Welcome one and all to my preview for the upcoming "Smackdown Live" live special "Clash Of Champions". As always if you have anything to add leave a comment below or by following me on social media by clicking one of the links on my home page.
My interest in the "Blue Brand" has been a little lacking of late, that's not to say there isn't any great matches and stories building it's just that, in my opinion, there has been a little bit of a slump on both brands as there is most years before the build up to "Wrestlemania". If you look at the card there isn't a bad match and there are very few members of the roster missing it's just a middle of the road card. As always I will talk about the matches in no particular order.
1.WWE United States Championship: Baron Corbin (C) Vs. Dolph Ziggler Vs. Bobby Roode: Baron Corbin has had a mixed bag of a year. First he became the holder of the "Money In The Bank" briefcase and then was one of three people to cash in unsuccessfully. I have been pretty vocal about how great I think Corbin is and can be in the future and it looks like the management team might feel the same way. Dolph Ziggler is someone who might be coming to the end of his "WWE" run sooner rather than later which I feel could be of benefit to him by trying to make a name overseas. Bobby Roode has made a seamless transition from "NXT" to the "main roster" making a character switch in the process. There are numerous factors at play in this match. Ziggler is a little adrift and is looking for a little purpose on the roster. I doubt He would come out on top. I really feel that this could have been a match between Roode And Corbin if not for the purposes on storyline. This will be a great match, possibly to open the show, I would like to see Corbin win but, I feel Roode could come out on top.
2.Smackdown Live Tag Team Championship: The Usos (C) Vs. The New Day Vs. Gable And Benjamin Vs. Rusev And Aiden English: The tag team division is arguably one of the redeeming features of "Smackdown Live" and even thrown together teams like Gable and Benjamin and Rusev And English seem to be thriving. The real crown jewel of the division has to be the feud between The Usos and The New Day. Both teams have benefited by becoming the top teams on "Smackdown Live" trading the championships back and forth over the past few months. I really feel that this match will be the match of the night setting up all four teams for the next few months leading up to "Wrestlemania" I have no idea how this one will go but, I expect some great high spots especially from Shelton Benjamin and Kofi Kingston. I think The Usos might defend their championship successfully.
3.Smackdown Live Women's Championship Lumberjack Match: Charlotte Flair (C) Vs. Natalya: Natalya seems to be a victim of simplistic booking of late. Sure she didn't have a memorable run as champion but, I really feel she could have had a great match with Alexa Bliss at "Survivor Series". Charlotte Flair has had a mediocre run on "Smackdown Live" considering she was a dominant champion on "RAW". That being said these two have had some great matches in the past (the match from "NXT" is a clear example) and could have a match that could cement both of them at the top of the "Smackdown Live" women's division. I think this will be a very physical match with some spectacular wrestling. I think there might be a cash in from Carmella at the end of this match.
4.Kevin Owens And Sami Zayn Vs. Shinsuke Nakamura And Randy Orton (Shane McMahon Is Special Referee): After watching the "365" special on the "WWE Network" I feel Kevin Owens has fallen by the way side a little over the year. The same could be said about Sami Zayn for the past couple of years. The fact that these two have been put together as a team could do great things for both men, allowing them to be the top two "heel" characters on "Smackdown Live" The team of Nakamura and Orton seems a little bit slap dash and really an excuse to have both men on the card. I'm not a fan of Orton's recent work as I just feel he can't be bothered. Nakamura has been floundering a little bit since coming up to the main roster. The real "X-Factor" in this match is shane McMahon. The build has been subtle but, I think either McMahon or Daniel Bryan could be turned "heel" and the most likely outcome would be Shane'O'Mac. This should be a great match to prime the crowd for the main event. I fully expect Owens and Zayn to come out on top.
5.WWE Championship: AJ Styles (C) Vs. Jinder Mahal: I feel a little bit sorry for Jinder Mahal. He was built up as the "top guy" on "Smackdown Live" despite not really being able to convince the audience he was. There was a lot invested in Mahal facing off against Brock Lesnar and then all of a sudden he loses on an overseas match and all of the build up was for nothing. Not only that he wasn't even on the "Survivor Series" card. This match could be the redemption that Mahal needs or simply the nail in the coffin for his push. AJ Styles has consistently put on top matches since arriving in the "WWE" nearly 2 years ago. This should be a great match hopefully boosting Mahal's profile again and making him noticeable on a roster full of top talent. That being said I don't see AJ Styles losing the "WWE" championship before "Wrestlemania".
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