WWE SmackDown is set to take place on May 1, 2020 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT live on FOX with no audience in attendance. The following will preview and predict the major matches and segments that will occur on this episode, where the comeback of Jeff Hardy will be featured.
On this week’s episode of WWE SmackDown, there are four officially scheduled matches: (1) Daniel Bryan vs. King Corbin, (2) Mandy Rose vs. Carmella in a MITB Qualifying Match, and (3) Otis vs. Dolph Ziggler in a MITB Qualifying Match, and (4) The New Day vs. Forgotten Sons.
WWE Money In The Bank 2020 is approaching and there are SmackDown matches that have already been announced for the event: (1) Braun Strowman (c) vs. Bray Wyatt for the Universal Championship, and (2) Bayley (c) vs. Tamina for the SmackDown Women’s Championship.
Based on the rivalries that have been teased on the last two weeks of SmackDown, some other SmackDown matches that could take place at WWE MITB 2020 are: (1) Mandy Rose vs. Sonya Deville, (2) Sheamus vs. Jeff Hardy, (3) King Corbin vs. Elias, and (4) The New Day (c) vs. Forgotten Sons for the SmackDown Tag Team Championships.
With that being said, it’s now time to preview and predict this week’s WWE SmackDown. To start things off, let’s predict the two MITB Qualifying Matches that are very much tied in with the love storyline involving Otis and Mandy Rose as well as Sonya Deville’s recent betrayal.
5.) Otis vs. Dolph Ziggler [MITB Qualifying Match]
Wouldn’t it be an embarrassment if a former MITB winner later lost a MITB qualification match? For Dolph Ziggler, that would certainly be the case if he lost to Otis on this episode of Friday Night SmackDown, especially after losing to Otis at WrestleMania 36.
To protect Dolph Ziggler from said embarrassment, he should win this MITB Qualifying Match, but it does not have to be a clean victory. Since he is a heel, he should defeat Otis nefariously thanks to Sonya Deville’s assistance at ringside.
Prediction: Dolph Ziggler
4.) Mandy Rose vs. Carmella [MITB Qualifying Match]
Again, wouldn’t it be an embarrassment if a former MITB winner later lost a MITB qualification match? For Carmella, that would certainly be the case if she lost to Mandy Rose on this episode of Friday Night SmackDown, especially after losing her Women’s Tag Team Championship match with Dana Brooke against Bliss Cross Applesauce on last week’s SmackDown.
To protect Carmella from said embarrassment, she should win this MITB Qualifying Match, but it does not have to be a clean victory. Unlike Ziggler, she is a babyface but still an opportunist who will gladly capitalize on Sonya Deville’s distraction to Mandy Rose to pick up the victory.
Deville is already salty about giving up her MITB spot to Rose at last year’s MITB, so there’s no doubt she will stop Rose from qualifying this year.
Prediction: Carmella
3.) The New Day vs. Forgotten Sons [Non-Title Match]
The Forgotten Sons should defeat The New Day to earn a championship opportunity at WWE MITB 2020. To avoid making the SmackDown Tag Team Champions look weak, a number one contender’s match would have been more suitable from a booking standpoint.
Nonetheless, WWE logic states that pinning the champion guarantees a championship opportunity, just like Apollo Crews did against Andrade on this week’s past episode of Monday Night Raw. This non-title match is merely a set up for Forgotten Sons to look impressive after getting called up from NXT.
Don’t be surprised if this turns into an eight-man tag involving Lucha House Party and Dirt Sheet simply to protect both New Day and Forgotten Sons from losing a match. If it doesn’t, Forgotten Sons are winning, no matter what.
Prediction: Forgotten Sons
2.) Daniel Bryan vs. King Corbin [Grudge Match]
On last week’s SmackDown, King Corbin defeated Drew Gulak to qualify for the Men’s MITB Ladder Match. Now that Daniel Bryan and King Corbin are the only SmackDown contestants who have qualified thus far, the WWE decided to pit them against each other, especially after the beatdown Corbin, Shinsuke Nakamura, and Cesaro unleashed on Bryan and Gulak.
If anyone has noticed the pattern, Daniel Bryan defeats everyone who defeats Drew Gulak. Henceforth, expect Bryan to redeem himself from that beatdown and pick up the victory over Corbin. Drew Gulak might be too injured to help Bryan fend off ringside distractions, but Elias might be able to with his guitar as he still has unfinished business with Corbin.
Prediction: Daniel Bryan
1.) Jeff Hardy: The Comeback Part 4
The Rise. The Fall. The Redemption. The Comeback. All four parts of Jeff Hardy’s journey has been revealed for the WWE Universe in a cumulative promo package that has been stretched on the last four weeks of Friday Night SmackDown.
With all the hype that has surfaced about Jeff Hardy’s upcoming return, something epic or different must be in store. Based on Sheamus’ recent interactions with Michael Cole every time Cole mentions Jeff Hardy, it is evident that Hardy will be battling Sheamus when he returns but it is not so evident as to what he will be returning as.
Instead of returning as his regular self, Hardy needs to show that he has truly transformed from his old ways and addictions. Just like Bray Wyatt transformed into The Fiend and Liv Morgan transformed into something ‘real,’ Jeff Hardy should return as his alter-ego, Willow.
If anyone watched TNA, Jeff Hardy played the ‘Willow’ character as his alter-ego or doppelgänger of sorts. It should be suspenseful to see if he does bring this gimmick back as it would be a breath of fresh air for SmackDown’s midcard division as well as its main event scene.
Prediction: Jeff Hardy Returns as Willow