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WWE SmackDown last week started a trend that would continue through RAW, where WWE creative, ever content in their ideas, thought out of the box and as a consequence, shook the landscape of the company forever. This is a necessity in these times of no live fans, and I am glad to see Bruce Prichard leading the charge in this manner.
This week's episode of WWE SmackDown could be even better and here's what I think could happen during the show, based on just how unconventionally the company has been booking their television content. If RAW Underground was any indication at all, the core WWE product is going to change in accordance with the times.
And so, with that said, I present 5 surprises that could potentially happen on this week's episode of WWE SmackDown, for your viewing pleasure.
#5 Alexa Bliss becomes a follower of Bray Wyatt on WWE SmackDown
A lot of people have been saying that Alexa Bliss will become Sister Abigail, and that could definitely be the way that Bruce Prichard decides to go, on WWE SmackDown this week. But the other option is for Bray Wyatt to enslave her, make her part of his collective, like a doll in the Funhouse. In a sense, it would be like Daniel Bryan or Randy Orton suddenly becoming a part of Bray Wyatt's spell.
Alexa Bliss is the only woman in the WWE SmackDown roster with the acting chops to pull off such a complex role, in my personal opinion. It would certainly take her character in a very interesting direction because she has lost a lot of the edge that made her special, ever since she went babyface. It remains to be seen what the future holds.
#4 Braun Strowman returns from the swamp and declares his SummerSlam match on WWE SmackDown
Many are of the opinion that the only reason why Alexa Bliss was attacked this past week on WWE SmackDown is that it would compel Braun Strowman to return from the swamp to rescue his lady love from the clutches of The Fiend. And that may certainly be the case this week when the Universal Champion is spotted again for the first time since the Wyatt Swamp Fight on WWE SmackDown.
And the only way to win her back or to avenge her, based on which way the creative team at WWE SmackDown decides to go, could be to formalize a Universal Championship match with The Fiend at SummerSlam. This segment could be decided on WWE SmackDown.
Braun Strowman won the first encounter with Bray Wyatt with an element of trickery. One has to believe that he lost the Swamp Fight based on how the match concluded for him.
So, this is a 'Best of 3' series with the Universal Championship finally up for grabs at last.
#3 Nikki Cross actually turns heel and unexpectedly attacks Naomi on WWE SmackDown
Nikki Cross showed us her true colors not long ago when she pretty much pushed Alexa Bliss away following her loss to Bayley in the main event of WWE SmackDown last week. Obviously, it was overshadowed by what happened between Alexa Bliss and The Fiend on WWE SmackDown, but let us not forget that Nikki Cross showed us that she will be going heel soon.
Naomi's been in the news recently and not for the right reasons, following this awkward looking move on WWE SmackDown. One thing that she does have in spades is a great connection with a fanbase and she has to move into an engrossing storyline herself, away from Lacey Evans, to rise to the next level.
So, the time is probably right for Nikki Cross to tap into her heel side and unleash a brutal attack on Naomi this week. Because Alexa Bliss is doing her own thing on WWE SmackDown, Nikki Cross should do her own thing too.
#2 The mysterious faction also messes things up on WWE SmackDown
We have learned that there is a mysterious faction on the loose and that they are called Retribution. Just because they showed up on RAW doesn't mean that they shouldn't show up on WWE SmackDown as well. I mean these guys are clearly not signed to WWE SmackDown or RAW and so the exclusivity to either brand should not ideally make a big difference.
This is clearly the most exciting thing happening in WWE at the moment, be it WWE SmackDown or RAW because we have no inkling at all about where this storyline is headed. Some have suggested that it could be former WWE Superstars returning to the company for retributions while others, like Sportskeeda's own expert Tom Colohue, have been of the opinion that they could be NXT stars, waiting to arrive on the main roster. The possibilities are limitless (get it, folks?).
If WWE SmackDown becomes as chaotic as RAW with the arrival of this faction, things could only get better in terms of viewership.
#1 Jeff Hardy and Matt Riddle form a tag team on WWE SmackDown
Cesaro and Shinsuke Nakamura will need formidable tag teams to work with on WWE SmackDown because as awesome as The Lucha House Party can be, between the ropes, there isn't the same sense of excitement around them, as around the other members of the WWE SmackDown roster.
With The New Day out of commission for the moment, with Big E embarking on his singles run and with Xavier Woods on the sidelines, the WWE SmackDown tag team division really needs a strong babyface tag team. Well, they could always have Jeff Hardy, who's had his share of issues with King Corbin team up with Matt Riddle (considering the other Matt is currently in AEW).
This is a team that can potentially take Cesaro and Shinsuke Nakamura to the limit when it comes to in-ring work.
Whenever you have a moment, do check out Tom Colohue's thoughts about WWE SmackDown and RAW on the Dropkick DiSKussions podcast, linked here for your listening pleasure and weekend entertainment.
