A new no.1 contender for the WWE Championship will be determined on this week’s episode of SmackDown Live. The WWE championship match between Randy Orton and Bray Wyatt at “WWE Payback” might still be two weeks from now, but SD commissioner Shane McMahon and GM Daniel Bryan cannot wait long enough to find the next worthy opponent for the eventual WWE champion.
Details of WWE Programming
What: Wwe Smackdown Live
When: April 18, 2017
Where: KFC Yum Center in Louisville, Kentucky
TV and Live Stream Info: USA at 7/8 p.m CT, WWE Network
Six-Pack No.1 Contender’s Match
During “Monday Night RAW,” WWE released a promotional video showing the six superstars who will compete in the no.1 contender’s match.
Former Wyatt Family members Luke Harper, Erick Rowan, Sami Zayn, Dolph Ziggler, Jinder Mahal and Mojo Rawley appear to be the competitors in the main event of SD Live on Tuesday.
WWE fans on Twitter immediately noticed the lack of star-power in the scheduled no.1 contender’s match, most of them petitioning for AJ Style’s inclusion in the title picture. Unfortunately, Styles is bound for a feud with United States champion Kevin Owens. Owens, who is expected to win over Jericho at “Payback,” is set for a long and intense storyline with the former WWE champion in an attempt to bring back prestige to the United States championship.
One superstar who could come out of nowhere and snatch the right to become the no.1 contender from the six participants is the Lone Wolf Baron Corbin.
Wrestling Observer reported that Corbin will likely get the nod as Orton’s next foe once he is done with Wyatt.
WWE has been pushing the former NXT superstar to main event status ever since he won the Andre the Giant Battle Royale at Wrestlemania 32. Corbin was once involved in a triple-threat title match with Ziggler and Styles last December, but he never had an extensive program involving the WWE title.
Women’s Title Picture
It’s still unknown how WWE will sort out the logjam of talents that befell “SmackDown” women’s division following last week’s Superstar Shakeup. Naomi is the current title holder in the division, but the order of power drastically changed with the arrival of four-time RAW women’s champion Charlotte Flair.
Of course, the Lass Kicker Becky Lynch, the Queen of Hearts Natalya, Carmela, and another new acquisition Tamina Snuka could spice up the competition for the crown. Then there’s the wildcard Lana, who has a great character but still pretty much raw in-ring worker. On Tuesday, a new no.1 contender for Naomi’s belt will be named, and expect Charlotte to shoot for the title right away.
