WWE SmackDown: 3 biggest questions from this week’s episode (February 05, 2019)

SmackDown Live continued to deliver for the second episode after the Royal Rumble and did well to keep up building towards the next pay-per-view, Elimination Chamber.

Once again we saw Becky Lynch become a part of the opening segment of the show, which clearly shows how much WWE values her now as she has opened four shows on the trot.

After the initial segment left us all in awe, WWE threw us in a rollercoaster of matches where most seemed to be better than what we saw on Raw just one night ago.

While most of the bookings and segments on SmackDown Live were of good standard, there were still a few questions that were left in our minds at the end of the show.

As we watched the incredible team of The Good Brothers being used as enhancement talent in a brand which is packed with tag teams like The Usos, The New Day, and The Bar, we failed to understand where WWE is planning to take their tag team division.

Without wasting any more time, let's look at the 3 questions we have from this week’s SmackDown Live.

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#3 Is The Authority back in action?

First Stephanie, then Triple H?

The Authority is known to be one of the best heels in WWE. Comprising of the McMahons, especially Stephanie McMahon and Triple H, the authoritative figures do everything in their power to push a superstar down. This is usually done to increase that superstar’s position and backing from the crowd, and also give them the underdog tag.

In the past, we have seen many superstars and factions benefit from the actions of The Authority, and it seems as though they are reforming now.

On Monday Night we watched Stephanie McMahon suspend Becky Lynch which resulted in an aggressive reaction from The Man, and then again on SmackDown last night Triple H talked down Lynch, which resulted in The Man slapping him.

Triple H’s promo also teased his heel turn, which could result in him siding up with either Ronda Rousey or Charlotte Flair to present Becky as the underdog which could play in her favor.

But the question remains whether The Authority is back in action, or whether this was just a one-time thing.

#2 Why are Rusev and Shinsuke Nakamura becoming a tag team?

Rusev holding Nakamura's hand up a the end signals towards an alliance

Just a few weeks ago, Shinsuke Nakamura was one of the most hated heels on SmackDown Live while Rusev was one of the biggest babyfaces in WWE.

While both men had a singular aim, which was to win the United States Championship, it’s odd that the two men have turned into a heel tag team after losing the title to R-Truth.

We had seen Nakamura intentionally and unintentionally attack Lana a few times, but all seems to be forgotten now as the two men took on The Good Brothers last night in a winning effort.

If WWE is planning on building another makeshift tag team comprising of two top-level individual superstars just to keep them relevant, then this can be a bad move.

If they are planning on making them the tag team champions at some point this year, then what about the existing tag teams on SmackDown who are waiting for their chance?

Maybe WWE is planning to switch the two men to Raw in the Superstar Shakeup.

Whatever the case may be, it is quite puzzling to see these two individuals teasing a tag team pairing for some time.

#1 Why were The IIconics a part of the tag team match?

The IIconics did not make much of an impression

At the Elimination Chamber pay-per-view, the first WWE Women's Tag Team Champions will be crowned inside the eponymous match. Last night, the last tag team who would be a part of the match were chosen through a match.

Surprisingly, the match was a triple threat match involving Naomi and Carmella, Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville, and The IIconics.

Why were The IIconics made a part of the match when their inclusion into the Elimination Chamber match was already announced without them doing battle? If the match was set up to pick the last team for the championship match, then it was obvious The IIconics wouldn’t have won as they are already in that match.

The IIconics remained largely unimpressive in the match, which basically built on the heat between Naomi and Mandy Rose. Rose got the pin over Naomi to pick up the win for her team which will progress to the Elimination Chamber match, along with the losers The IIconics.

Could WWE not have done without including The IIconics in the match, or did they finally realize that they need to remind fans that the team also exists? After all, both women were single-handedly beaten by Charlotte Flair not too long ago.