5 Things WWE SmackDown got right this week (May 15, 2020)

#3 A RAW Superstar for the SmackDown title

Bryan vs. GulakHardy vs. SheamusElias vs. CorbinStyles vs. NakamuraThese are just first-round matches!!This tournament to crown the brand new #WWE Intercontinental Champion is going to be awesome to watch!#SmackDown #SmackDownOnFox pic.twitter.com/2WxStCTbjr

— Sportskeeda Wrestling (@SKProWrestling) May 16, 2020

Former Intercontinental Champion Sami Zayn was unable to show up on SmackDown for weeks after WrestleMania to defend his title, forcing WWE to strip him and set up a tournament to crown a new Champion.

While seven SmackDown Superstars were put in the race for the title, it was interesting to see WWE push in the name of AJ Styles from RAW to shake things up. Styles had a good time as the United States Champion on RAW over the past few months and came close to becoming Mr. Money in the Bank before his butterfingers allowed Otis to catch the briefcase.

WWE is looking to mix things up with a new rule

Next week’s #SmackDown is well and truly stacked! 💪🏻- Charlotte Flair vs Bayley- Jeff Hardy vs Sheamus- AJ Styles vs Shinsuke Nakamura- Otis & Mandy Rose vs Dolph Ziggler and Sonya DevilleFour PPV-quality matches! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/0sriAxb3WE

— Gary Cassidy (@consciousgary) May 16, 2020

WWE is heading towards another Wild Card sort of rule and Styles is the perfect man who can represent RAW to the fullest on SmackDown. He currently has no rivalries on RAW, and a good show in the tournament can help fans get some stellar matches as he is set to take on Shinsuke Nakamura in the first round.

While it seems unlikely that the company will allow Styles to win the title and take it over to RAW where the United States Championship is already doing the rounds, it will be interesting to see how the heel dows in the tournament. Styles will have a chance to not only take on Nakamura but possibly also take on Elias and another veteran.