Major rivalry, power couple with Charlotte Flair? - 5 directions for Andrade after losing major title match on WWE SmackDown
LA Knight retained his United States Championship against Andrade in the opening match of tonight's edition of WWE SmackDown. The latter earned the title shot by defeating Carmelo Hayes last week on the blue brand in a singles match.
The Megastar captured the United States Title by defeating Logan Paul at SummerSlam last month in Cleveland, Ohio. Knight picked up the victory tonight on SmackDown in a hard-fought match and retained the belt.
Below are five directions for Andrade after failing to capture the United States Championship tonight on SmackDown.
#5. Andrade could form a new WWE power couple with absent SmackDown star Charlotte Flair
Andrade is married to Charlotte Flair in real life, and they could bring their relationship to WWE TV when she returns to action. She suffered a major injury last December and has not competed in a match in 2024.
Flair could return to SmackDown in the months ahead and form a partnership with her husband on SmackDown. The two stars could help each other succeed in the blue brand and declare they are the company's most powerful couple.
#4. He could ask to defend the WWE Speed Championship on SmackDown
SmackDown star Andrade is also the reigning WWE Speed Champion. WWE Speed airs exclusively on the X social media platform, and the veteran has held the title for 98 days.
In the weeks ahead, the former NXT Champion could also approach SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis and request to be allowed to defend the title on Friday nights. This could lead to more fans checking out the 34-year-old's title reign on X moving forward.
#3. Andrade could demand a rematch against The Megastar
LA Knight got the better of Andrade tonight on WWE SmackDown to retain the United States Championship. However, it was a back-and-forth match, and the former AEW star almost won. After the match, Knight extended his hand for a fist bump, but Andrade shook his hand instead.
The former United States Champion showcased that he has what it takes to defeat the 41-year-old but came out on the losing end tonight on SmackDown. He may demand another shot against LA Knight in the weeks ahead and could dethrone the United States Champion at a future PLE.
#2. He could extend his rivalry with Carmelo Hayes on SmackDown
Carmelo Hayes and Andrade have competed against each other several times in recent weeks on SmackDown. The veteran defeated SmackDown's first-round Draft pick last week in a singles match and currently leads the series 3-2.
Hayes has made it known that he does not consider their rivalry over and recently stated that they should extend their series to seven matches. Andrade could accept the challenge and reignite his rivalry with Carmelo Hayes in the weeks ahead on SmackDown.
The two stars had a backstage confrontation following the United States Championship match. They brawled backstage until several referees broke up the altercation.
#1. The veteran could form a tag team on SmackDown
Andrade is a former United States Champion, but he failed to capture the title for the second time in his match against the LA Knight tonight on SmackDown. The veteran captured the title in 2019 and held it for a few months before leaving the company in March 2021. During a two-year stint with All Elite Wrestling, he never won gold during his tenure.
The SmackDown star could attempt to team up with another top name to go after The Bloodline's WWE Tag Team Championships in the months ahead. The Bloodline's Tama Tonga and Tonga Loa are the reigning champions.