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WWE SmackDown looks to be an exciting show this week as the blue brand is headlined by a major triple threat match that will determine the next challenger to face The Fiend Bray Wyatt at Royal Rumble.
While it is easy to assume that Daniel Bryan will be the winner, there is some rather bad news for the A-Lister for this week's SmackDown. Let us take a look at the 5 biggest stories that could impact the blue brand.
#5 Daniel Bryan to pin The Miz on SmackDown
Daniel Bryan will be taking on King Corbin and The Miz, with the winnger getting a chance to take on The Fiend at Royal Rumble.
As per the recent Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Daniel Bryan is slated to come out victorious in the match by defeating Baron Corbin and The Miz. However, what is rather unfortunate is that as per the reports, it will be The Miz who will take the pin in order to protect Baron Corbin.
Here is what Cageside Seats has stated:
Daniel Bryan is expected to win the shot at Bray Wyatt and the Universal championship at Royal Rumble.
Furthermore, The Miz is involved likely to take the fall to protect Baron Corbin from having to do so.
Bray Wyatt had defeated Daniel Bryan when the two former WWE Champions clashed at Survivor Series and it looks like WWE is keen on the two Superstars having a rematch at Royal Rumble.
Daniel Bryan had explained on the last SmackDown that he isn't the same Daniel Bryan who had faced The Fiend earlier:
Shedding his long hair and iconic beard, Bryan has returned to his 'American Dragon' look with close cropped hair and no beard. The leader of the Yes Movement explained that he is a new version of himself who is not just a 'brand' and is willing to do whatever it takes to bring down The Fiend.
#4 Vince McMahon unhappy with The Revival
The Revival has not had much luck on the main roster. Even though the Top Guys have held the Tag Team Championships on NXT as well as the main roster, they have never really been able to either get over with the casual audience or Vince McMahon.
As per a recent report from WrestlingNews.co, it is revealed that Vince McMahon isn't too pleased with The Revival as he has never seen them on NXT and isn't a fan of their old-school style of wrestling.
Vince expected them to sign new contracts by now and they haven’t so this is what he wants to do with them. He wants to lock people in months before their contracts expire and if they don’t want to play ball then he’s going to push them as comedy guys.
(H/T: SportsKeeda)
At a live event, Scott Dawson had declared that Dash Wilder is 'injured' and had him replaced by Curtis Axel in a tag team match. Vince McMahon wants them to remain a comedy act on SmackDown, and that is what they will likely remain till their contracts expire.
#3 Big plans for Roman Reigns
Roman Reigns may not have been active in the main event scene on SmackDown ever since his return, but that certainly doesn't mean that WWE has dropped their plans to push the former WWE Champion.
As per a report from WrestlingNews.co, Roman Reigns vs Bray Wyatt is practically finalised for WrestleMania 36. So expect The Big Dog to get back in form from this week's SmackDown.
Dave Meltzer and Bryan Alvarez of WON has also speculated on why Roman Reigns will be getting a major push soon:
Alvarez: This person says, is it possible that the way Vince has booked The Fiend in the last few months as an unbeatable, unstoppable monster that Vince is setting up the main event of WrestleMania for the Universal title, with the goal into making The Fiend just like the Big Show or Braun Strowman or just like other monsters Vince built up only for Roman Reigns to heroically overcome and conquer?
Meltzer: Yeah, it's very possible that'll happen because they have been keeping them apart and they are on the same brand and Roman Reigns is a top babyface on the brand.
#2 Sasha Banks to win the Women's Royal Rumble
Sasha Banks may have taken a back seat for Bayley over the past few weeks, but a feud between the two best friends might be around the corner as per SportsKeeda's Tom Colohue.
While Colohue has stated that Shayna Baszler has a strong chance to win the Women's Royal Rumble match, the former RAW Women's Champion has a high chance to win as well.
There is still an outside chance that Sasha Banks may win, that would be good for Bayley, that would give Bayley a strong contender because the SmackDown roster is not particularly strong when it comes to the women's side. We can have someone like Io Shirai win the Rumble, shock contender, then take on Bayley, that would be interesting, don't see that happening though.
Bayley has been going strong as the face of the SmackDown Women's division with Banks right by her side, but if Banks is slated to win the Rumble match and face Bayley at WrestleMania, then we might just see seeds of dissension being planted on SmackDown.
#1 Braun Strowman to get a new tag-team partner
Braun Strowman might be one of the most intimidating men on the roster as of now, but it is quite clear that WWE is not keen on pushing him to the top card.
Strowman has not made much of an impact on SmackDown ever since he got drafted to the blue brand. After losing to Tyson Fury at Crown Jewel, the two men were seen showing mutual respect for each other on SmackDown a few weeks back.
SportsKeeda's Tom Colohue has reported that WWE plans to make Strowman and Fury a tag team going forward. So there is a huge chance that Tyson Fury may show up on this week's SmackDown.
Tyson Fury seems to be making a strong case (to face Brock Lesnar), every outlet he’s spoken to, he has been talking about it, to be fair, if that’s the question, he would.
Whether or not Tyson Fury is the one to challenge Brock Lesnar is a question in itself. Tyson Fury is still quite green and that could be a problem. That probably is why he’s being paired up with Braun Strowman moving forward in a tag team. Both men, obviously, can work as faces and work as heels.
