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We are all set for an exciting edition of WWE SmackDown that could potentially be one of the biggest episodes in the Blue brand’s history. So far, two title matches have been confirmed for the show this week. WWE Universe expects to see promising developments in the ongoing feuds as we inch closer to WrestleMania Backlash. All eyes are on SmackDown, especially after an underwhelming episode of WWE RAW earlier this week.
In this article, we will look at things that can transpire on WWE SmackDown tonight.
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#1 Daniel Bryan set to challenge Roman Reigns for the Universal Championship on WWE SmackDown
The stage is set for a high-profile main event on WWE SmackDown tonight. Roman Reigns will put his Universal Championship on the line against Daniel Bryan in a high-stakes match. Bryan will have to leave WWE SmackDown if loses this bout. Hence, this could be Bryan’s final match on the Blue brand, and he could go off the WWE television for a while.
This match was booked last week on WWE SmackDown when Daniel Bryan rattled Roman Reigns for not answering Cesaro’s challenge. Bryan referred to the Universal Champion as a "coward" and questioned his credibility as the title-holder. An irked Reigns then responded by saying that he would face Bryan first. Later on, Reigns added the stipulation that Bryan will "go away from WWE Smackdown for good."
Both superstars have been involved in an intense title feud for months. Their last match was at WrestleMania 37 when Reigns successfully defended his Universal Championship against Bryan and Edge in a triple-threat match. Following that, it was expected that Cesaro would be the next WWE SmackDown Superstar who will challenge Reigns.
However, The Tribal Chief was disrespectful towards Cesaro and claimed that The Swiss Cyborg had done nothing to deserve a title shot. This forced Bryan to intervene on WWE SmackDown, and Reigns targeted him with a clever stipulation. Now, Bryan has a huge match ahead of him before Cesaro eventually gets his title shot at WrestleMania Backlash.
Bryan has openly stated that he wants to move to a part-time role in WWE, and his contract is also nearing its end. This could be how they decide to write him off WWE SmackDown and give Roman Reigns a huge push in the process. It will be interesting to see if The Tribal Chief can cleanly retain his title or if he will rely on Jey Uso’s help once again.
#2 Could Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins reunite on WWE SmackDown?
Cesaro’s quest for the Universal Championship will have to take a back seat on WWE SmackDown as Roman Reigns is slightly busy with Daniel Bryan. But The Swiss Cyborg still has to look out for Seth Rollins. Both superstars faced each other at WrestleMania 37, where Cesaro picked up an impressive victory. Following that, we saw Cesaro battle against both Jey Uso and Seth Rollins.
The Architect has proved himself as a huge help to Jey Uso every time he needs to silence Cesaro on WWE SmackDown. While Reigns and Rollins are yet to cross paths, the latter plays a big role in keeping his former Shield brother’s potential enemies at bay. It will be interesting to see how the creative will book both these superstars going forward.
Given the history between Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins, there are a lot of exciting possibilities for the writers to explore on WWE SmackDown. From mildly teasing a potential alliance to instant fallout, countless stories can right themselves. WWE can even book Cesaro in high-stakes matches against the likes of Seth Rollins and Jey Uso that can add more to his build-up before he challenges Roman Reigns.
#3 Sasha Banks attacks WWE SmackDown Women’s Champion Bianca Belair and Bayley
Bianca Belair defeated Sasha Banks for the WWE SmackDown Women’s Championship at WrestleMania 37. They delivered a brutal match in the main event of the first night. Unfortunately, the build-up to their title bout was underwhelming. That could be fixed in the storyline leading up to WrestleMania Backlash, where Banks could get her title rematch.
Now, WWE has already confirmed that Bianca Belair will defend her SmackDown Women's Championship against Bayley at WrestleMania Backlash. However, we could see Sasha Banks find her way into this title bout ahead of the pay-per-view.
Last week on WWE SmackDown, an angry Banks confirmed that she would go after Belair’s title. She feels that she still deserves to be the champion and is determined to brutalize whoever stands in her way. We could see her lay a surprise attack on Belair and Bayley before demanding to be added to the title match at the upcoming pay-per-view.
Banks is incredible as a heel, and she should be allowed to go all guns out to fight for dominance over the WWE SmackDown women’s division. This will also allow the opportunity to set the tone of Belair’s maiden title run in WWE. She is widely regarded as the future of the women’s roster, and she could use a good start by being involved in a memorable title feud with Banks and Bayley.
#4 Big E gets his WrestleMania title rematch on WWE SmackDown
WWE SmackDown has confirmed another title match for the show this week. Big E is set to challenge Apollo Crews for the Intercontinental Championship in a WrestleMania rematch. At the pay-per-view, Crews had defeated Big E for the title with the help of Commander Azeez in the Nigerian Drum Fight.
Last week, Kevin Owens challenged Crews for the title, and the latter picked up a sly victory. Following that, KO delivered a Stunner to Crews before Commander Azeez took matters into his own hands. He brutalized KO and left him in the center of the ring. Crews’ celebration was cut short as Big E attacked him backstage to send a strong message.
Big E and Crews have been feuding on WWE SmackDown for a long time now, and this storyline saw Crews’ heel turn. He now has a powerful ally in his side that could prove to be a huge advantage during the title match tonight. It will be interesting to see how Big E will navigate his way around Crews and Commander Azeez while fighting to reclaim his title.
#5 Kevin Owens continues his feud with Sami Zayn on WWE SmackDown
Last week’s episode of WWE SmackDown confirmed that the feud between Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn is far from over. Zayn was present at ringside during Owens’ match against Apollo Crews. He even went inside the ring and danced around a brutalized Owens, delivering a masterpiece of a segment.
Kevin Owens is now expected to respond to this extended audition for Dancing with the Stars on WWE SmackDown tonight. His recent altercations with Zayn have been entertaining. Even Zayn has a lot more opportunities to showcase his story-telling potential. Both superstars are expected to continue their rivalry at least until WrestleMania Backlash.
While Zayn’s constant fixation on "corporate conspiracies" against him is borderline annoying, WWE SmackDown has also teased the possibility that his claims could be valid. It has been a while since we have seen an engaging long-term booking, and these two superstars can change that with their current feud. Hopefully, the creative won’t pull the plug on this storyline before scripting its deserved conclusion.
