5 talking points before SmackDown Live (20 November 2018)

WWE Survivor Series has culminated, and it has left us with many things to talk about. With a clean sweep from Raw, one was expecting Stephanie McMahon to make an appearance and gloat about the same, and so she did.

Many things happened on Raw, including the fact that Braun Strowman has joined the list of injured superstars (and this should worry WWE a bit).

There are many intriguing questions which need to be answered on the B brand (or in Shinsuke Nakamura's world - the N brand).

SmackDown has a new Champion, Daniel Bryan, and they were swept 6-0 by Raw, so it remains to be seen what the repercussions would be. Without waiting any further, lets get to it.

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#1 How will AJ Styles retaliate?

AJ Styles is looking to negotiate a new contract - he has been the flag-bearer of SmackDown for some time

Recently news emerged that AJ Styles is negotiating a new contract with WWE, as the old one is about to expire. The details are not yet clear, but he is reportedly asking for a reduction in workload, and lesser appearances on live shows, something similar to what Randy Orton has.

It's even said that AJ Styles himself suggested losing the title to Daniel Bryan, just a week before Survivor Series, and this also explains why AJ didn't feature on Survivor Series.

Keeping that in mind, it would be interesting to see how the storyline goes forward, and will AJ Styles even ask for a rematch? Or will WWE just start a completely new feud?

It would really be interesting to know how WWE goes ahead, especially since the roster is plagued by injuries, and because AJ has been the flag-bearer of SmackDown for some time now.

#2 Will Becky Lynch be back?

Will Becky Lynch have recovered from the concussion that made her skip the Survivor Series PPV?

There's no question who the MVP in WWE is right now. Despite not being present at Survivor Series, the crowd cheered her name more than the competitors involved, and that's what makes it intriguing to see what next happens with Becky?

There are so many questions surrounding her right now. The biggest of them all being whether she has recovered from the broken nose and concussion she suffered at the hands of Nia Jax.

Is Becky a face? Or is she a heel? Who will she feud with next? Will she be back in a program with Charlotte Flair? Or is there some new feud already in store?

Either way, every viewer would first want her back in action.

#3 Who will Nakamura feud with for the US Championship?

Nakamura hasn't been in a feud for a while

Nakamura dropped very subtle hints of turning face at Survivor Series during the post-match interview. If it does actually happen, it would do him a world of good, especially as his current heel version has fizzled out so badly.

He's hardly been in a feud for such a long time that the US Champion is hardly there on the show. It would be interesting to see who Nakamura starts his next feud with.

What's more interesting is whether it'll be a face turn or not, because for now, Nakamura does need a change. The audience loves him, and even though the heel version generated a good reaction earlier, it's now a bust.

It would be a loud pop if Nakamura again comes back with his old music, it's about time he did.

#4 How does Charlotte explain her actions?

Charlotte went on a vicious hitting spree against Ronda Rousey at Survivor Series

In so many ways, what panned out at Survivor Series between Ronda Rousey and Charlotte was a huge surprise. The turn of events was not expected by anyone, and no one expected Ronda of all people to take such a beating.

Now with Survivor Series in the rear view mirror, and we try to make sense of all that happened, it would be interesting to see how Charlotte explains what she did.

Does it mean a heel turn for Charlotte? Or was it just a prelude to the supposed WrestleMania match between Ronda Rousey and Charlotte Flair.

What does Charlotte do now on SmackDown? Who does she feud with? Will she get back on a programme with Becky? Or does this mean a new and different heel Charlotte? A lot of questions to be answered.

#5 Will Shane McMahon turn heel?

Shane was the last person to get eliminated in the Survivor Series match

The seeds were sown a while ago, as Shane swapped with The Miz to win the World Cup and become the "Best in the World". Then on Sunday, Shane was the last man standing for SmackDown.

There have been rumours of Shane turning heel, and with SmackDown losing 6-0, it is a perfect opportunity for Shane to actually turn heel and blame the whole roster for not being good enough, and in fact say he's better than them.

It could lead to an Authority storyline on SmackDown. And to be fair, it does look like SmackDown needs a reset, as things have grown pretty stale. It's the same things happening over and over.

With Daniel Bryan turning heel as well, it could be a change SmackDown needs. Shane turning heel would make things interesting.