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The final episode of WWE SmackDown before The Show Of Shows is being billed as a 'Special WrestleMania edition'. What it implies is that this is an episode to watch out for, where one or more of these surprises could happen.
Once again, here's a disclaimer before you commence reading this particular article. The surprises mentioned in this piece are not based on inside knowledge but rather, these are surprises we'd like to see! The very heart of pro wrestling is rooted in moments, so why wouldn't anyone want these surprises?
Do remember that the 'Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal' is happening on this episode of WWE SmackDown. There's also a Fatal Four-Way match for the WWE SmackDown Tag Team Championship.
This is not just another episode of WWE SmackDown. This is the real deal.
#5 WWE SmackDown sees the ominous arrival of The Fiend and Alexa Bliss
Let's lay out how The Fiend and Alexa Bliss could become a part of the WWE SmackDown roster before WrestleMania. King Corbin went from WWE SmackDown to RAW not long ago, which means that one/more members of the RAW roster could move to the blue brand. Enter The Fiend and Alexa Bliss.
Remember the haunting interaction between Alexa Bliss and Roman Reigns not long ago? While Edge, Roman Reigns, and Daniel Bryan are squabbling among themselves, The Fiend and Alexa Bliss could inform them that they are watching. This could be the storyline for Roman Reigns after WrestleMania.
Could this be the reason why Alexa Bliss and Bray Wyatt did not appear on the go-home episode of WWE RAW before WrestleMania this week? There's no other explanation for them to miss such an important show. Maybe Vince McMahon has this grand surprise in store for us!
#4 Charlotte Flair offers to team up with WWE SmackDown star, Billie Kay at WrestleMania
Could Charlotte Flair team up with WWE SmackDown star Billie Kay at WrestleMania? She has been cleared of COVID-19, and it would be strange to leave her off the lineup, considering she's their biggest star.
Billie Kay has been sharing her resume with the world at large and her search could end with Charlotte Flair. The Queen and Billie Kay could be added to the WrestleMania lineup, and yes, they could even win the titles this weekend.
It would make a lot more sense for this angle to play out on WWE SmackDown in the build-up to WrestleMania than on the already packed card. Plus, it would be the right to decision to have Charlotte Flair added to this match, as opposed to either of the singles matches at this stage.
There would be a massive uproar on the internet if Charlotte Flair was added to either the RAW or WWE SmackDown Women's Championship matches. WWE certainly does not want that.
#3 Dominik stunningly turns on Rey Mysterio after they're unable to capture the WWE SmackDown Tag Team Championships
One of the matches advertised for WWE SmackDown this week is a Fatal Four-way tag team contest. Roode and Ziggler will defend the WWE SmackDown Tag Team Championships against Otis and Gable, The Street Profits & the father and son duo of Rey and Dominik Mysterio.
Let's talk about the final team we've mentioned. Could Dominik Mysterio, having allied himself with his father over the past year, finally get his moment to shine? On this special edition of WWE SmackDown, with the whole world watching, could he betray the legendary Luchador to kickstart a massive feud of their own?
Maybe Dominik could be booked as the man who retires Rey Mysterio from active competition with a big match at SummerSlam this year.
Mysterio has no other choice but to surrender his mask to Dominik, who uses it for the rest of his career. It would be the perfect passing of the torch, a storyline that stretches for many months.
#2 When Mandy Rose arrives on WWE SmackDown, Otis snubs her
Mandy Rose could certainly arrive on WWE SmackDown to promote her big WrestleMania match. And while she is part of the blue brand again, she could have a backstage interaction with her former on-screen boyfriend, Otis. Only this time, it's a very different Blue Collar Brawler, one who isn't as pleasant as the man that Mandy Rose fell in love with.
This could be a great way to showcase just how different Otis is from the man he was a few months back. Unfortunately, he could not get over to the extent that WWE wanted him to, as a goofy and lovable babyface, but maybe as a heel, his fate will be different. And for him to snub Mandy Rose on WWE SmackDown may be a great way to do so.
Many complained that the storyline came to an abrupt end when Mandy Rose moved to RAW from WWE SmackDown, so this could be the full stop this plot needed. Maybe this makes Mandy Rose upset ahead of her match too!
#1 Keith Lee returns to action on WWE SmackDown and wins the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal match
As mentioned before, this edition of WWE SmackDown will see the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal take place. With all due respect to the current cast of contestants, only a few of them seem like they'd be potential winners of such a clash.
Here are the participants that have been announced:
- Akira Tozawa
- Angel Garza
- Cedric Alexander
- Drew Gulak
- Elias
- Erik
- Gran Metalik
- Humberto Carrillo
- Jaxson Ryker
- Jey Uso
- Kalisto
- King Corbin
- Lince Dorado
- MACE
- Murphy
- Mustafa Ali
- Ricochet
- Shelton Benjamin
- Shinsuke Nakamura
- SLAPJACK
- T-Bar
- Tucker
Jey Uso and Shinsuke Nakamura immediately stand out from the WWE SmackDown side. Maybe one could make a case for Ricochet from RAW too. But it just seems like someone like (say) the returning Keith Lee may be a far better choice to win a contest this big.
Keith Lee needs to return in the most dominant fashion and him winning the battle royal is pretty much just what he needs.
