Kevin Owens and Randy Orton announced for the show.
Author’s Take
Gable & Benjamin have only faced The New Day once on WWE programming, so winning this second match will benefit them greatly heading into Clash of Champions.
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