Roman Reigns' next opponent, John Cena to retire soon? 4 feuds that could begin on WWE SmackDown tonight
WWE SmackDown is set to air live tonight on the FOX Network. According to WrestleTix, close to 10,000 fans are expected to be in attendance at the BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The following show is the season premiere of Friday Night SmackDown.
Several interesting things have been announced for the show already. Cody Rhodes and Jey Uso teased a title defense, and Pretty Deadly will return to action to battle The Brawling Brutes' Butch and Ridge Holland.
Triple H is set to make a special appearance as well. It is not clear yet why he will appear or if he will make a meaningful announcement. Lastly, Roman Reigns will finally return to Friday Night SmackDown after being away from television for the past few months.
Given that Fastlane is now in the books and Crown Jewel is the next Premium Live Event, several feuds could begin ahead of the big show in Saudi Arabia. This article will look at a handful of feuds that could begin in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Below are four feuds that could begin on WWE SmackDown tonight.
#4. Carlito and Santos Escobar could surprisingly feud against each other
Fastlane was an exciting show filled with several big-time bouts. One of the most exciting moments of the night came when Carlito made his WWE return. He had been rumored to be re-joining the company, and it has since been confirmed that he is sticking around.
Carlito made his return by aiding Santos Escobar and Rey Mysterio against the Street Profits and Bobby Lashley. The Latino World Order ultimately won their match, and everybody seemed thrilled. Still, Carlito's return could lead to animosity and eventual feud.
Santos Escobar may grow jealous of Carlito. The Carribean star may take the spotlight away from him. Additionally, the former Intercontinental Champion could end up being closer to Rey as compared to Santos. So, the fans should not be surprised if they see some tension starting to mount between Escobar and Carlito as soon as tonight.
#3. Michin could target IYO SKY
IYO SKY is still the WWE Women's Champion. The Japanese sensation won the title at SummerSlam 2023 but had her toughest task at Fastlane. The Genius of the Sky battled both Asuka and Charlotte Flair in a Triple-Threat Match. Despite the odds not being in her favor, IYO won.
Meanwhile, Michin has not been competing as much lately. Instead, she has been part of The O.C. alongside AJ Styles, Karl Anderson, and Luke Gallows. Unfortunately, Gallows has been temporarily sidelined with an injury, and AJ was viciously assaulted by The Bloodline.
With the bulk of The O.C. out of commission and IYO having defeated her two top challengers, WWE may have Michin become the next challenger to try and step up against IYO SKY. Can Mia Yim win her first title in World Wrestling Entertainment, or will IYO dispose of another star?
#2. Roman Reigns could begin a feud with AJ Styles
As noted, AJ Styles was viciously attacked by Jimmy Uso and Solo Sikoa. This came after the two already had issues with select members of The Bloodline. The attack was bad enough to take AJ out of the Fastlane match.
Meanwhile, The Bloodline's leader is set to return to WWE on Friday. Roman Reigns will appear on SmackDown for the first time in around two months. It is not clear yet what he will be doing, but there is a strong chance that the company will start building up a match for Reigns at Crown Jewel 2023.
The Phenomenal One could make his return tonight as well. By doing so, he could confront The Bloodline for their actions while specifically beginning a feud with Roman Reigns. AJ Styles vs. Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship could be a great main event for the Crown Jewel Premium Live Event in November.
#1. John Cena could pass on the torch to Solo Sikoa before leaving WWE
John Cena's time on WWE television won't last for much longer. The 16-time World Champion has been able to stick around courtesy of the ongoing strikes in Hollywood, but once they end, The Cenation Leader will have to return to focus on the various projects that he is involved in.
It is not yet clear when that will be, but it could conceivably happen at any time. That implies that whichever feud he has next will more than likely be his last. Given his age and other commitments, it also reflects that his next WWE rivalry could be his final feud ever before retirement.
The most perfect opponent for Cena is Solo Sikoa. While the two have technically competed against each other in a tag team feud, a straight-up singles feud leading to a match at Crown Jewel could begin on tonight's SmackDown. Roman and Jimmy can focus on other issues, while Sikoa and Cena could replicate the feud that John had with Umaga over a decade ago.
Which probability has the highest chances to come to fruition at tonight's SmackDown? Sound off in the comments section below!