WWE SmackDown Predictions: Sasha Banks Will Definitely Turn Heel

4.) Bayley & Billie Kay vs. Riott Squad [Tag Match]

On the past two episodes of WWE SmackDown, Bayley has defeated both Ruby Riott and Liv Morgan in singles action. In both matches, Billie Kay helped Bayley pick up the victories and showed her resume to Bayley after each match for recruitment purposes. Since Riott Squad are already annoyed with Kay’s distractions and don’t want her to join The Riott Squad, an alliance between Bayley and Billie Kay would be fitting and could elicit a tag team match for this episode.

However, Kay’s bad luck will persist on the blue brand because Riott Squad will win this match by pinning Kay as revenge for all the times she cost them their matches. Kay’s alliance with Bayley will disintegrate into the abyss because Bayley’s heel persona, egotistical gimmick, and success as the longest reigning SmackDown Women’s Champion does not allow her to be anything but a credible singles competitor with consistent momentum on a weekly basis.

Bayley will move on from Kay, and Kay will have to continue searching for a new tag team partner. Coincidentally, her former ‘iconic’ tag partner, Peyton Royce, is now without a tag team partner as well. The WWE would do the women’s tag division a huge favor if it booked an IIconics reunion in some way, shape, or form. However, Kay and Royce are on separate brands, so that may be wishful thinking unless the Wild Card Rule has anything to say about it.

Prediction: Riott Squad

3.) Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Apollo Crews [IC Title Number One Contender’s Match]

On last week’s episode of WWE SmackDown, Big E defended his Intercontinental Championship in an open challenge against Shinsuke Nakamura. Apollo Crews interrupted the match to force a disqualification because he is obsessed with being the number one contender for the Intercontinental Title and wants to defeat Big E for that title. Henceforth, it would make sense for Nakamura and Crews to battle for that number one contender’s spot on this week’s episode.

While it would make sense for Nakamura to get revenge on Crews for screwing up his opportunity at his second Intercontinental Title, the bigger storyline is between Crews and Big E. Nakamura should instead be in the Universal Title Number One Contender’s Elimination Chamber and probably got robbed due to his contract situation. On the other hand, Crews will continue to be a thorn in E’s side until E decisively retains the title against him in one-on-one competition without controversy or interferences.

Since their feud began, Big E and Crews have not fought on PPV, so they can end it at Elimination Chamber with a Big E retention. Big E and Crews have built up a great story in the past few months and can tease some key false finishes (e.g. the controversial double pinfall) in their match until Big E decisively retains the title. The decisiveness of his retention will leave Crews with no more excuses and E can move on to new challengers on the road to Mania.

Prediction: Apollo Crews