After the superstar shakeup, we're left with a few interesting matches on the first Smackdown Pay Per View since 'Mania. As well as some that seem so obvious that they probably don't even need to be on the card.
Tye Dillinger v Aiden English
Aiden English is trying to establish himself as a singles wrestler now that Simon Gotch has left and the Vaudevillains are no more. However, he's just been jobbing and Tye Dillinger has recently been elevated to the big leagues. Dillinger will get a second victory over English here. There's no reason to have him losing so soon.
Prediction: Tye Dillinger
Naomi, Charlotte Flair & Becky Lynch v The Welcoming Committee (Natalya, Carmella & Tamina Snuka)
Where you've got the current women's champion, the first Smackdown women's champion and Charlotte, the 5-time champion on your side, the odds of losing seem slim. The Welcoming Committee need a boost and this feud needs to be establishing these guys as legitimate heels as the Smackdown women's division has lost Alexa Bliss in exchange for Charlotte who seems to have/be turning face. They've got victories over the good guys recently, but they won't be getting one on the big stage.
Prediction: Naomi, Charlotte Flair and Becky Lynch
Shinsuke Nakamura v Dolph Ziggler
Shinsuke is in the same situation as Tye Dillinger, in fact they were both called up on the same day. This will be Shinsuke's first match on the main roster, and there's no way he's losing it. Dolph has been picked as his opponent as he is one of the hardest workers in the game and will hopefully make Nakamura's first match on Smackdown as good as Sami Zayn helped make his first NXT match a match of the year contender.
Prediction: Shinsuke Nakamura
Sami Zayn v Baron Corbin
I must have lost the build up to this almost entirely. Baron Corbin has been on the ascent over the last year whereas Sami Zayn has been middling. I think there will come a point when Sami Zayn gets a big victory or two to catapult him into the main event. I don't think this is that point.
Prediction: Baron Cobin
Luke Harper v Eric Rowan
Luke Harper will win and needs to move on from the Wyatt family feud and truly establish himself as a singles competitor.
Prediction: Luke Harper
Smackdown Tag Team Championship:
The Usos (c) v Breezango
I really want Breezango to win this. Both of these guys have been underused since their debuts. Prince Pretty was so over in NXT despite never winning a championship and got squashed when he was called up to the main roster. Fandango was so over, the fans love singing his music along. These guys have got a great fun gimmick. The only question is whether they will be serious enough to legitimately threaten the Usos who are deadly serious at the moment. The obvious choice for the Usos opponents was American Alpha but Breezango took the opportunity offered to them to step up. The Usos are just smashing through the tag team division at the moment. I have to go with my brain and not my heart and say that the Usos will retain here. The money match is surely The New Day v The Usos. Breezango are therefore probably just stop gap opponents.
Prediction: The Usos
United States Championship:
Kevin Owens (c) v AJ Styles
At Survivor Series last year, these guys were the champions of their respective brands leading their team into the Raw v Smackdown headline match. We weren't given a full on confrontation between the two of them. Now they've been relegated to fighting for this lesser title but we get to see that confrontation. Both these guys have been excellent, but Kevin Owens I think is slightly better and as a prize fighter needs the legitimacy of a prize to be a truly great heel right now, especially after his loss in seconds to Goldberg. This should be an excellent match, though with Styles coming close.
Prediction: Kevin Owens
WWE Championship Match:
Randy Orton (c) v Jinder Mahal
So, Jinder's ascent has been attributed to the fact that WWE are attempting to expand into India. He's got himself some backup in the form of the former Bollywood Boys and is getting pushed hard. Putting the belt on him is only something that would happen on Smackdown. Orton has not needed a title in ages to be a legitimate threat in such a long time it's ridiculous. Putting the belt on Mahal with some assistance from the Bollywood Boys is exactly what I think they would do in this situation. It might not be pretty, the fans might not like it but in the land of opportunity, these things happen.
Prediction: Jinder Mahal
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