Nick Aldis to reveal 44-year-old has retired; top star fired on Triple H's order? 5 Things The WWE SmackDown GM can announce on tonight's show
SmackDown is shaping up to be a noteworthy show as WWE heads closer to Survivor Series: WarGames. Two title matches have already been announced for the upcoming episode.
Motor City Machine Guns will defend the WWE Tag Team Championship against The Street Profits. The Irresistible Force Nia Jax will also put her title up for grabs against Naomi.
However, there is much more in store. SmackDown General Manager, Nick Aldis, would have to publicly address the fallout from last week's drama revolving around Randy Orton and Kevin Owens. The Bloodline saga will also pick up pace.
On that note, let's look at five things Nick Aldis could announce on SmackDown tonight.
#5. Nick Aldis could fire Kevin Owens on Triple H's orders
The Randy Orton-Kevin Owens saga took a dangerous turn as KO delivered a neck-jarring Piledriver to Orton, sending the 14-time World Champion out of the arena in an ambulance.
The Piledriver is a banned move because of the damage it inflicts on the head and neck region of the recipient. To sell the move and the angle, WWE announced that Orton had been diagnosed with cervical cord neurapraxia. Hence, strict action could be taken against KO.
Triple H previously opposed a match between Orton and Owens due to the volatile and aggressive nature of both men. Unfortunately, Hunter's fears turned out to be true as his long-time friend, Orton, suffered a severe injury at The Prizefighter's hands.
Owens is a threat to the entire locker room and has crossed all boundaries. Triple H could order Nick Aldis to terminate KO's contract, leading to the SmackDown General Manager firing the former Universal Champion on live TV.
#4. The SmackDown General Manager could announce Randy Orton's in-ring retirement
Since Randy Orton returned from major back surgery last November, WWE has acknowledged and publicized the fragility and vulnerability of his body, which explains Triple H's motivations to keep Orton away from Kevin Owens.
Hence, it was no surprise when the commentators, referees, and even Cody Rhodes looked extremely concerned when the 44-year-old star took a dangerous bump last week. WWE could further this angle by announcing a storyline retirement for The Viper.
The retirement would give Nick Aldis more reason to fire KO. The firing and retirement announcement could take place in the same segment to cut costs.
#3. Nick Aldis could invite Adam Pearce to SmackDown
A mini-rivalry has begun between Nick Aldis and Adam Pearce, the General Managers of SmackDown and RAW, respectively. Pearce took issue with The Bloodline 2.0 invading the red brand, and Randy Orton also nailed him with an RKO.
Furthermore, the two authority figures have also exchanged words on social media. One option could see them settle things in the ring, but that would be unlikely. Alternatively, Aldis could take a more diplomatic approach.
Aldis could invite the RAW General Manager to the blue brand for a one-on-one discussion, hoping to sort matters out and bury the hatchet.
#2. More updates could be revealed about the WWE Women's US Championship
WWE finally listened to the fans as Nick Aldis introduced the Women's United States Championship last week, the mid-card title for the female division. However, many questions remain to be answered.
How will the first champion be determined? Are stars from both RAW and SmackDown eligible to compete for the Women's US Championship? The General Manager has a lot to answer.
He could begin enlisting members, drawing up a tournament bracket to determine the inaugural champion. The female stars would be given an equal chance to make their case.
#1. A US Title tournament could begin to determine LA Knight's next challenger
LA Knight defeated Carmelo Hayes and Andrade at WWE Crown Jewel to retain the US Championship. The Megastar is now in search of another contender, and Nick Aldis might have a plan.
An eight-man tournament comprising midcard talent and tag team competitors could be included and could be announced on SmackDown. The matches could begin as soon as the announcement is made.
Shinsuke Nakamura, Santos Escobar, Apollo Crews, Austin Theory, and Grayson Waller, among others, could compete for an opportunity at the US Title.