WWE SmackDown Preview & Predictions – New Debuts? Styles, Orton

With the “Raw after Mania” typically being a big show where a lot happens, WWE seems like they are going to try to also make the SmackDown after WrestleMania “a thing.”

Here’s what I can gather from WWE’s preview for SmackDown Live tonight…

– They are teasing the debuts of “new talent.” Shinsuke Nakamura is definitely the first possible name that comes to mind. Tye Dillinger is also rumored to be called up soon, as is Andrade “Cien” Almas and possibly some others.

– Bray Wyatt and Randy Orton are probably going to continue their feud.

– Dean Ambrose and Baron Corbin are also probably going to continue their feud.

– They’re hinting at a new challenger for Naomi, so we’ll see if they take Alexa Bliss out of the title scene or have them feud and exchange titles again.

– They are hinting that John Cena and Nikki Bella could take time off (as has been expected). “What is next for the two love birds? Will they take some take to celebrate their engagement, or will they return to SmackDown LIVE tonight?”

– It seems like there will be another Styles / Shane segment tonight. They ask, “Could Styles find himself fired after all?” We could see something happen that leads to Styles being traded to Raw at next week’s “Superstar Shakeup.”

What's next for #WWEChampion @RandyOrton and @WWEBrayWyatt? Find out TOMORROW NIGHT on #SDLive, LIVE on @USA_Network! #RAW pic.twitter.com/FNtgt5WHtG

— WWE (@WWE) April 4, 2017

Here’s the full preview:

A phenomenal ascent

From not even being slated to compete, to being back on the WrestleMania card, to claiming victory in a show-stealing match against SmackDown LIVE Commissioner Shane McMahon, AJ Styles certainly experienced his fair share of ups and downs in the weeks leading up to The Ultimate Thrill Ride and at the Show of Shows itself.

The Phenomenal One walked out the winner in his raucous WrestleMania clash with Shane-O-Mac in a bout that saw the involvement of trash cans, the Commissioner of the blue brand attempting an unbelievable elbow drop onto the announcer’s desk and the self-proclaimed “Face that Runs the Place” delivering a scintillating Phenomenal Forearm for the victory.

What will be the fallout of this Ultimate Thrill Ride barnburner between Styles and Shane-O-Mac? Will a new level of respect be forged between the two Superstars? Could matters intensify between the two? Or, could Styles find himself fired after all?

The Viper reigns yet again

Following a several-month conflict that featured betrayals, compounds being burnt and the use of weapons of the apocalypse, Bray Wyatt and Randy Orton’s WWE Championship Match from WrestleMania 33 certainly fit the same mystical mold.

But now that The Viper has reclaimed the WWE Championship on The Grandest Stage of Them All, what is next between these two former “brothers”? Will The New Face of Fear come looking to reclaim what was lost? Or, will a new challenger step into the spotlight?

The proposal seen ‘round the world

The time is now … for wedding planning, that is.

John Cena & Nikki Bella were victorious in their ever-personal matchup against The Miz & Maryse at WrestleMania 33, but that was only the first part of the story, or fairytale, as it may be. The Cenation Leader then shocked both Fearless Nikki and the WWE Universe with perhaps the most epic marriage proposal of all time.

What is next for the two love birds? Will they take some take to celebrate their engagement, or will they return to SmackDown LIVE tonight?

Team Blue is feeling the GLOW yet again

Naomi got her WrestleMania moment and then some at The Ultimate Thrill Ride this past Sunday when she took the WWE Universe’s breath away with her awe-inspiring entrance, then put them in a state of euphoric hyperventilation when she re-captured the SmackDown Women’s Championship by making her primary rival Alexa Bliss submit.

How will Naomi kick off her second reign atop the Team Blue Women’s division? And who will be the first to step up and try to turn to dim the lights on the GLOW?

More to come between The Lunatic Fringe and The Lone Wolf?

Battling through the bedlam that is Baron Corbin, Dean Ambrose retained his Intercontinental Championship to conclude the WrestleMania Kickoff this past Sunday.

Having evened the score after Corbin’s savage attacks leading up to The Ultimate Thrill Ride, will The Lunatic Fringe be able to move on? Or, will The Lone Wolf regroup and re-attack, leading to even more uncanny chaos between the two?

Will any new talent emerge on Team Blue?

Following some surprising arrivals on Raw (The Revival! Mr. McMahon!!), who can we expect to see show up on SmackDown LIVE?

The Raw after WrestleMania has grown to mythical proportions with the WWE Universe, but now, in a post-Brand Split world, what surprises will Team Blue have in store just two days after The Ultimate Thrill Ride?