Another week means another episode of SmackDown Live! looking to respond to Monday Night Raw. This week is especially important as SmackDown heads into it’s first WWE Network special, Backlash.
As SmackDown Live heads into Backlash, there is a number of talking points including the teams who will head to Backlash to contest for the SmackDown Live tag team championships.
Will the WWE World Heavyweight Champion Dean Ambrose be able to keep his hands off AJ Styles? Will the SmackDown Live audience finally get to see some fists thrown between Bray Wyatt and Randy Orton? And which women will finally gain some advantage heading Backlash?
We’ll find out on SmackDown Live!
Which tag teams will advance to Backlash?
Eight teams started the SmackDown Live tag team tournament and now four remain. It’s the semi-final round tonight on SmackDown Live, with The Uso’s taking on the young upstarts, American Alpha and the Hype Bros taking on Heath Slater and Rhyno.
Don’t forget, if Slater and the Gore machine lose, Slater’s chance at a full-time SmackDown Live contract is over.
So, who is going to advance to the finals at Backlash? Nobody knows, but with the matches now meaning so much, we’re guaranteed to see some top action.
The Uso’s experience probably gives them the edge over American Alpha but it will be able to see if they can out wrestle Jordan and Gable. In the other matchup, the need of Slater to win probably gives him and Rhyno the advantage as they will be competitive as hell.
Either way, we’ll find out tonight.
The Cold War: Bray Wyatt and Randy Orton
Since Bray Wyatt and Randy Orton crossed paths, there hasn’t been any fists thrown but there has been a lot of mind games. Wyatt and Orton have been close and each time the Viper looks to attack Wyatt, he escapes, in a near supernatural way.
Will the cold war finally end before Backlash or will we have to wait just a few more days? We’ll find out on SmackDown Live.
Can Ambrose and Styles stay away from each other?
AJ Styles is now the face that runs the place but the best thing he’s been able to do recently on SmackDown Live is run his mouth. Yes, he picked up a win over Apollo Crews last week but he still found a way to come to blows with the champion Dean Ambrose.
Now, with his Championship shot five days away, with the phenomenal number one contender look to avoid the champion and head into Backlash healthy and ready to go? Potentially, but there’s just one problem, it’s difficult running away from Dean Ambrose. The Lunatic Champion is unhinged and you never know where you’re going to find him.
Styles best bet may be to hide in plain sight and look for a tune up match before his championship chance on Sunday.
Which woman will take advantage before Backlash?
With the women’s six pack challenge approaching on Sunday, somebody has to step up and take the lead, right? Well, hopefully.
The match at Backlash has the makings of a good title bout, especially with separate storylines being interwoven into it.
We have Becky Lynch and Natalya’s ongoing blood feud to contend with. Add on Nikki Bella and Carmella and you have four women who are in with a shout of winning the match and storylines that will ultimately progress, for good or bad.