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We are all set for the first episode of WWE SmackDown after a solid Crown Jewel pay-per-view. The Blue brand’s roster is stacked with new talent and reigning champions. It has slowly transformed itself into the promotion's A-show, and we hope to see exciting developments after the arrival of a few new superstars.
Here, we look at some of the things that could transpire on WWE SmackDown tonight. So, without further ado, let’s begin.
#6 Draft 2021 to finally come into effect on WWE SmackDown
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Earlier this month, the entire main roster was reshuffled when top superstars were drafted to WWE SmackDown and RAW. The promotion confirmed that the 2021 Draft would only come into effect after Crown Jewel, which took place last night. Now, we are looking forward to the new era, which is expected to bring multiple surprises and twists as we move forward.
While the Blue brand has lost multiple top superstars like Bianca Belair, Edge, Seth Rollins, and Big E to their counterparts, they are also set to gain numerous megastars like Charlotte Flair, The New Day, Drew McIntyre, Jeff Hardy, and more.
Also, all attention will be towards NXT call-ups Hit Row, who have looked quite promising so far. The Friday night show has consistently delivered solid episodes over the last few months, and it will be interesting to see how the new arrivals will impact their program.
#5 Roman Reigns meets his next opponent on WWE SmackDown
At Crown Jewel 2021, Roman Reigns successfully defended his Universal Championship against Brock Lesnar. Despite the controversial finish, one can’t deny that The Tribal Chief’s dominant reign only grew stronger after his victory over The Beast Incarnate. Reigns is expected to acknowledge his monumental win on WWE Smackdown tonight, and the same segment might also introduce us to his next challenger.
Roman Reigns’ next opponent will likely be two-time WWE Champion, Drew McIntyre. The Scottish Warrior has previously said he would come after the Universal Championship and will be motivated after losing the final opportunity to get his hands on the world title at Crown Jewel.
McIntyre would make for an entertaining opponent against Reigns on WWE SmackDown. He had established himself as the biggest babyface in the company when Roman Reigns first turned heel.
Apart from Drew McIntyre, Reigns will also have to look out for Big E. The latter could make an appearance on WWE SmackDown to set the tone for Survivor Series, where both world titleholders will face each other while representing their respective brands. With the correct booking, both these feuds have the potential to deliver unforgettable storylines.
#4 The Usos' next challengers for the WWE SmackDown Tag Team Championships
WWE SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Usos played a huge role in Roman Reigns' successful title defense at Crown Jewel. They will look to celebrate alongside The Tribal Chief on the show tonight. That said, Jey and Jimmy Uso confirmed that they would take on The New Day during their last visit on RAW. This is one of the few rivalries that has a long history in the company.
Both teams have given us some of the best tag team matches in the past. The creative team won't need to invest too much before this rivalry turns into a classic. In the meantime, it would give them enough window to push other tag teams and turn them into legitimate title contenders for the SmackDown Tag Team Challengers.
#3 Xavier Woods kickstarts his royal reign on WWE SmackDown
Speaking of The New Day, we can't go on without mentioning Xavier Woods' incredible achievement at Crown Jewel. He defeated Finn Balor in the final to win the King of the Ring tournament and the crown will once again reign over WWE SmackDown. It was Woods' childhood dream to win the prestigious tournament, and that's precisely what he did at the recently concluded pay-per-view.
In addition to The New Day's aforementioned tag team title feud with The Usos, we might also see Xavier Woods compete against other top talents as the "King." The crown resided on top of Baron Corbin's head before Shinsuke Nakamura took the honor. However, neither of the two superstars were involved in active feuds on the Blue brand involving the King's crown.
The King of the Ring has enjoyed an envious history in WWE. Woods can be trusted to restore the royal title's credibility, and he will undoubtedly do well in elevating other talents. We hope to see him involved in big feuds on WWE SmackDown as we advance, and it will be interesting to see Kofi Kingston's role in the said rivalries.
#2 Becky Lynch continues her dominance on WWE SmackDown
Becky Lynch successfully defended her WWE SmackDown Women’s Championship against Bianca Belair and Sasha Banks. The Man still holds the coveted prize from the Blue brand despite being drafted to RAW. It was a surprising decision, but the case is the same as Charlotte Flair, the reigning RAW Women’s Champion, is now a SmackDown Superstar.
This could have been a ploy to ensure Lynch and Flair’s continued appearances on both main roster brands. It seems like a necessary step when you consider the weakened women’s division and the dire need to build up more talents. For now, the two superstars are expected to dominate the title picture in addition to their feuds with Bianca Belair and Sasha Banks, respectively.
This also sets the stage perfectly for an epic Survivor Series feud. Is it possible that Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair will put their WWE SmackDown and RAW Women’s Championships on the line in a “Winner Takes All” match? It would undoubtedly raise the stakes in the traditional champion vs. champion bout synonymous with the pay-per-view.
#1 What’s next for the Intercontinental Champion on WWE SmackDown?
Shinsuke Nakamura has enjoyed a relatively comfortable Intercontinental Championship reign so far. His only memorable defense was against Apollo Crews, who himself spent way too much time involved with the gold. The title is now in desperate need of new challengers, and so is Nakamura.
He is a good babyface and has formed an entertaining alliance with Rick Boogs. Both superstars can deliver engaging feuds on WWE SmackDown that would also help draw more attention towards other superstars on the show. It will be interesting to see what’s in store for Nakamura ahead of Survivor Series when he might face United States Champion Damian Priest.
