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Well, it's official. After all the speculation following NXT Takeover: Brooklyn III where former NXT Champion Bobby Roode dropped the gold to Drew McIntyre, he has made the jump over to the main roster as the newest member of Smackdown Live on Tuesday nights. The Glorious Age of Smackdown Live is well and truly here.
Roode emerged to one of the loudest pops of the year and quickly did away with Aiden English in a squash match. He gave a rousing in-ring interview with Renee Young after the bout but there was nothing concrete revealed as to his plans on the main roster.
Is he going to be put into a title picture straight away or will he be given a program to dip his feet in and get a feel for how things are going to go on the blue brand? Is he going to be a babyface or a heel? We all know that Roode is a main event calibre heel, but his initial work seems to lean towards a babyface.
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There are plenty of questions that still need answering and we're here to look at which opponent will be the first on The Glorious One's radar on Smackdown Live. So, without any further ado, here are 5 potential opponents for Bobby Roode after his Smackdown Live debut:
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#5 Rusev
Working under the assumption that Bobby Roode is indeed going to be a babyface following his raucous welcome from the Brooklyn crowd in attendance on Tuesday night, a brutish heel opponent might be the best place to start him out. And, it doesn't get more brutish than The Bulgarian Brute, Rusev.
Despite the 10 second, one RKO Outta Nowhere loss to Randy Orton at WWE Summerslam 2017, Rusev has enough credibility that Roode will get a great rub from taking him down. It will enhance the former NXT Champion's status while not compromising any other promising talent's place on the card.
Rusev is on the down anyway and he might as well make a star out of Roode on his way to obscurity.
In an exclusive report, it seems Rusev and Lana have both asked for their release from the WWE due to the lacklustre booking of the Bulgarian Brute. If the company does hand him a release, going out by putting over Roode would be a smart move
#4 Sami Zayn
Now, if the WWE really and truly want to use Bobby Roode to his fullest capabilities, he needs to be a heel. And, if they do decide to go down that route, there's a readily made opponent for him waiting in the wings and his name is Sami Zayn. The two men could work some real magic in a program together.
The Underdog from the Underground is always over with the crowd and will actually inspire audience members to hate Roode rather than cheer him on as they are wont to do with most heels these days. And, lest we forget, Zayn is one of the most gifted in-ring performers on the roster today.
His speed and quickness against Roode's methodical and powerful style would create a superb combination and the two Canadians can have one of the feuds of the year if done right.
#3 Baron Corbin
Back to Bobby Roode as a babyface now and another option could be Baron Corbin. The former Mr Money in the Bank is in the WWE's bad books due to his brash Twitter behaviour and it has cost him big time with a failed cash in as well as a humiliating loss to John Cena at WWE Summerslam 2017.
If the WWE is going to further punish Corbin for his indiscretions, someone worthy might as well benefit from it, and that's where Mr Roode comes into the picture. With the strong booking that The Lone Wolf has received throughout the year, having him put The Glorious One over could work wonder.
It will be an easy sell with how effective a heel Corbin is and a big win here instantly puts Roode in the picture for titles going forward into WWE Survivor Series 2017 and beyond.
#2 AJ Styles
You want to get Bobby Roode established as one of the top heels on Smackdown Live? Get him in a WWE United States Championship program with AJ Styles. AJ is the most over guy on the main roster by far and has the in-ring capabilities to bring out the best in Roode.
The two men also have familiarity on their side having been long-time members of the TNA roster during their time together on the promotion. There are plenty of things about this relationship that can be used to allow Roode to settle into his life on the main roster successfully.
It would also give The Glorious One nuclear heat if he used his heelish tactics to win the championship from The Phenomenal One.
#1 Dolph Ziggler
I think this will be Bobby Roode's most likely feud going forward on Smackdown Live. He has received an outstanding babyface ovation and Dolph Ziggler is probably the best person to help him harness that ovation into momentum towards a successful career on the main roster.
Ziggler himself laid the foundations for the program when he commented about how he only got a backstage interview segment upon his return and then proceeded to sarcastically remark that he should probably get himself a robe - Roode's usual entrance gear - in order to gain some respect.
Both men are great technically as well as on the mic and they have a chance to steal the show with a strong showing on the Smackdown Live upper mid-card.
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