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The road to WrestleMania has begun following the rather underwhelming but historic Royal Rumble on Saturday. The seeds have been sown for some epic rivalries which will culminate at the biggest show of them all.
Also check: Live Card and coverage for Smackdown Live
However, there is still room for the WWE creative team to come up with some new twists and stipulations, as they go all out in their attempts to make this year's WrestleMania better than the years gone by.
Tonight's SmackDown Live will be coming live from the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and here is our preview for the blue brand's show:
#1 A new Rowdy in town
After the culmination of the first-ever women's Royal Rumble match, which Asuka won after eliminating Nikki Bella, WWE gave the fans the biggest surprise of the night as Ronda Rousey returned to the hallowed squared circle of WWE.
The only other time that the former UFC Champion had stepped into a WWE ring was during WrestleMania 31 when she helped The Rock clear the ring of Triple H and Stephanie McMahon. However, at Royal Rumble, Ronda didn't make a one-off appearance, instead, she was there to make her intention clear as she confronted the Raw Women's Champion Alexa Bliss, the SmackDown Women's Champion Charlotte Flair and Royal Rumble winner Asuka.
Ronda has penned a full-time contract with WWE and is expected to be a part of the blue brand. The former UFC superstar tried to congratulate Asuka on her historic win, but her advances were no sold by the Empress of Tomorrow.
It will be interesting to see who comes up against the "Rowdy" one, or whether she will be feuding against the SmackDown Women's Champion Charlotte Flair. There is also unfinished business between Rousey and Raw commissioner Stephanie McMahon. It will be interesting how the WWE creative leverages Ronda in the storylines and tonight's episode should provide us with some answers
#2 What next for the Yep! movement?
Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn failed in their attempt to become the first-ever co-Champions in the history of the WWE as AJ Styles successfully defended his WWE Championship against the duo in a 2-on-1 Handicap Match at Royal Rumble.
The Phenomenal One pinned Owens, with Sami Zayn still reeling on the sidelines, to retain his title, which he will be defending against Nakamura at WrestleMania 34.
However, where does that leave the leaders of the "Yep!" movement?
Is a turn on the cards for either Owens or Zayn? Is that the only way one of them can return to the singles main event scene?
#3 What's next for The Glorious One?
Bobby Roode's career trajectory has been on the up ever since the turn of the year. After Dolph Ziggler vacated the United States Championship in mid-December, Bobby Roode and Jinder Mahal competed with 6 other superstars in a tournament to decide the next champion.
Roode and Mahal competed in the final with the Glorious One coming out on top and winning his first-ever Championship since joining the main roster. This past Sunday at Royal Rumble, Roode put his title on the line in an open challenge match against Mojo Rawley and came out on top.
However, the Glorious One will now have to wait to find out who will be next in line to try and take the United States Championship from him. Rusev, Jinder Mahal, Zack Ryder and Kofi Kingston are set to face off in a 4-man match to determine who will face Roode. However, the whole situation has been complicated by the return of Dolph Ziggler, who never really lost the United States Championship. Will he lay his claim on the title he never lost? Well, tonight should provide us with some answers.
#4 Will Daniel Bryan make his in-ring return?
Can it be, yes! But will it be?
Daniel Bryan has been vocal about his intentions of making his in-ring return for a long time now. However, his pleas have fallen on deaf ears, or have they?
There has been notable friction between Bryan and SmackDown Live commissioner Shane McMahon, with both showing heelish tendencies. What has the WWE creative team planned for McMahon and Bryan next? Well, this is where it gets interesting as there are a number of possibilities.
Bryan could be seen making his in-ring return at FastLane alongside Shane O'Mac, where the duo will take on the "Yep!" movement leaders. A fallout then ensues between Bryan and Shane, thereby laying the seeds of a feud which will finally culminate at WrestleMania.
Tasty, isn’t it? But it is just one of the several possibilities that are in store if Bryan returns to in-ring action.
If Bryan does return to the ring, then the WWE has to make him feud against The Miz, who has been mocking the American Dragon for the longest time imaginable and has even started using Bryan's Yes kicks.
Well, the possibilities as always are endless and we will have to wait and watch how this all pans out.
#5 A match made in Japan!
Shinsuke Nakamura has earned himself the opportunity that professional wrestlers around the world yearn for, for the better part of their wrestling careers. An opportunity to headline WrestleMania – arguably the biggest wrestling event in the world of professional wrestling.
The King of Strong Style came out victorious in the gruelling 30-man Royal Rumble match on Sunday, when he was able to eliminate Roman Reigns and earn himself the opportunity to headline WrestleMania.
Nakamura didn't waste much time and swiftly opted to challenge AJ Styles for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 34. Styles, who had defeated Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn earlier in the night in a 2-on-1 Handicap match, accepted the challenge of the Royal Rumble winner.
Now, to put some perspective into the WrestleMania 34 main event and the history surrounding it. Styles and Nakamura have faced each other before, but only once in a singles match. On 4th January 2016, the King of Strong Style successfully defended his IWGP Intercontinental Championship against Styles at the Tokyo Dome.
The tables have turned this time around with Styles the champion and Nakamura the challenger, but certainly another classic is awaiting us at the Grandest Stage of Them All.
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