5 things that should’ve happened on Smackdown Live this week
After the electric ending to SmackDown Live last week WWE had the chance to continue that trend by producing an episode of SmackDown Live that should’ve given the upcoming Fastlane more hype, more anticipation and more intrigue.
However, WWE once again laid the foundation for another disappointing episode for SmackDown Live that got more things wrong than it got right, and that is never a good thing. As the go home episode of a brand is meant to build excitement for a PPV, and in this case, Fastlane is essentially is the most important show on the blue brand's calendar of the year.
As Fastlane on Sunday determines which superstars will walk out champion, who will have the most momentum heading into WrestleMania and how is the brand going to shape their potion of the WrestleMania card. SmackDown Live could’ve garnered considerable heat for Fastlane but they didn’t, and that is due to the blue brand's inability to utilise its greatest assets.
#1 Randy Orton teases a heel turn
Ever since the 2018 Fastlane match card was announced, many wrestling aficionados were convinced that this might be the least exciting card in the PPV’s history. There were many repeated SmackDown Live encounters such as Charlotte Flair vs Ruby Riott, The Usos vs The New Day and the entire WWE Championship scene. Fans have seen those bouts before, except for one, the United States Title match between Bobby Roode and Randy Orton.
Even though Randy Orton vs Bobby Roode's rivalry started in the worst possible way which was courtesy of Jinder Mahal and the forgotten SmackDown Top Ten list. WWE is still committed to building the programme between Roode and Orton in an incorrect manner, as they are portraying Orton as the sympathetic babyface and Roode as the superstar that is eventually going to turn heel. Bobby Roode as a heel is money and that impending turn will rejuvenate his career as it has done down in the Full Sail Arena.
However, when speaking about a superstar in need of career rejuvenation and is a natural at playing a heel, there is no other superstar on the roster that is a better heel than Randy Orton in his prime.
WWE finally portraying Orton as a heel after so many frustrating years can give him the extra motivation he needs to make this programme work and he can build up Roode as a babyface with ease. WWE needs to clearly outline who is the face and is the heel in this narrative and they should’ve taken the first step towards that on this week’s episode of SmackDown Live.