WWE SmackDown returns tonight (Feb. 20) from the Gila River Arena in Glendale, Arizona. It is the last episode prior to Super ShowDown in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia next Thursday.
The Headliner
The Bella Twins return tonight, possibly to announce a rumored Hall of Fame induction for them in Tampa this year. But the appearance of a classic female tag team is a reminder that the Women’s tag team championships have been absent from the blue brand for a long time.
If you don’t remember, and it’s understandable if that’s the case, there are Women’s tag team championships, and they’re held by the Kabuki Warriors (Asuka & Kairi Sane) who are Raw talents. But those belts allow them to cross on to other brands to defend them. They have not done that. They also haven’t defended them in general since TLC.
It’s time to change that.
There are teams on SmackDown who could challenge for the belts, such as Fire & Desire and Alexa Bliss & Nikki Cross. And there are enough women to form a team that isn’t established enough.
Speaking of Bliss & Cross, they’ll host the Bella Twins on a Moment of Bliss tonight.
Hopefully, the presence of the sisters presence will get people behind the scenes thinking about those tag titles again. They’re not going to take any bumps or anything tonight - a couple baby bumps will prevent that. But they can cut a promo putting over women’s tag team wrestling give that was their bread and butter.
They had been a team in WWE since debuting back in 2007, and despite some singles work and even a feud with each other, they’ll always be remembered as a pair. In fact, it’s a dang shame their careers were pretty much over when those titles were introduced because they deserved a run with them.
I wouldn’t get your hopes up for seeing the white & gold straps on Friday nights. But tonight is a good night as any to remind us that they exist.
The Title Scene:
We’re six days away from SuperShow Down where Bill Goldberg will challenge the Fiend Bray Wyatt for the Universal championship. This is happening because Bill said it would. Maybe tonight, they’ll add a little more to it than that.
Bayley will be watching closely as Carmella and Naomi battle to decide who will face the champ in Saudi Arabia for her SmackDown Women’s championship. It really feels like Naomi is the longer term plan, so Carm may get one more shot at the strap.
The #1 contenders for the SmackDown tag team titles lost last week to Daniel Bryan and Roman Reigns, who aren’t really a tag team. Because of that, Miz and Morrison need to come out on top tonight in the 8-man tag when they team with Roode & Ziggler to face the Usos and the champs New Day.
Still looks like Intercontinental Champion Braun Strowman is still feuding with Sami Zayn and crew. Perhaps former champ Shinsuke Nakamura will get a rematch in Saudi Arabia.
Other things to keep an eye on:
- Otis was heartbroken last week when he arrived to his date with Mandy Rose 30 minutes late to see her dining with Dolph Ziggler. Speculation is it was Dolph and not Mandy who sent the text to Otis telling him she’d be late to the date. But that raises questions of its own. Did Otis not have Mandy’s number in his phone? Or did Dolph somehow have access to Mandy’s phone?
- What’s next for Daniel Bryan after picking a win alongside THE BIG DOG (channeling my inner Cole there) against Miz and Morrison last week?
- Sheamus went over two good wrestlers in a handicap last week because tall guys go over short guys. This story kinda sucks.
What will you be looking for when SmackDown lands in Scottsdale tonight at 8 PM ET on Fox?