WWE SmackDown before Royal Rumble Preview: Seth Rollins takes final shot at Roman Reigns, 2-time champion in huge showdown (28th January, 2022)

#2 Sami Zayn seeks redemption on WWE SmackDown

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Sami Zayn has had a difficult couple of weeks on WWE SmackDown, as nothing has gone in his favor. He is currently involved in a feud with Jackass star Johnny Knoxville, who has had the better of the former Intercontinental Champion in their last few encounters. Zayn will be desperate to turn things around on the show tonight.

Not to forget, Sami Zayn is also the No.1 contender for Shinsuke Nakamura’s Intercontinental Championship. The latter has not defended his title in months, but WWE is likely to build up this feud after Royal Rumble.

Look who just shut down all of Tony Khan's critics! More HERE.

However, it would still make sense to at least bring Nakamura face-to-face with his next challenger on the blue brand this week.

#1 Royal Rumble chaos engulfs WWE SmackDown

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Since this will be the final show before WWE Royal Rumble 2022, we expect to see a couple of matches involving multiple superstars. A six or eight-man tag team action would allow the creative team to bring together several top names and give them a chance to gain momentum ahead of Royal Rumble.

Thus, it wouldn’t be surprising to see chaos on the show that eventually leads to top superstars throwing each other over the top rope.

This is the first time in many years that there are no clear favorites to win Royal Rumble, both in the men’s and women’s divisions. Thus, tonight’s show could be dedicated to establishing a few strong contenders to make the upcoming battle more engaging.

It will also mark the dawn of WrestleMania season, so every superstar will be motivated to make the most of their opportunities.

About the author

Shruti Sadbhav is a WWE writer at Sportskeeda Wrestling. With a triple major in Journalism, English Literature, and Psychology, she has always been drawn to writing. As an avid sports lover, writing about sports was the finest way to combine her passion with her prowess.

Whenever she writes, Shruti puts herself into the shoes of fans to see how she would appreciate an honest account of anything related to something she follows wholeheartedly with engaging and relevant information to cater to the readers' needs.

Shruti has seven years of experience. She previously worked as a content manager at Fox Sports Asia and as an assistant manager and digital marketer at Kickstart FC. Shruti previously worked in multiple roles in Sportskeeda, where she was a WWE features writer, editor, and content manager. She has over 40 million+ reads across all her writer profiles, giving her an immensely diverse audience across WWE and football.

When it comes to pro wrestling, Shruti does not particularly remember the first match she watched. However, she recalls accompanying her brother and getting hooked when she saw The Undertaker – a fascinating wrestler that she, like thousands of others, believed in.
Her views on pro wrestling evolved as she grew older and understood the intricacies of the business. This allows her to appreciate those who dedicate themselves to the craft and, once in a while, it does become what it has always been touted to be – magical. Her favorite wrestler is Finn Balor due to his persistence.

When she is not working as a writer, Shruti loves to read, enjoy a good cup of coffee, and let Manchester City dictate her weekend plans.

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Edited by Kaushik Das