10 Things WWE SmackDown Must Do Ahead Of WrestleMania 33
Match-making, injury precautions, and the small matter of a murky WWE title scene...
With roughly five weeks to go until WrestleMania 33, the SmackDown side of the pay-per-view’s card is gradually starting to take shape.
American Alpha look set to defend their SmackDown Tag Team Championships against the rejuvenated Usos, while Dean Ambrose and Baron Corbin also appear be on a collision course after clashing in recent weeks. Then, of course, there’s the main event picture. Bray Wyatt will defend his WWE Championship against either Luke Harper or AJ Styles, or possible even Randy Orton—that is, if the winner of the Royal Rumble comes to his senses and realises that he should probably cash-in on his title shot.
Still, none of those matches have been confirmed yet, meaning there’s plenty of work still to be done on SmackDown ahead of the ‘Mania show.
From feuds that require some finishing touches to turn them into full-blown rivalries, to title challengers—and in some cases, champions—that need to be built up ahead of show time, let’s take a look at ten things that the SmackDown brand really needs to do ahead of WrestleMania 33.
10. Clarify The Number One Contender Situation
Next week, SmackDown will be staging a number one contender’s match to determine who’ll go on to challenge Bray Wyatt for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania.
Except, it isn't quite as straightforward as that.
Waiting in the wings is Randy Orton, winner of the 2017 Royal Rumble. And though he’s insisted he won’t cash-in on his title shot as long as Wyatt is the Champion, his sly glances at Wyatt’s title in the closing moments of SmackDown last week suggest he may yet have a change of heart.
If he does change his mind—which is entirely likely at the point—does he then jump to the front of the queue? Does he have to wait until Luke Harper or AJ Styles have had their shot at Wyatt’s gold? Or do they simply throw every contender into the mix and have a Triple Threat for the title at ‘Mania?
The last option would perhaps be the best one, but however it ends up playing out, the situation could do with some clarification before it gets any messier.