WWE Supersized SmackDown Preview: Brock Lesnar returns to confront Roman Reigns and Paul Heyman, response to Tony Khan’s open challenge (15th October 2021)

WWE has planned a huge show titled Supersized SmackDown for Friday night this week. The episode will exceed its usual two-hour duration by half an hour and is also the final edition of the Blue brand before Crown Jewel. WWE has confirmed four matches and a big return for the night but we might be in for a few more surprises.

Here, we look at things that can transpire on the show tonight. So, without further ado, let’s begin.

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#6 Brock Lesnar returns on SmackDown to confront Roman Reigns and Paul Heyman

As confirmed by WWE, Brock Lesnar is set to return on SmackDown tonight. Last week, we saw Roman Reigns celebrate the fact that The Bloodline remains intact on the Blue brand. However, he also forced Paul Heyman to prove his loyalty by warning Lesnar on live television. He obliged and had quite a few harsh phrases directed at his former client.

The creative team has done well in making Heyman pivotal to this storyline, considering his present role on the side of Reigns and his past role as Lesnar’s advocate. There appears to be a big twist awaiting us in the title feud.

While Heyman boldly said that The Beast Incarnate will lose at Crown Jewel, it will be interesting to see what he has to say when Lesnar confronts him again on SmackDown.

So far, Brock Lesnar has looked strong in each of his confrontations with Roman Reigns and his cousins. While The Tribal Chief has managed to land a couple of punches, Lesnar has come close to destroying the entire entourage over the last few weeks. It helps that he has switched to a cheeky side while working as a babyface.

Both superstars will look to make a strong statement on the Blue brand’s final episode before the upcoming pay-per-view. It has also been reported that the feud between them will extend beyond Crown Jewel. Thus, it is expected that we will see their title rivalry get more intense as we advance and it could all start tonight on SmackDown.

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#5 Vince McMahon’s response to Tony Khan’s challenge

Vince McMahon and WWE, in general, have refrained from directly taking shots at AEW, unlike Tony Khan’s promotion, where it’s a weekly occurrence. When WWE announced that this week’s SmackDown will run for two hours and 30 minutes, Khan quickly took to Twitter and sent out a not-so-subtle challenge.

He mentioned the half-hour head-to-head between SmackDown and Rampage before asserting that he can’t wait to beat the main show.

AEW has also confirmed that Rampage will have an additional hour that will be broadcast on YouTube. SmackDown’s final half-an-hour won’t have ads but the same could happen for Rampage, if they plan to take the same route. Both shows have stacked cards and we expect to see a battle over viewership.

Can we see a few surprises unfold on SmackDown tonight? Earlier this week, The Usos faced Big E and Drew McIntyre on RAW. Is it possible that WWE will book a blockbuster main event in which Brock Lesnar teams up with Big E and McIntyre to take on Reigns and The Usos?

It might seem a bit too far-fetched but if Lesnar is set to perform for a few months, he might make more appearances on the weekly shows.

Edge and Seth Rollins have given us some of the best pro wrestling segments over the last couple of months despite no involvement of titles. They will square off in a Hell in a Cell match at Crown Jewel and can take things up a notch tonight on SmackDown.

More RAW Superstars could make a surprise return, especially those who have been drafted to the Blue brand. Regardless of what happens tonight, one can’t deny this undeniable competition between two promotions is bound to keep fans entertained.

#4 Finn Balor and Sami Zayn battle it out on SmackDown in King of the Ring tournament semi-final

Last week on SmackDown, Sami Zayn defeated Rey Mysterio in an excellent match to book a spot for himself in the semi-final of the King of the Ring tournament. Later that night, Cesaro and Finn Balor faced each other in an epic bout that eventually ended in the latter’s victory. Tonight, we will see Balor and Zayn go toe-to-toe to reach the final of the prestigious tournament.

Finn Balor has a better chance at entering the finals as WWE would want to make up for a disastrous end to Roman Reigns vs. The Demon at Extreme Rules. Zayn might not perform at Crown Jewel but he can still deliver a memorable match against Balor.

This has the potential to be the best match of the night and viewers can be certain that it will account for the show’s biggest highlight as long as both superstars are booked well.

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#3 Zelina Vega to face Carmella on SmackDown in Queen’s Crown tournament semi-final

In the first semi-final of the Queen’s Crown tournament, we will see Zelina Vega and Carmella face each other in a singles match. They defeated Toni Storm and Liv Morgan respectively last week and will now look to seal their spot in the final scheduled for Crown Jewel. Interestingly, both superstars have been on friendly terms ever since Vega returned to the company.

Although fans were shocked to see Morgan not proceed to the finals, we now have an unpredictable semi-final at hand. Both Zelina Vega and Carmella have yearned for a big opportunity and they finally have a great chance to prove themselves on what could be the biggest episode of SmackDown to air this year.

We hope that the creative team will give them enough time for the show and the two superstars will make the most of the spotlight.

#2 Sasha Banks and Becky Lynch set to face each other on SmackDown

This week on SmackDown, Becky Lynch and Sasha Banks are set to face each other in a singles match. Both superstars have been feuding over the last few weeks and are set to compete in a triple-threat match, also involving Bianca Belair, at Crown Jewel 2021. All three of them were set to sign the official contract last week, but it ended in a brawl.

We saw them back again on RAW when Banks and Belair teamed up to take on Charlotte Flair and Lynch. None of them could trust the other enough to compete in the tag team match and ended up fighting amongst themselves.

Things won’t be different tonight on WWE SmackDown. However, we do hope that the match will allow both superstars a decent opportunity to put up a memorable women’s match – something that we have missed on the weekly shows.

Bianca Belair can interfere in the match and prevent a decisive finish to help protect both superstars ahead of the pay-per-view. Out of the three of them, Sasha Banks is the only one who has been drafted to SmackDown this year and she would want to make a huge statement on the show tonight.

But can Becky Lynch turn the fate by defending her title against both Belair and Banks at Crown Jewel?

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#1 WWE official returns to action on SmackDown

Naomi has been involved in a backstage conflict with WWE official Sonya Deville for the last few weeks. The latter refused to book her in any match on the Blue brand and things escalated in the weeks that followed. Finally, Deville decided to book Naomi in a match and shocked the world by confirming her in-ring return a week in advance.

They are both set to face each other in a singles match tonight on SmackDown, which would be Sonya Deville's first match in over a year. Fans have missed both the superstars in regular matches and will welcome them back to the squared circle with open arms.

That said, one cannot rule out the possibility of Deville introducing a surprise name to take her place in the match against Naomi. Also, can this bout finally prompt the former women's champion to join Roman Reigns and The Usos who practically bully everyone in WWE?