WWE Smackdown Live: 5 takeaways from this week's episode

WWE delivered a solid PPV with Hell in a Cell last Sunday and followed it up with a brilliant RAW and SmackDown Live. SmackDown has been going through a rough patch in recent times, with Jinder Mahal as the champion not doing any favors, for the brand.

SmackDown freshened up its storylines by making a few surprising but decent booking decisions at HIAC. Sami Zayn turning heel was one of the most talked about segments from HIAC and WWE followed it up with a brilliant explanation this week.

We look at the five biggest takeaways from the fallout episode of Smackdown Live and what implications they hold for the future of Smackdown Live.

# 5 : Tag Team Division is firing once again.

Ever since the arrival of New Day back in May, the tag team division of SDL was primarily focused on the Usos vs. New Day feud. Their rivalry produced high-quality matches and some of the best segments from SDL, but the constant change of titles between these two teams got the fans frustrated. Smackdown's tag team division focused solely on these two teams, while RAW was utilizing all the teams on the roster. Teams like Breezango, Ascension and Hype Bros were relegated to minor backstage segments. This week's episode featured a beautiful ending to the Usos-New Day feud and also brought in Gable-Benjamin as the new challengers.

Luke Harper and Eric Rowan are also returning with a brand new gimmick, and are most likely going to be revealed as the attackers of Breezango. Two fresh rivalries in the tag team division means entertainment for the fans and the WWE Universe should be pumped up for the coming weeks.

# 4: Corbin is not being buried

Baron Corbin failed to cash in his contract against Jinder Mahal. His backstage heat was considered to be the prime reason. There were reports of the creative team being unhappy with the Lone Wolf and hence, many felt that Corbin could be making his way down the ladder.

Corbin defeated Styles and Tye Dillinger at 'Hell in a Cell' to become the new United States Champion, and in the process, won his first ever title in WWE. He pinned Styles clean in the rematch for the championship and looks set to carry the title for the foreseeable future. Corbin is a great talent, but he still needs work on his mic skills.

A solid run with the US Championship can make him a legit superstar in WWE, and a run at the top in the future can be assured for the Lone Wolf. It remains to be seen who challenges Corbin for the US Championship next.

# 3: Styles vs Mahal next?

Is Styles next for The Modern Day Maharaja?

Jinder Mahal continued his run at the top, by defeating Shinsuke Nakamura at Hell in a Cell. Mahal's dominating albeit boring run has angered a majority of the WWE Universe, and his presence at the top has become stagnant due to overused promos and weak matches.

AJ Styles as the WWE Champion last year produced some of the best action in 2016 and carried SmackDown Live on his back for a great deal of 2016. He is one of the most exceptional talents that WWE currently have and moving him back to the main-event scene will freshen up SmackDown massively.

Styles vs. Mahal could be an excellent feud for both the superstars. It gives Styles to come back in the Championship picture once again, while also providing Mahal a talent of the highest caliber to work with for the title.

# 2: Women's division is still scattered.

SmackDown Live's women's division has always suffered from multiple women trying to get their hands on the championship again and again. Most of the championship matches have been multi-women matches which have led to non-cohesive storytelling on SmackDown Live. Charlotte defeated Natalya by DQ at Hell in a Cell and should have continued her feud in this episode.

However, once again, all the women of the roster confronted Charlotte again, and a multi-woman feud looks to be on the cards for Smackdown Live. Lana, Tamina, and Carmella all are looking to get in the feud, and this seems to be a repeat of 'The Welcoming Committee' shtick WWE had earlier in the year.

Smackdown's woman division has not been in the best of shape for quite some time now, and a multi-woman feud once again is not going to do any favors.

# 1: Sami Zayn is a heel

Sami Zayn shocked the world when he helped his arch-enemy, Kevin Owens, in his match against Shane McMahon. Sami Zayn saved Owens from Shane, who took a leap of faith from the top of the cell. Zayn has been a lovable babyface for the entirety of his WWE career and this moment was a shocking turn of events for the 'Underdog from the Underground'.

Fans were still not convinced that Zayn had turned heel, and believed it to be a one-time thing. The reality was still kept a secret, and in this episode, the worst fears of many came true- Sami Zayn turned heel. Zayn was one of the most natural babyfaces on the roster and the decision to turn him heel is a bold move by the creative.

Zayn has certainly got the talent to work in tandem with Owens and make waves in the division, but it remains to be seen where both of them go from here.

Edited by Riju Dasgupta