WWE SmackDown Live Preview: November 28, 2017

Randy Orton will face Kevin Owens in singles competition on SmackDown live this week
Randy Orton will face Kevin Owens in singles competition on SmackDown live this week

After Roman Reigns proved his worth as the Intercontinental Champion by defeating Elias in a gruelling encounter on Raw, it's the turn of the Champions on SmackDown Live to show that they're just as game as their Raw counterparts.

But WWE Champion AJ Styles will have his hands full when he faces not one but both the Singh brothers in a handicap match.

And what new challenge will present itself to US Champion Baron Corbin, still revelling in his victory against the Miz at Survivor Series?

The Usos, meanwhile, get to put their feet up for a bit as the New Day and the team of Shelton Benjamin and Chad Gable battle it out amongst themselves to prove that they're worthy challengers for the twins' Tag Team gold.

Find out how all the Champions will fare as we run through all these storylines and more in our preview of this week's episode of SmackDown Live.


#1 AJ Styles is put to the test...again

Will Styles manage to negotiate the challenge of the Singh Brothers?
Will Styles manage to negotiate the challenge of the Singh Brothers?

AJ Styles' date with Jinder Mahal to defend his WWE Championship is set for Clash of Champions...but that doesn't mean that the Modern Day Maharaj won't try and inconvenience "The Phenomenal One" as best he can in the meantime.

And on this week's episode of SmackDown Live, Mahal indirectly takes the fight to Styles when his cronies, the Singh brothers, go up against the Champion in handicap action.

Will Styles prove that he is a class apart, despite having the numbers game to contend against?

Or is this the perfect opportunity for "The Modern Day Maharaja" to spring one over the WWE Champion and deal him a psychological blow in the build to their rematch at Clash of Champions?

#2 Who is next for the Queen?

Who will step up next to challenge the Queen?
Who will step up next to challenge the Queen?

After defeating her Raw counterpart Alexa bliss, Charlotte Flair has put daylight between her and other women Superstars on the roster as the undisputed Queen of the Women's Revolution.

But Natalya - another Superstar cut from the same cloth of wrestling royalty - may yet have something to say about that.

Will the former Champion step up and challenge the Queen for the Smackdown Live Women's Title?

Or will a new challenger step up and stake her claim?

#3 Tag Team division gets a facelift

Who will emerge victorious when these two formidable teams clash?
Who will emerge victorious when these two formidable teams clash?

The team of Chad Gable and Shelton Benjamin may have already booked their Title shot against the Usos...but a victory over record-breaking 4-time Tag Team Champions certainly doesn't hurt their cause.

For a while now, the Usos and New Day have been head and shoulders above the remainder of the Tag Team division on SmackDown Live and this would be the perfect opportunity for Gable and Benjamin to finally break that mould.

Will the athletic specimens manage to overturn the New Day's experience and prove beyond a doubt that they're worthy number one contenders?

Or will the New Day - itching to get back on the horse after the defeat at Survivor Series - hold their own and make their own case for Tag Team gold again?

#4 Beg Owens, Beg

Kevin Owens managed to keep his job...but may wish that he hadn't after this week
Kevin Owens managed to keep his job...but may wish that he hadn't after this week

Kevin Owens had to literally go down to his knees and implore Daniel Bryan not to sack him last week on SmackDown Live...but it would seem that mercy wasn't what the SD Live GM had on his mind when he agreed.

After practically costing Team Shane the match against Team Angle at Survivor Series, Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn have become public enemy number 1, ticking off almost every Superstar on the blue brand.

But no one more so than Randy Orton.

Incensed by their treachery, "the Viper" has been raring to have a go at the BFFs ever since...and will get his opportunity this week when he takes on Kevin Owens in singles competition.

Will the Viper punish Owens for his actions at Survivor Series? Or will the canny Prizefighter manage to weasel out of paying his dues... and delay the inevitable a little longer? And is a move to Monday Night Raw on the cards for the former Ring of Honor standout?

#5 A new challenger?

Can Bobby Roode go for the US Title next?
Can Bobby Roode go for the US Title next?

After representing Team SmackDown Live in a victorious cause, I think it's fair to say that Baron Corbin has never been higher on his own hype.

But now that the hoopla of Survivor Series has all but died down, it's time for Corbin to put his money where his mouth is and prove the assertion of the Miz - that he doesn't elevate the US Championship - wrong.

Like Reigns is elevating the Intercontinental Championship on Raw, it's Corbin's turn to make the US Title mean something...and that could kick off this week itself when some Superstar is bound to step up and challenge him.

And we may have a glorious idea who that may be.

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