Tonight’s Smackdown Live takes us further down the road to Backlash, the first post-Wrestlemania SDLive PPV. We also expect there to be some build for Payback, the Raw PPV happening this Sunday. But probably the biggest event for tonight will be the first title defense for Naomi, as she takes on Charlotte.
Smackdown Women’s Championship Match
Charlotte has already made a big splash on Smackdown Live by winning the right to challenge Naomi for her title. That match happens tonight and is being pushed as the main event. Naomi came back from injury to re-capture her Smackdown Women’s Title at WrestleMania but is facing her toughest challenge to date by the Queen herself. Charlotte and Naomi are the two best pure athletes in the entirety of WWE’s women’s division. While Charlotte burst onto the scene and instantly became a star, Naomi has worked her way up from dancing valet to Champion over the last few years. It is hard to think of anyone who has worked harder to get where they are from where they were than Naomi. Even the most skeptical fan has been impressed by her ascension. But Charlotte is different than anyone she’s wrestled. No woman has had more high profile matches and impressed more than the daughter of the Nature Boy. Tonight’s match will be a good chance for Naomi to prove that she belongs at the top of the division.
Randy’s In The House (Of Horrors)
After another cryptic threat followed by destroying Dean Ambrose, The Miz, and Chris Jericho, Bray Wyatt made another big statement on Raw. How will the Viper respond? Will Bray make another appearance out of thin air?
Who Will Defend America’s Honor?
Kevin Steen will continue his “Face of America Open Challenge.” Steen’s new persona of yelling at the crowd in French has turned him into a real personne moyenne. AJ Styles waits in the wings for his Title shot at Backlash. I’m glad that after nearly a year, they’re turning the Phenomenal One back into a “good guy.” He’s way too popular with the fans to be a heel.
Don’t Hinder Jinder!
Yea, you didn’t hallucinate, Jinder Mahal is the number one contender for the WWE Title. He will be facing Randy Orton at Backlash on May 21st. Helping him on his way to victory where the Bollywood Boys, now known as the Singh Brothers. It will be interesting to see how this Indian stable plays both to an American audience and to WWE’s growing presence in India.
And All The Rest!
- Nakamura will start off the show with his first Smackdown Live interview
- A “Beat the Clock” Challenge to determine the Tag Team no.1 contenders
- AJ Styles vs Baron Corbin II
- Randy Orton vs Erick Rowan in a no DQ Match
What else are you expecting to see tonight? Let us know in the comments