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It's almost time for the first episode of WWE SmackDown after the 2021 Royal Rumble, and all eyes will be on the product, one has to assume, following the titanic event.
It does help that both Edge and Bianca Belair are likely to be a part of WWE SmackDown this week, and we should finally have some clarity about the WrestleMania card based on how this week's show pans out.
So, with that said, here are five surprises that could potentially happen on this week's episode of WWE SmackDown, served hot and fresh for you. Of course, this is all merely speculation, so we request that you treat it as such and not inside knowledge.
As always, if you have a view or an opinion about any of the WWE SmackDown surprises mentioned in this list, be sure to list them out here.
#5 In the absence of Jey Uso, Roman Reigns aligns himself with a new WWE SmackDown star
We recently learned that Jey Uso is not cleared to wrestle, which is why he missed the 2021 Royal Rumble. Whatever the case may be, we wish him a very speedy recovery. We do hope that he is back on his feet very soon indeed.
It opens the possibility for a very unique alliance, and no, it's not Bianca Belair, as the tweet above indicates. We saw the tease of some kind of partnership between Apollo Crews and Roman Reigns on WWE SmackDown not long ago. Could that finally come to fruition on this week's show?
Imagine how crazy such an alliance would be, and how the gifted Apollo Crews, with Reigns' guidance, could go after Big E and the Intercontinental Championship. It would make the WWE SmackDown brand very interesting indeed.
#4 Could Blake and Murphy come together on WWE SmackDown, recreating their awesome NXT alliance?
WWE SmackDown star Steve Cutler was released tonight, and we at SK Wrestling wish him all the best for his future. He's a fantastic talent and we're certain that he will excel at whatever he may choose to do.
However, there is a possibility on WWE SmackDown, following the release of Steve Cutler that can certainly not be ignored. Blake and Murphy are now on the same brand, and this NXT duo could now come together to form an impressive alliance.
Dolph Ziggler and Robert Roode need fresh babyfaces to work with to elevate the WWE SmackDown Tag Team Championships and there's probably no better team in this role than Blake and Murphy. Murphy really hasn't done anything of significance since the whole angle with Aalyah Mysterio which is a shame if you consider how talented the young man is.
It will also be a step up for WWE SmackDown star Wesley Blake, who's just been relegated to the position of King Corbin's sidekick.
#3 Edge comes to WWE SmackDown and is immediately confronted by Seth Rollins
Edge will be on WWE SmackDown this week, following his rather eventful appearances on RAW and NXT this week. Of course, if he does appear on WWE SmackDown, one would assume it would be to confront Roman Reigns.
However, we could be in for a major swerve, where Edge steps out on WWE SmackDown, cuts a promo about Roman Reigns' new attitude, and instead of being confronted by the Tribal Chief, is confronted by the Friday (?) Night Messiah, Seth Rollins. Edge vs. Seth Rollins is just as big a match as Edge vs. Roman Reigns, to be fair, and it could be a massive main event clash on this week's episode.
Edge is in for the long haul, and he has a lot of dream opponents to go through, from the WWE SmackDown roster. One by one, they could play out on episodes of WWE RAW and SmackDown in the weeks leading up to WrestleMania, since Edge seems like he doesn't want to be just another 'veteran' performer.
#2 Aleister Black returns to WWE SmackDown in a brand new avatar
WWE SmackDown Superstar Aleister Black was once hailed as the next breakout star in wrestling, especially if you consider how much he was protected and pushed during his NXT run as a top-tier performer. Following the departure of his wife Zelina Vega from WWE, Aleister Black's appearances began to become scant. A report would emerge that would stress the following:
Sources on SmackDown have indicated to us that they've not seen [Black] at all backstage since after the Zelina release. We haven't heard as to whether or not there are any specific issues between Black and WWE, but one person we talked to in the company seems to think that they're letting any ill will between the two subside.
However, the new report shared above makes mention of a 'big, dramatic debut' for the WWE SmackDown brand, the reason why he was pulled from television, to begin with.
There's no better time than now for him to return to WWE SmackDown programming, following the Royal Rumble pay-per-view.
#1 Bianca Belair and Sasha Banks are forced to team up on WWE SmackDown against Bayley and Carmella
Prior to this week's edition of WWE SmackDown, we at SK Wrestling were invited for a special chat with 'The EST of WWE' as part of a Zoom teleconference, and you can check out our little chat by clicking on the link shared above.
Listen, right now, there's a big chance that Bianca Belair will go for the WWE SmackDown Women's Championship and Sasha Banks, but obviously, the company has to kill time until WrestleMania comes around.
And this is precisely why WWE Creative may choose to have Sasha Banks team up with Bianca Belair on WWE SmackDown this week, against a team such as Bayley and Carmella. Maybe there is a miscommunication during the course of the contest, which gives us a reason to see these two babyfaces clash.
Or maybe one of the two women actually turns heel during the course of this massive WWE SmackDown showdown, making the WrestleMania match all the more exciting.
