What were the biggest questions the superstars of WWE Raw and SmackDown Live left behind this week?
A week full of mostly positivity and logical booking in the WWE unfolded before us. The biggest news from the week is undoubtedly Daniel Bryan’s emphatic return to the ring. The SmackDown Live General Manager announced that he had been cleared by the doctors to return to the ring. The timing of the announcement, so close to WrestleMania 34 creates much intrigue among the fans too. Bryan seems destined to lock horns with Owens and Sami Zayn at this point.
Apart from that, Roman Reigns turning to his inner Steve Austin vibes and Brock Lesnar unleashing his fury added the sparks their feud lacked until now. While Reigns had been killing it on the mic for the past couple of weeks, this was the first time Lesnar made it seem like the match meant something to him as well. Fans seemed invested into the angle and creative did manage to make people feel like cheering for Reigns as well.
Elsewhere, John Cena continued to disrespect one of the most respected names in pro-wrestling and kind of paid the price. The Undertaker’s brother came out to confront Cena and choke-slammed him into the canvas without much explanation. What were the Big Red Machine’s motives here? What is he here for all the sudden?
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5. What is Kane’s role in the Cena – Undertaker program?
The Big Red Machine was last seen feuding with Braun Strowman. This week, Kane decided to come out from whatever medical facility Strowman last put him in and confront John Cena. This happened after a frustrated John Cena called out the Undertaker and even called him a coward. Cena vented his anger on the fact that Taker did not respond to his challenge and proceeded to run down the Phenom with a verbal rampage that was uncharacteristic.
Despite sticking to his babyface attributes, it is evident Cena is the logical heel in this feud. The polished warrior who is calling out a legendary veteran for one final confrontation, to cement his name in myths and legends. However, Kane is not the said veteran that Cena was looking for.
It is true that he is the Dead Man’s brother and insulting Taker the way Cena did invites a few punches. However, is that all there is to Kane here? Or is he the catalyst that will eventually bring the Undertaker out of retirement? The way I see it, Cena might face Kane next week in a match and he might even proceed to try and injure the Big Red Machine, in hopes of getting the Undertaker to come out. Hopefully, this is when the Dead Man finally listens to Cena and the WWE Universe.
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4. Is Rusev a favorite to win the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal?
Seeing as creative does not have any solid plans for the incredibly over, yet underused duo of Rusev and Aiden English, is he being primed to win the annual battle royal? Of course, none of the past winners have seen any kind of benefits shining up on their careers owing to winning the said match. But Rusev might just be able to turn the tide on this one.
He has the charisma and the character work done to a point. The fans are behind him in wins and losses alike. Rusev just needs something big to work with. Seeing as how he is not in line for any titles of major programs at the moment, why not make him the center point of the battle royal. It seems like a plan for this might be in the works as well.
After facing the Royal Rumble winner Shinsuke Nakamura and getting a good bit of offence on him Rusev looks good even in defeat. However, the fact that Nakamura managed to fend of his and English’s attacks on his own hurts his credibility. Even so, Rusev has been presented as a viable threat factor in recent weeks. The Lion of Bulgaria’s big WrestleMania moment might be on the horizon.
Will Rusev Day echo across the arena come WrestleMania 34?
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3. What lies ahead for Bray Wyatt?
‘Bray Wyatt has been DELETED’; said Woken Matt Hardy after defeating the Eater of the Worlds in the Ultimate Deletion and then proceeding to throw him into the Lake of Reincarnation. But is that all there is to it? Wyatt can’t be gone for good. As such, what lies ahead for him? There is only one way for him from here on in. He must go forward.
Forward as in carry on with the Woken Universe. Now that the rest of the Woken Universe was introduced to the WWE, Wyatt can ideally find his place there too. After all, the Lake of Reincarnation isn’t called the same for nothing. This will be the ideal point in time to reboot Wyatt’s character and finally give him his face turn. After all, the crowd does love to cheer for him.
Will Wyatt reemerge from the waters as a changed/WOKEN warrior? Is Sister Abigail gone for good? Moreover, with Brother Nero potentially set to be in the mix as well, will we see the rise of a Woken faction in the WWE? It will be chilling to see Wyatt working alongside the Hardys. If the Ultimate Deletion was any indication, Wyatt’s character meshes well in the Broken Universe. Will creative give this idea the green light or continue to let Wyatt sink?
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2. What will Daniel Bryan’s role be going forward?
Daniel Bryan has been finally cleared by the WWE to return to the ring. Gleeful as it may, Bryan’s return raises more questions and is a matter of much concern as Joe Soriano pointed out earlier in the week. Joe covers much of the concerns a fan would have with regard to seeing Bryan compete in the ring and take bumps. We all can agree it was scary to see him take those bumps from Owens and Zayn.
My question at this point are divided into two sections. The first one is concerning the short-term future of the GM of SmackDown Live. What will his role be at WrestleMania this year? Is creative plotting towards the predictable but convenient Bryan/Shane vs. Owens/Zayn match? After all, the Raw GM is having a match with the COO of the company. Why not let the SmackDown GM have some fun as well? It seems quite possible that we will witness this match come WrestleMania 34.
The second questions concerns Bryan’s long terms future in the WWE. Will the company continue to use him in a restricted in-ring role? Much like Kurt Angle, they could bring him out only on special occasions for matches. Even then, will he continue to be the GM on Tuesday nights going forward? Moreover, will Bryan be happy with the restricted in-ring action he will be allowed or will he decide to take matters into his own hands?
As in, will Bryan decide to step into other venues and the Indies?
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1. What lies ahead for Owens and Zayn?
Before their brutal attack on Daniel Bryan, Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn were fired by the GM for attacking their boss, Shane McMahon. Shane, who is on an indefinite vacation was nowhere to be seen this week as the heels took out their frustration on Bryan and left him at ringside, needing medical attention.
Seeing as the duo have been fired, what lies ahead for them? We all know everything will eventually come down to their potential match against Shane McMahon and Daniel Bryan. As such, I wouldn’t be surprised if Shane decides to return to TV next week and make this match for WrestleMania. Even Bryan could be the one to do that.
If that match takes place at Mania, there is no doubt that the heels would be on the losing end. After all, there is no logical reason to believe that Daniel Bryan’s emphatic return to the ring (potentially at the Show of Shows) ends up with him losing. What then? After losing cleanly to the authority figures in charge of them, will they continue to be a part of SmackDown Live? Logically, they might make a move to Monday nights, as hinted during Survivor Series.
Next: WWE Raw: Breaking Down The Ultimate Deletion
Unless creative has a twist for us in this potential match, there will be no more need for Owens and Zayn to remain on Tuesday nights. I won’t be surprised if there is a stipulation that they will be gone forever if they lost to Bryan and Shane. It will be nice to see these two march into the flagship show on the night after WrestleMania 34 and begin a new chapter there.