WWE: What to Expect from this Week’s Smackdown: January 23, 2018
Jan 23, 2018 at 2:35 PM
Smackdown Live has been dealing with a lack of big names on their roster for a long time. Just after the 25th anniversary of WWE Raw, the officials will have a bigger cheap on their shoulder to create the final hype up for this Sunday’s Royal Rumble event. It is the last televised show before the first dual-brand PPV of 2018.
Following one week’s hiatus, we expect to see the two challengers for the WWE Championship to steer things up in a storyline that is becoming stale. Also, the involvements of the authorities in this picture is a must. The Capital One Arena will host this week’s episode in Washington D.C.
On last week’s show, there was no new happening on the WWE title picture with Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn both remaining absent. This week, they will be back to deliver one final statement to the champion, AJ Styles who will be forced to compete in a handicapped match.
Also, there are some concerns about Kevin Owens’ health, as he was out of all the recent house shows and last week’s Smackdown Live. Hopefully, we will receive a positive update on him, and there will be no change in the title match set for the Royal Rumble event.
Will TOMORROW NIGHT be the final #SDLive of a PHENOMENAL @WWE Championship reign? Tune in at 8/7c on @USA_Network! pic.twitter.com/QVQB53P4DC
— WWE (@WWE) January 23, 2018
Most of the last week’s episode was revolved around the United States championship, as we have crowned a new title-holder, all of a sudden. Bobby Roode received his first singles championship after coming to the main roster. He is quite determined to make the title prestigious.
Hence, it is expected that he will receive a new contender for his title. Another twist might be stored which might occur in the form of Dolph Ziggler’s return. This man never lost the title and bound to come back, at one point. Tonight Roode is slated to team up with The New Day to take on the team of Rusev Day and Jinder Mahal.
On the Smackdown tag team championship picture, Shelton Benjamin and Chad Gable are rolling after their heel turn. With the Usos suffering backstage heat from Jey Uso’s arrest, the momentum for the challengers should continue. In a tag division matchup, Rusev-Aiden English will go against Breezango.
There’s no news on the women’s championship picture since the Royal Rumble match has overshadowed it. Hence, The Riott Squad will continue to pick up the momentums on their side heading into the battle royal. Liv Morgan from the faction is scheduled to face Naomi in a singles contest.