WWE SmackDown Preview, June 26th 2018: Many new storylines, celebrities on SmackDown Live

Rusev throwing shade at an old rival

Rusev seems primed to capture the WWE Championship

Rusev won the Gauntlet Match on last week’s episode of SmackDown Live, and shocked the world by becoming the number-1 contender for the WWE Championship.

Now, while AJ Styles currently holds the WWE Championship, and Rusev would logically be expected to commence a feud with Styles—“The Bulgarian Brute” seems to be using his newfound leverage and time at the top of the food chain so as to throw shade at an old rival.

Rusev posted a few photographs of The New Day’s Xavier Woods on Twitter; insinuating that Woods has been nothing more than a punching bag for Rusev all through their time in NXT, RAW and now on SmackDown Live.

While Rusev’s taunts did come out of the blue, Woods fired back at him immediately; likely setting up a showdown between the duo on SmackDown Live this week.