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We are all set for this week’s episode of WWE SmackDown that promises a big night full of action. From title matches at Fastlane to the calculated developments in WrestleMania feuds, a lot can transpire on the Blue brand tonight. So far, only two matches has been confirmed for the show, and Edge might make an appearance.
We will quickly discuss everything significant that can happen on WWE SmackDown.
#1 High stakes Steel Cage match confirmed for WWE SmackDown this week
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Last week on WWE SmackDown, Roman Reigns opened the show and proudly discussed his successful title defense at the Elimination Chamber pay-per-view. However, this did not sit well with Daniel Bryan, who had challenged Reigns for the Universal Championship at the said pay-per-view. He then walked out and demanded another shot at the title at Fastlane.
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As a result, a match was booked between Bryan and Jey Uso with a stipulation to allow Bryan to challenge Reigns again if he manages to win. This match main evented WWE SmackDown last week, but we did not come to a decisive conclusion. Reigns decided to interfere, and he brutalized Bryan for stepping up to The Tribal Chief.
Following that, it was confirmed that this week’s episode of WWE SmackDown would host a huge Steel Cage match between Daniel Bryan and Jey Uso. If Bryan wins tonight, he will challenge Reigns for the Universal Championship at Fastlane. However, the latter won’t let it be this easy as he has already instructed Jey Uso to ‘take care of the problem.’
Jey Uso has been instrumental in Reigns’ smooth title reign on WWE SmackDown over the last few months. He has nailed his role in this storyline and will look to beat Bryan at all costs. Jey Uso also gave us a glimpse of a brutal meeting between him and Bryan when they were the last two contenders left inside the Elimination Chamber match.
At the last pay-per-view, Reigns had a clear advantage over his opponent. Bryan will look to change that at Fastlane, but he needs to beat Jey Uso inside the steel cage before that. With WrestleMania around the corner, the creative will keep a close eye on the things that unfold inside the ring on WWE SmackDown this week.
#2 Sasha Banks’ grey alliance with Reginald on WWE SmackDown
As confirmed on the previous episode of WWE SmackDown, Bianca Belair is set to challenge Sasha Banks for her title at WrestleMania. The 2021 Women’s Royal Rumble winner has her eyes set on the WWE SmackDown Women’s Championship and is determined to get her hands on the title at The Grandest Stage of Them All.
As of now, Banks is a babyface, but her last few appearances on WWE SmackDown have shown us that she is playing the line between confidence and arrogance. She is expected to turn heel as we inch closer to WrestleMania. These rumors have also been fueled by Reginald, who continues to lurk in Banks’ corner.
Either Reginald has decided to jump ship, or he is playing a long con on WWE SmackDown. Either way, we expect to see interesting developments involving him as this storyline moves forward. It will be exciting to see how Banks and Belair will carry their feud ahead of WrestleMania as both Superstars have already set high expectations amidst the fans.
It was also confirmed that Banks and Belair will team up to challenge Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler in a women's tag team title match at Fastlane. They previously challenged the Champions at Elimination Chamber but Jax and Baszler successfully defended their titles.
For tonight, WWE has confirmed a singles match between Belair and Baszler. Both Superstars share a long history dating back to their feud over the NXT Women's Championships and they are expected to deliver an entertaining in-ring battle.
#3 Apollo Crews runs through WWE SmackDown roster in Big E’s absence
Big E might not make an appearance on WWE SmackDown this week. He was recently brutalized by Apollo Crews that led to the Champion leaving the ThunderDome on a stretcher. This attack also cemented Crews’ heel turn. Last week, he even adopted the ‘Nigerian Prince’ gimmick and promised an era of dominance.
Crews believes that he deserves more opportunities on WWE SmackDown. He has challenged Big E for the Intercontinental Championship on multiple occasions in the past. His failed attempts seemingly put him at the back of the line, but Crews was adamant about getting back in the title picture. Now that the champion is absent, he will look to make a case for himself.
Crews also attacked Shinsuke Nakamura on WWE SmackDown, and we could see both these Superstars face each other in a match. There is a lot of potential for the creative to explore with Crews’ heel turn. It will be interesting to see what’s in store for him and if he will find an ally for himself on the Blue brand.
#4 More names added to the WWE SmackDown Tag Team Championship picture
The last few weeks of WWE SmackDown have shown a couple of good names emerging as a potential threat to the tag team titles. We have seen the likes of Dominik and Rey Mysterio teaming up, but they have struggled to emerge victorious in their matches. On the other hand, we have Otis and Chad Gable's team, who recently confirmed their heel turn.
For a long time now, the WWE SmackDown Tag Team picture only included The Street Profits and The Dirty Dawgs. While we have enjoyed their matches, the tag team division desperately needed new names to come into the mix. It appears that we will see more of these teams in the coming weeks.
The tag team divisions have struggled across WWE over the last year. We have not seen a lot of memorable feuds unfold, but things could change with WrestleMania right around the corner. We hope to see WWE SmackDown establish more teams that can pose a serious threat to the tag team gold in the coming months.
#5 What’s next for Kevin Owens on WWE SmackDown?
Kevin Owens is enjoying a great run on WWE SmackDown, where he has cemented himself as one of the biggest babyfaces in the company. He recently had an extended feud with Roman Reigns, and it appears that their title rivalry has come to an end. However, that did not stop Owens from issuing a challenge to Jey Uso.
When these two WWE SmackDown Superstars came face to face inside the Elimination Chamber, there was a heated exchange that followed. Both Owens and Jey Uso assured each other that they are yet to sort out their differences, and they looked keen on doing it inside the ring. The history between these two Superstars will further fuel the rivalry if it is booked.
There is a lot that Owens can do on WWE SmackDown as a babyface. He can form an alliance with Daniel Bryan or work with Sami Zayn. He can even feud with the likes of Seth Rollins as we move forward. KO has momentum on his side, and the creative must make the most of the same. After all, KO is capable of delivering compelling narratives even when there is no title involved.
