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We are set for this week’s episode of SmackDown which has a lot of interesting things in store for us. From Money in the Bank qualifying matches to the much-awaited celebration of Triple H’s 25th anniversary with WWE, there’s a lot that will unfold on the Blue brand this week. Additionally, two Superstars are set to defend their titles tonight.
We are expecting drama amidst the celebration and shocking results of crucial matches where the stakes are too high. WWE Champion Braun Strowman and WWE SmackDown Women’s Champion Bayley are expected to engage in feuds with their former friends, but most of the tension seems to be under wraps at the moment. However, that won’t be the case for long.
In this article, we will take a look at things that will transpire on tonight’s episode of SmackDown. So, without further ado, let’s begin.
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#1 King Corbin faces Drew Gulak in Money in the Bank qualifying match
Back in 2017, Baron Corbin won the Money in the Bank. He planned on cashing-in his contract on Jinder Mahal who was in a match against John Cena at SummerSlam. Unfortunately, Mahal took advantage of a slight distraction and pinned Corbin, who became the third wrestler in WWE history to unsuccessfully cash-in his MITB contract.
King Corbin will have another shot at winning the MITB match provided he overcomes Drew Gulak on this week’s SmackDown. Both Superstars are set to engage in a qualifying match that will determine the fifth entrant in the Money in the Bank Ladder Match 2020. But it’s safe to say that Gulak has more momentum on his side ahead of this crucial bout.
This year, Corbin feuded with Roman Reigns and was eventually beaten. Following that, he had a brief altercation with Elias, but WWE had to pull the plug on that rivalry. Although Gulak is a rising Superstar – thanks to his storyline with Daniel Bryan - WWE might prefer to have Corbin enter the MITB match just to balance things out.
#2 SmackDown set to celebrate Triple H’s 25th anniversary in WWE
WWE Superstar Triple H is set to celebrate his 25th anniversary with the company on tonight’s episode of SmackDown. ‘The Game’ has spent a long time in the business.
While he is hailed as the ‘King of Kings’ with his ever so dominant in-ring career decorated with several Championships, Triple H has won everyone’s admiration with his work behind the cameras, especially with how instrumental he's been in the rise of NXT.
He is the senior creator and producer of NXT – the brand that is home to good shows week in and week out along with entertaining TakeOver events. Triple H is widely regarded as the brain behind the Black and Gold brand that is quickly increasing its fanbase. However, he will be on the Blue brand for his celebration – a place that will always welcome him.
Last time when Triple H was on SmackDown, he was seen adopting several roles which did well in keeping the viewers amused. So much so, that they kept bringing him back for commentary. We are confident that even his celebration will be huge, but we can always expect an interruption.
Although it seems like Triple H is far from being a part of a feud, he can still be challenged and brought into storylines that will need a figure from the top brass of the company to move the plot ahead.
#3 Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross set to defend their Women’s Tag Team Championships
Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross defeated Asuka and Kairi Sane at WrestleMania 36 to become the Women’s Tag Team Champions for the second time. In the week that followed, they successfully defended their newly acquired gold. But tonight, they are set to face different challengers. After bringing the titles to SmackDown, they will now be defending them against the team of Carmella and Dana Brooke.
Carmella and Brooke were the first ones to step up and challenge the two-time Women’s Tag Team Champions, Bliss and Cross. Both Carmella and Brooke are hard-working Superstars and they will look to put up a strong competition. However, it is highly unlikely for us to see the title changing hands this week.
At the upcoming Money in the Bank PPV, both Carmella and Brooke will be competing to get their hands on the briefcase. These individual aspirations might cause trouble in their match. However, if they work well together, WWE might eventually book them as a proper tag team – something that the Women’s division desperately needs in WWE.
#4 Lacey Evans to battle it out against Sasha Banks for MITB spot
Ever since her return to WWE after a four-month hiatus, Sasha Banks has come close to the Women’s Championship quite a few times. She couldn’t beat Becky Lynch for the RAW Women’s Championship but delivered a fantastic match.
On the Blue brand, it’s her best friend Bayley who is holding the title and we have finally started seeing a degree of tension budding between both Superstars.
If Banks goes on to win the Money in the Bank, she can quite possibly steal the title from Bayley and kickstart their much-awaited feud. But before that, she has to battle it out against an old rival for a spot in the MITB match.
Tonight, we will see Lacey Evans and Banks locking horns in a qualifying match. The winner of this match will be the fifth entrant in the crucial Women's ladder match at Money in the Bank.
Although the odds seem to be in favor of Banks, it would be unfair to underestimate the Sassy Southern Belle. In the last few months, Evans has emerged as one of the top babyfaces in the women’s division.
She will definitely put up a strong challenge against Banks and the battle between the two enemies will be very interesting to watch.
#5 A special look at the history between Bray Wyatt and Universal Champion Braun Strowman
Roman Reigns’ decision to pull out of WrestleMania 36 caused WWE to bring in Braun Strowman as the last-minute replacement. The latter went on to beat Goldberg at the ‘Grandest Stage of Them All’ and got his hands on the WWE Title for the first time.
Even though Strowman’s push was unplanned, he was at the right place and the right time, and now the creatives have a wonderful opportunity to book the ‘Monster Among Men’ in a deserving fashion.
After winning his title, Strowman fired a warning to the rest of the division and stated that he wants to be a fighting Champion. While he was keen on inviting challengers, it wasn't particularly surprising that a former ally showed a keen interest in taking back his title.
By the looks of it, we are now headed towards a Championship rivalry between Strowman and ‘The Fiend’ Bray Wyatt.
Strowman has encountered ‘The Fiend’ before. But this time, the storyline is personal. The history between both these Superstars dates back to their time in the ‘Wyatt Family’ which makes this feud all the more interesting.
Strowman needed an important title run and this storyline is the perfect way to kick it off. Tonight, we will take a good look at their history, as the SmackDown creatives are keen to remind the WWE Universe of the duo's story so far before they start scripting another chapter.
Ex WWE writer blasts Liv Morgan HERE
