SmackDown Preview: Big return after 2 years, Unexpected plans for The Undertaker? (June 25th, 2019)

So it's the first SmackDown Live after WWE Stomping Grounds 2019 and we're quite excited! Due to the fact that the brand split is basically dead at this point, we didn't really have to wait till Tuesay to see the fallout on SmackDown.

We saw quite a bit of the fallout on RAW and we must admit, things are a bit interesting, even if we're not a fan of the brand split being killed off. Samoa Joe attacked WWE Champion Kofi Kingston on RAW, while The New Day were a part of an elimination match. The night prior to that, The New Day were handily defeated by Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn.

However, Kofi Kingston beat both KO and Zayn on RAW, back-to-back. Last week, we saw the build to WWE Stomping Grounds 2019 complete, topped off with a main event that saw Seth Rollins & Kofi Kingston defeat Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn in a 2-out-of-3 falls match. With Stomping Grounds behind us, we look at what's next an what to look forward to on SmackDown Live!

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#5. What's stewing with Bray Wyatt?

We see you Abigail!

The latest episode of RAW had a notable absence of the weekly Firefly Fun House. While fans obviously missed one of the best parts of RAW, what they witnessed was even creepier. We saw Abigail and Mercy the buzzard appear.

You can see Abigail in the photo above in the background. Mercy the buzzard went unnoticed but when Kofi Kingston was getting prepared backstage, he made a tiny cameo. It's clear that Bray Wyatt is returning sooner than later, but we believe that his return to SmackDown could be as soon as tonight. That would mark over two years since his last SmackDown Live appearance.

See WWE Smackdown Live Updates, Highlights of event, & more on WWE Smackdown updates page

#4. Who's next for Bayley?

A moment of redemption

Bayley's redemption arc came full circle on Sunday when she finally defeated Alexa Bliss for the first time on the main roster. It was Alexa Bliss who beat her two years ago for the RAW Women's championship, sending her career on a downward spiral.

2019 has seen Bayley get her redemption and it was complete when she defeated Bliss, thanks to a little unintentional assist from Nikki Cross. Either way, Bliss seems busy on RAW and has no reason to challenge for any title.

As for The Hugger, she now looks to fully cement her legacy as Women's champion, this time having a proper run with the title. We expect her to have a relatively long reign, so it'll be interesting to see who steps up to the plate.

On this episode of SmackDown Live, Bayley will seek her next SmackDown Women's Championship challenger. Who will it be?

#3. Have the New Day announced themselves as the next SmackDown tag team title challengers?

Daniel Bryan was eliminated in shocking fashion on RAW

Daniel Bryan and Rowan expectedly got past the relatively inexperienced Heavy Machinery. It was a really good match and Bryan used his high ring IQ to pick up the win. On the latest episode of RAW, he and Rowan teamed up with RAW Tag Team Champions The Revival to take on The New Day and The Usos in a 8-man elimination match.

It was all going good until an "unintentional" moment by The Revival cost Daniel Bryan, as Xavier Woods pinned and eliminated him and Rowan. Though The New Day were eliminated next, what's perfectly clear is that The New Day are seemingly the next in line for a SmackDown Tag Team title shot.

It's been a while since they've competed for it, especially given all the focus they've put in on Kofi Kingston and his WWE title reign. With their main objective achieved, The New Day will look to get back the tag team gold.

#2. Kofi Kingston responds to Samoa Joe

Samoa Joe made a statement the only way he knows how to

Kofi Kingston had a field night on RAW when he defeated Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens in back-to-back matches, pretty much shutting them up right away about what they said prior to that.

However, his happiness was short-lived and he has a new target on his back: 2-time United States Champion Samoa Joe. The RAW Superstar made a big statement. If you recall, this is pretty much the exact same way he challenged AJ Styles for the WWE title last summer, except he was already his scheduled opponent.

With the summer coming about, Samoa Joe looks to regain his lost momentum after Stomping Grounds, where he lost the United States title to Ricochet. Tonight, WWE Champion Kofi Kingston will undoubtedly address Samoa Joe and the attack. Will Joe be there to respond?

#1. Shane McMahon & Drew McIntyre respond to The Undertaker

The look of disbelief

Last night on RAW, Shane McMahon and Drew McIntyre were in the midst of a beatdown, hitting Roman Reigns with blow after blow. Shane McMahon was about to add insult to injury with a coast-to-coast, but out of nowhere, The Undertaker came about.

The Phenom saved Roman Reigns and took out both McIntyre and Shane McMahon. Later in the night, the Extreme Rules match was made official. It will be Roman Reigns and The Undertaker vs Shane McMahon and Drew McIntyre.

McMahon and McIntyre are obviously in disbelief, which is why they'll take to the ring tonight to respond to The Undertaker. While Roman Reigns will be present, The Undertaker most certainly will not.

We have reason to believe that at Extreme Rules, the seeds will be planted for a Drew McIntyre vs Undertaker match at SummerSlam.