Nick Aldis to strip 35-year-old star of WWE title; major change for Cody Rhodes? 4 things the SmackDown GM can announce on tonight's show

After a record-setting Survivor Series PLE, WWE SmackDown picks up where the Vancouver show left off with a highly-anticipated episode tonight. The blue brand was well-represented at the Thanksgiving spectacle with 14 superstars competing and one title changing hands. The blue brand will have a lot of fallout to address from the PLE as it continues to set up its feuds for Saturday Night's Main Event.

As thus, SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis will have his hands full and could play a major role in this particular episode. Aldis could make a number of decisions, declarations, and interventions. So, how might the 38-year-old authority figure make his mark on tonight's post-Survivor Series episode of the Friday Night show?

Here are four things Nick Aldis could do on the December 6, 2024, episode of WWE SmackDown

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#4: Nick Aldis could strip Bianca Belair of her WWE Women's Tag Team championship

During the buildup to Survivor Series, Jade Cargill suffered a brutal storyline attack in the parking lot on an episode of WWE SmackDown. This attack by an unknown assailant caused Bianca Belair to abandon her qualifying match in the Women's United States title tournament, costing her a chance at the title. The Storm's resultant absence could now cost The EST the championship she currently holds.

The mystery surrounding the attacker was lightly addressed as a potential cause of division within the WarGames team that both Belair and Cargill were initially part of. However, Team Ripley overcame that intrigue to pick up the win, with Bayley replacing the former AEW TBS champion. With WarGames done, Nick Aldis has to consider the future of the Women's Tag Team Titles.

This will most likely mean stripping Bianca Belair of her title since her partner is on the shelf and the 35-year-old can't defend them by herself.

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#3: Nick Aldis could add a Triple Threat WWE Tag Team Title match to Saturday Night's Main Event

WWE SmackDown's tag team division has been a hotbed of activity in recent weeks. While the Jade Cargill mystery on the women's side has been making detectives of everyone, the hostilities in the men's scene have been clear for all to witness. The Street Profits have found renewed fire in their pursuit of The Motor City Machine Guns, while DIY can't seem to get on the same page.

The goal for Tommaso Ciampa, Johnny Gargano, Montez Ford, and Angelo Dawkins still remains to dethrone the WWE Tag Team Champions. With Saturday Night's Main Event just over a week away, all three teams could seek a chance to resolve their differences in a Triple Threat match at the iconic network special. This is where Nick Aldis could come in, making the contest official for December 14.

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#2: Nick Aldis could announce a New Year's Revolution episode of WWE SmackDown for January 3, 2025

Nick Aldis [Images from WWE.com]

The first WWE SmackDown (and RAW) of the year is always a special occasion. The Stamford-based promotion often ushers in every new year with a bang, offering branded 'New Year' episodes of one or both. For 2024, the red brand's first episode was branded 'Day 1', being on New Year's Day, while the first SmackDown of January was labeled 'New Year's Revolution'.

With the first RAW of 2025 being the flagship show's long-awaited debut on Netflix, Nick Aldis will have to pull out all the stops to match that shine. He could start by announcing a special New Year's Revolution episode for January 3, 2025. The blue brand could then stack that show in the coming weeks to generate comparable buzz to its counterpart's streaming debut.

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#1: Nick Aldis might add a stipulation to Cody Rhodes vs. Kevin Owens for Saturday Night's Main Event

The build-up to Saturday Night's Main Event has been headlined by Cody Rhodes' feud with Kevin Owens over the Undisputed WWE Championship. The American Nightmare and Prizefighter are embroiled in a bitter and very personal rivalry over the former's decision to team with Roman Reigns at Bad Blood.

That temporary alliance triggered Owens' heel turn after years of suffering at the hands of The Bloodline, prompting an attack on Rhodes outside State Farm Arena. It has also claimed collateral damage in the form of Randy Orton, who was put on the shelf by a piledriver from KO as he attempted to broker peace between the pair.

Given the amount of animosity between the duo and the fact that they already had a match at Bash in Berlin, it feels like something extra is needed. On the penultimate episode of SmackDown, General Manager Nick Aldis could swing into action to add a stipulation to the match. One can only wonder what this stipulation could be.