WWE SmackDown Preview: Surprise attack on Roman Reigns, last-minute change before Survivor Series (19th November, 2021)

We are all set for WWE SmackDown’s go-home edition before Survivor Series 2021. The Blue brand has confirmed one match for tonight’s episode. However, there are quite a few twists that can unfold on the show.

It is also the final opportunity for the creative team to allow a brand invasion which has been discussed in detail further in the article.

Here, we look at some of the biggest events that can transpire on WWE SmackDown this week. So, without further ado, let’s begin.

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#5 Big E returns on WWE SmackDown to attack Roman Reigns

Universal Champion Roman Reigns had a message for Big E earlier this week. He sent The Usos to RAW, instructing them to warn the WWE Champion about his impending doom at Survivor Series.

Jey and Jimmy Uso launched an unexpected attack on the New Day member leading a big six-man tag team match. Big E teamed up with RK-Bro to take on Seth Rollins and The Usos on the show. The reigning WWE SmackDown Tag Team Champions were victorious after Rollins pinned Riddle to seal their victory.

However, that was not the only message that Reigns had for Big E. Last week, he destroyed King Woods after losing against him and proceeded to steal his crown. Before that, The Tribal Chief viciously attacked Kofi Kingston and put him out of action.

All of these incidents on WWE SmackDown worked well in adding hype to the clash between the two top champions at Survivor Series.

Big E could make a surprise return to the Blue brand tonight and attack Roman Reigns, making a huge statement. He has additional motive after everything Reigns has done over the last few weeks. Moreover, it will make for an interesting watch as we have barely seen superstars from both brands cross paths before the upcoming pay-per-view.

It is highly unlikely that Reigns will lose against the New Day member. Thus, this would give the latter a chance to make a strong statement and look just as good as his counterpart from the Blue brand. Moreover, fans have been waiting to see both superstars in action ever since Big E won the Money in the Bank contract earlier this year.

The booking will work well in giving the audience a taste of what to expect at Survivor Series on Sunday. The build-up to the event has lacked significant moments, which is quite uncharacteristic for one of the big four pay-per-views. Hopefully, that will change on WWE SmackDown this week.

#4 Sasha Banks set to face Shotzi on WWE SmackDown

Both Sasha Banks and Shotzi are part of the WWE SmackDown women's Survivor Series team. However, they have not shared the best of relationships since last month.

It all started when Banks was rooting for Shotzi while the latter battled against Charlotte Flair for a women's championship shot. Unfortunately, she lost the bout after accidental interference from The Boss.

Shotzi then attacked Sasha Banks, turning heel in the process. Since then, the two superstars have been engaged in multiple brawls and are now scheduled to face each other in a match on WWE SmackDown.

It will be interesting to see how this clash will affect their dynamic, especially considering that they have to compete in the same team.

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#3 WWE SmackDown finalizes the fifth member of the Men's Survivor Series team

Last week's episode of WWE SmackDown did not bode well for Sami Zayn. He was originally a part of the Survivor Series team, but that quickly changed.

Following a backstage argument between Zayn and Jeff Hardy, the two faced each other to save their spots in the five-man team that will represent the Blue brand. Both superstars engaged in an entertaining match that eventually resulted in Sami Zayn's loss.

As a result, the self-proclaimed locker room leader lost his spot on the Survivor Series team. It is expected that his replacement will be announced tonight. It will be exciting to see who joins Drew McIntyre, Happy Corbin, Jeff Hardy, and King Woods as the Friday night show looks to strengthen itself.

This may seem a little too far-fetched, but what if it's Brock Lesnar? It would make sense as Bobby Lashley was recently added to Team RAW. Adam Pearce wanted an unbeatable group to represent the Red brand. Maybe Sonya Deville would want the same for WWE SmackDown.

That said, it should be noted that there are reports of Brock Lesnar returning next month. Still, he would have made for a cool addition.

#2 Shinsuke Nakamura makes a strong statement on WWE SmackDown

While most titleholders from WWE SmackDown pose a massive threat to their RAW counterparts, the same can’t be said for Intercontinental Champion Shinsuke Nakamura. He has been involved in several underwhelming feuds over the last few months, which is a shame considering his potential.

On the other hand, United States Champion Damian Priest has been pushed as a world champion in the making.

Before the two men face each other at Survivor Series, it would make complete sense for the creative team to make Nakamura look strong on WWE SmackDown. He could pick up a big victory on the episode tonight to get the right momentum before the upcoming pay-per-view.

The question is, which superstar can serve the purpose on the show this week?

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#1 Last chance for brand invasion on WWE SmackDown

While the WWE Survivor Series has interesting matches on the card, fans are not that excited about the pay-per-view. The biggest reason behind this problem can be boiled down to the lack of appropriate build-up.

Apart from The Usos’ one-off appearance on RAW, we have not seen anything that remotely adds to the hype surrounding the battle for brand supremacy. Could that change on WWE SmackDown tonight?

The narrative has been lazy so far, but the show writers can make up for most of it by relying on their traditional technique – brand invasion. Top superstars from each brand engaging in brutal altercations in the locker room, backstage area, inside the ring, and sometimes all across the arena often works wonders in selling the idea of “Survivor Series.”

WWE SmackDown should see superstars from RAW invade the Blue band, creating the right amount of chaos that generally hypes the clash between the two brands.

After everything Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair have said about each other over the last few weeks, wouldn’t it make sense to bring them face-to-face before they face each other? That is only one example.

Hopefully, the creative team will craft a much-awaited takeover of the final show before Survivor Series. Otherwise, it will be disappointing to learn that the writers have given up on such a powerful, fan-favorite tradition.