5 Early Predictions for the WWE SmackDown After WrestleMania 33

Evan Gomes

What might go down on the first SmackDown Live after WrestleMania 33?

The SmackDown Live after WrestleMania 33 is going to be a big deal. This is the first time it will be the case in practically the show’s entire history. During the original brand split era, it wasn’t as big of a thing for debuts and dramatic turns in what is the “season premiere” of WWE. Now with it being the first post-WrestleMania show of the new brand split era, the blue brand has it’s first real infusion of drama.

What will happen the night after the night after WrestleMania? It’s going to be extremely interesting, especially once we see how the WrestleMania card plays out for SmackDown Live.

The first show after WrestleMania usually provides big shocks, exciting debuts, and really dictates the direction of the show for the next while afterward. Last year’s show provided us with the main roster call-up of Apollo Crews, Enzo & Big Cass, had AJ Styles named the number one contender to the WWE World Heavyweight Championship, and had Cesaro return to be a part of the No. 1 contenders match. That feels like ages ago, but it did set the tone for how the WWE would look for the next few months.

What surprises can we expect from SmackDown Live? Here are five predictions for the first SmackDown Live after WrestleMania 33.

Credit: WWE.com

5. Erick Rowan Returns, Aligns with Luke Harper

Let’s ease into the predictions.

The destruction of the Wyatt Family has been handled significantly better the second time around. Braun Strowman disappeared to Raw during the draft to cut his hair and sadly introduce the world to James Ellsworth. Erick Rowan and Bray Wyatt went to SmackDown Live, with Rowan acting as the lackey to the charismatic Wyatt. He became injured, Luke Harper filled in. Randy Orton listened to the voices in his head and joined the group.

Now, Orton has betrayed Wyatt and is coming for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania. It seemed we were going to see a triple threat at one point, with Luke Harper set to join the fray against the man he never trusted and the man who abandoned him for a new recruit.

Instead, we will be getting a singles match for the title, leaving Harper with nothing of substance leading into the show of shows. He has been putting in some of the best work of his life and needs a direction.

Why not pair him up with old running mate Erick Rowan as legitimately tough babyfaces in a struggling tag team division?

Rowan seems to be on Harper’s side with things, as I don’t believe he would be so keen to side with Wyatt after having the compound burnt to the ground by that snake Randall Keith Orton. Have him pair up with Harper and tear into some of the tag teams SmackDown Live has to offer. The tag division is one of the weakest aspects of the Tuesday night show.

Having these two combine forces once again gives the division more depth, and the fact that the duo didn’t get to hold tag team gold during their initial run is a travesty. If you haven’t seen the tag matches between Harper & Rowan and the Usos from their feud in 2014, go check those out.

WWE.com

4. Baron Corbin Becomes No. 1 Contender

This is potentially the most out there of all the predictions. Baron Corbin seems to be lined up for a match with Dean Ambrose at WrestleMania for the Intercontinental Championship. Given time and a stipulation, these two could have the hardcore brawl that many expected from Ambrose and Brock Lesnar at last year’s pay-per-view.

While there is the very real possibility that Corbin will walk away holding his first singles championship in WWE, he could end up the newest No. 1 contender for the top title instead.

Bray Wyatt should be portrayed as the face in his feud with Randy Orton, even though WWE sometimes gets the face/heel dynamics incorrect in their matchups. If Wyatt comes out of WrestleMania having defeated Orton, he’ll need a new heel to topple.

Enter Corbin. Having Corbin win a No. 1 contenders match-up similar to the RAW after WrestleMania last year would be a quick way to cement his bump up to main event status. Even if he is unsuccessful in capturing the WWE Championship, he can prove he hangs with the best of them. It also gives Wyatt a solid first defense and feud as a babyface champion, before moving on to a new heel. Maybe a Miz or AJ Styles would be next up for the Eater of Worlds.

WWE.com

3. A Raw Superstar Shows Up

WWE has been teasing a shakeup in the rosters for some time now. Between Daniel Bryan’s constant pestering of Cesaro on Twitter and the teased trade of Sami Zayn for 1000 Eva Maries, there has been a lot of anticipating when the first real roster move will be made. I’m not counting Jack Swagger moving brands, because that resulted in a grand total of nothing.

What better time for the first major roster move than the first SmackDown Live after WrestleMania There are two superstars from the Raw side who could benefit from a shift from Mondays to Tuesdays.

The first is Rusev. Ever since he dropped the United States Championship to Roman Reigns, he has been misused on Raw. Rusev has the ability to be a major player. The man rode a tank to WrestleMania just two years ago. He and Lana have proven the ability to do comedy that doesn’t come across as heavy handed as typical WWE comedy. Rusev is also a certified tough competitor, and can bring more depth to the mid-card or upper mid-card of SmackDown.

The other is Cesaro, who Bryan has wanted on SmackDown Live since immediately after the draft. The tag team with Sheamus is an entertaining use of the two men, but Cesaro could see SmackDown Live as the land of opportunity. With the mid-card really being a weak spot on Tuesdays, Cesaro could come be a workhorse for Daniel Bryan’s show.

Source: WWE.com

2. The Revival Debut

While the midcard is a weak area for SmackDown Live, it isn’t the worst part. That instead would be the tag division, that has struggled to legitimize any teams besides American Alpha and the Usos. It could even be argued that American Alpha is not nearly as popular as they should be at this point, and even the new coat of paint on the Usos can only go so far.

The division needs some new blood, and there is no better team to come in and shake things up than the Revival. The Top Guys bring legitimacy to the tag division, and despite not being established on the main roster would be able to immediately make tag team wrestling exciting on SmackDown Live.

Dash Wilder & Scott Dawson bring old-school heel tactics, tremendous presence, and great in-ring skills to the division. Showcasing their talents against American Alpha would be the best thing for the new SmackDown tag team champs. They haven’t been able to have the great matches they had on NXT, so pairing Chad Gable and Jason Jordan with their greatest rivals would be a massive success.

The Revival bring new competition for some of the other tag teams as well. They could compete against Heath Slater and Rhyno, taking issue with their silly antics. Plus who doesn’t want to see a battle between the rather plain Revival and the over-the-top fashion police, Breezango?

WWE.com

1. Shinsuke Nakamura Debuts

The star that SmackDown Live needs to confirm itself as a major brand.

The two-time NXT Champion has done all he can in WWE’s developmental brand. He’s been the major touring attraction for NXT for a year. His feuds and battles with Sami Zayn, Finn Balor, Samoa Joe and Bobby Roode have been the backbone for NXT programming. There is little more left for him to accomplish.