SmackDown Live is looking to respond to Monday Night Raw in a big way after they opened this week of WWE Television with a strong start. SmackDown has been must watch TV for Wrestling fans for a number of weeks and they’ll be looking to keep it that way.
As always, there are questions that need answering and punches that need to be thrown.
The Miz cut an almighty promo on SmackDown Live General Manager Daniel Bryan on Talking Smack last week and Bryan has to respond. Which Women will stand up and make her mark in the chase for the SmackDown Live Women’s Championship? Can Heath Slater and Rhyno progress in the Tag Team tournament?
Can SmackDown Live continue its run of must watch television? We’ll find out.
How will Daniel Bryan respond to The Miz?
When The Miz cut his promo on Daniel Bryan during last week's episode of Talking Smack, did he do it without thinking of the consequences?
Daniel Bryan may be a good guy but he was visibly upset by what the Intercontinental Champion was saying.
Now, Bryan will probably have something to say to The Miz but will he use his power to make a statement? As SmackDown Live General Manager, Bryan can do anything he wants if he believes it is in the interest of his show.
Will he use that power to stack the odds against The Miz and make him defend his championship? Or could Bryan call a favor in from a certain Samoan friend from NXT who could cause quite a bit of harm to The Miz? You’ll have to tune in to find out.
The Women have a chance at title glory
The pursuit of championships will turn friends and family against each other, especially in the WWE. When Daniel Bryan and Shane McMahon presented the SmackDown Live Women’s Championship last week, fans began to pick their favorites and it even caused SmackDown rookie Carmella to attack Nikki Bella.
Will the longest reigning WWE Diva’s champion look to enact revenge on Carmella?
It’s also time for the other SmackDown Live women to make their mark in this championship race. Becky Lynch is the obvious fan favorite but can see stay away from her rival Natalya long enough to make it to Backlash?
We’ll find out on SmackDown Live.
Can Heath Slater and Rhyno co-exist?
Heath Slater finally has his chance to make his mark on SmackDown Live as he and his new tag team partner, Rhyno, have their first match in the SmackDown Live tag team tournament. Slater has been a shining light since the brand split and each time he appears on television he comes out with comedy gold.
Shane McMahon said he’d find the new tag team partners a team to face as they begin their run at the SmackDown Live tag team championships. Who will that be? There are rumors, but nobody is quite sure for certain.
One thing is for certain, Slater and Rhyno have to win otherwise Slater’s dream of being a SmackDown Live superstar is over.
Will SmackDown continue to thrive?
Since the WWE Brand Split, SmackDown Live has continually produced some must watch segments in the shorter two-hour time span. Now, Monday Night Raw started the week off with a fantastic ending in crowning their new champion, now it’s SmackDown’s chance to respond.
SmackDown has done the little things well. Commentary has been about the matches and telling the story instead of plugging outside content. The matches have been smooth and the overarching storylines that are consistent with the story they’re trying to tell have been a welcome addition to WWE TV.
Monday Night Raw may be the flagship show but Team Blue is making its mark. With it’s first WWE Network special, Backlash, quickly approaching, SmackDown will be looking to set the bar within this brand split.