Raw failed to whet our appetite for Payback, this Sunday. Considering that a few SmackDown LIVE superstars will also be a part of the pay-per-view, we hope they do a better job of creating excitement for the show.
SmackDown comes to us from the Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, and from what we know about the show, it already seems packed with interesting segments. On paper, it does look like a better show than Raw. However, without jumping the gun, we present some possibilities, ask some questions and explore the landscape of SmackDown LIVE.
#5 Will Naomi feel the blow?
With all due respect to Naomi, who’s a fantastic athlete and an absolutely stellar character, she is still not Charlotte Flair. With Alexa Bliss moving to Raw, we’re confident that Charlotte Flair will be the nucleus around whom the Women’s Division on SmackDown will revolve. Does her reign begin already, immediately after the Superstar Shake-Up? Or will there be interference during the Championship match, thanks to the three woman (and one man alliance) of Carmella, Natalya and Tamina Snuka (with James Ellsworth)?
What’s certain for now is that whatever the outcome, Charlotte Flair really needs to look strong. Naomi definitely won’t be pinning her clean this week. What will be really interesting are the dynamics in the women’s division if the title were to change hands. Will Charlotte continue feuding with Naomi or start a new program with Becky Lynch, considering these are the only two babyfaces in the division?! Since the heel stable led by Nattie has targeted Charlotte, is she playing a babyface now?
#4 Will Nakamura show off his one Achilles Heel?
Shinsuke Nakamura’s debut on the main roster has been nothing short of extraordinary, considering the reactions he's been getting even before his first match. However, this week he faces his biggest challenge so far. No, it's not his debut televised match on the main roster because we know he can easily excel in that role.
We were informed that SmackDown LIVE would begin with an exclusive interview featuring the flamboyant King of Strong Style. While Nakamura can speak a decent amount of English, this is still the weakest part of his entire persona.
Also read: SmackDown writers keen to book Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Sami Zayn once again
We do hope that the segment is scripted in such a manner that it hides his weaknesses and highlights his strengths. For all his talent, WWE is known to give up on performers who lack in a certain department. We see future world championship potential in Nakamura and hope for the best in terms of booking.
#3 Will American Alpha challenge The Usos again?
Without The New Day, the SmackDown Tag Team Division is just fragile. To be honest, American Alpha is the only team that can win this match and go on to face The Usos for a multitude of reasons. Despite the fact that they lost to The Colons last week, American Alpha is the only babyface team in the entire division, right now.
Also, any team that loses one week ends up winning the next week (WWE loves its 50-50 booking). If American Alpha does win the belts, they can feud with all the heel teams on the roster, including The Colons. Unfortunately, it means yet another American Alpha vs. The Usos match for the tag team titles.
Let’s pray that The New Day arrives soon, to rescue this division.
#2 Will Lana’s new gimmick make its debut?
Rusev is currently out with an injury, and while both Rusev and Lana have been drafted to the same brand, they will not appear together anymore. Instead, Lana has probably picked up where Emmalina left off. This week, she debuted her new dance gimmick at an NXT live event and even went on to defeat Liv Morgan.
Will she make her SmackDown LIVE debut this week? Maybe she'll work with Becky Lynch for a while, considering the Irish Lasskicker needs new opponents. We're curious to see how she fares as a singles competitor inside the squared circle too. Let's hope it's better than her dancing (which is quite dreadful).
#1 Will Orton hinder Jinder this week?
Randy Orton has two pit stops before he takes on Jinder Mahal for the WWE Championship at Backlash, the first SmackDown Live pay-per-view since the Superstar Shake-Up. He takes on Bray Wyatt in a House of Horrors Match, which, from its description, sounds like The Great War from Impact Wrestling. This week, he takes on Erick Rowan, Wyatt’s last remaining follower in a singles match.
It’ll be interesting, however, to see how Jinder and The Sihra Brothers fare, now that the initial shock has worn off. We find out in only a few hours, on SmackDown LIVE.
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