4 Predictions for WWE SmackDown Live: May 30, 2017

The Viper Attacks Mahal

Quite surprisingly, Jinder Mahal’s WWE Championship celebration went off without a hitch last week. Normally, celebratory events on WWE programming end with a sneak attack or some type of altercation. On that night, WWE went all-in with Mahal, and it paid off in dividends. The current WWE Champion has made the most out of his opportunity, making his character change and performance seem legitimate. With the Singh Brothers by his side, Mahal is more dangerous than ever before.

Before the new champion is able to get comfortable in his new role, he must first prepare for a familiar opponent. Still fuming over his loss at Backlash, Randy Orton is keen to regain his title at the next opportunity. Money in the Bank has been announced as the stage for their upcoming contest, but that doesn’t mean they won’t get physical until then.

At some point during the show, the Viper is going to attack Mahal and lay waste to the champion. Orton has the chance to really light a fire under himself and insert a strong performance into the current storyline. Fans are still having difficulty buying into Mahal as a credible champion, and so it’s time for him to participate in a program that will establish this. His rivalry with Orton has the potential to impress, with the level of success dependent on the chemistry these two can create.

When the dust settles from tonight’s episode of SmackDown Live, WWE fans should be primarily talking about two different things. First, they should be excited about the upcoming MiTB ladder match. Second, fans need to be invested in the Mahal versus Orton feud, and there’s no better way to do so than to remind them just how dangerous the Viper can be.