When:
United States: LIVE, Tuesday Night, February 14, at 8/7c on the USA Network
United Kingdom: Wednesday Morning, February 15, at 12AM on Sky Sports 5 HD
Where:
Honda Center
Anaheim, CA
SmackDown Live preview, Feb. 14, 2017: Bray Wyatt to battle John Cena in a WWE Title Rematch tonight
It has been announced that The Leader of Cenation has invoked his WWE Championship rematch clause and will challenge The New Face of Fear tonight at 8/7 C on SmackDown LIVE!
Bray Wyatt to battle John Cena in a WWE Title Rematch tonight
In the wake of his “brother” Randy Orton winning the 2017 Royal Rumble Match, Bray Wyatt doubled down on The Wyatt Family’s chances at success by walking out of Sunday’s Elimination Chamber Match as the new WWE Champion. However, amid The Eater of Worlds’ championship celebration, the WWE Universe collectively began to ask one simple question as the pay-per-view came to a close: Does this mean Wyatt and Orton will clash at this year’s WrestleMania for the WWE Title?
It is, of course, tradition for the Royal Rumble Match winner to take on the champion of their brand on The Grandest Stage of Them All. However, there are seven weeks of SmackDown LIVE remaining on The Road to WrestleMania and, as General Manager Daniel Bryan put it perfectly on WWE Network’s Talking Smack, a lot can happen in those seven weeks.
And just like that, the circumstances may indeed be changing. It has been announced that John Cena has invoked his WWE Championship rematch clause and will challenge The New Face of Fear tonight on SmackDown LIVE! So despite all the excitement surrounding the Chamber, at the end of the day, will it be The Cenation Leader lining up to face The Viper at The Showcase of the Immortals? Could Cena make history by becoming a 17-time World Champion - surpassing WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair? You want some excitement on The Road to WrestleMania? Come get some!
Naomi is the new SmackDown Women’s Champion, but for how long?
Though no one can question the importance of the Elimination Chamber Match, perhaps the most impressive moments in Sunday’s SmackDown LIVE pay-per-view came from the Women’s division. The female Superstars battled in three separate contests, each more intense than the one before it.
It was out of that fiery atmosphere that a new champion was crowned, as Naomi overcame Alexa Bliss to win her first SmackDown Women’s Title. However, there is no rest for the wicked, and the Wicked Witch of WWE is already clamoring to reclaim what has been taken from her. And though Nikki Bella and Natalya certainly have unfinished business with each other, and Mickie James and Becky Lynch seem to just be getting warmed up, any one of those competitors could turn their attention to the Women’s Championship in the blink of an eye – especially with The Showcase of the Immortals on the horizon. Don’t forget about Carmella, either. Although The Princess of Staten Island watched Elimination Chamber from James Ellsworth’s skybox, that doesn’t mean she won’t drop in on a moment’s notice to seize a golden opportunity.
What we’re trying to say is: Be careful what you wish for Naomi, because your test has just begun and The Road to WrestleMania is as long as it is treacherous. Watch your back.
Who will rise out of the Turmoil to challenge American Alpha?
As SmackDown Tag Team Champions, American Alpha certainly proved their mettle in the Tag Team Turmoil Match this past Sunday at Elimination Chamber. But with WrestleMania seven weeks away, which tandem will emerge to become Chad Gable & Jason Jordan’s new No. 1 contenders?
It’s worth noting that during Talking Smack on Sunday night, Daniel Bryan did single out The Ascension, who impressed the SmackDown GM both in the pay-per-view and with their huge 12-Man Tag Team Match victory. Is this the Konnor & Viktor that WWE fans have been waiting for? Or are the tough-as-nails Usos gearing up for another showdown with the reigning titleholders? Perhaps former SmackDown Tag Team Champions Heath Slater & Rhyno?
Is Baron Corbin destined to become Intercontinental Champion?
While possible contenders have already begun to make themselves known within the WWE Title, SmackDown Women’s Title and SmackDown Tag Team Title pictures, who is going to step up to try to take away Dean Ambrose’s Intercontinental Championship?
Certainly, based on what we saw in Sunday’s Elimination Chamber Match, the answer could very well be Baron Corbin. After The Lunatic Fringe snuck up and eliminated him, The Lone Wolf snapped and absolutely decimated the unstable Superstar – hurling him through the Lexan glass pod before planting him with End of Days.
After Corbin made such a powerful statement, one must wonder just how long it will be before The Lone Wolf sets his sights on Ambrose’s title. Then again, any of the Chamber combatants could take up that pursuit – particularly AJ Styles and The Miz, who both have no love at all for Ambrose and really seem to like championship gold. Or will another Superstar step into the mix for an opportunity at WrestleMania glory?
Will Ziggler’s aggression cost him or give him exactly what he wants?
Guys, what exactly is to be done about Dolph Ziggler? Taking Kalisto out of action on Sunday did not allow The Showoff to prevail in a 2-on-1 Handicap Match at Elimination Chamber, but Ziggler was able to make his mark with a vicious post-match onslaught, and caused serious harm to Apollo Crews in the process. The extent of Crews’ injuries remains unclear at this point. What is clear is that someone needs to try and put Ziggler in check.
Then again, when you consider that Ziggler’s first couple of attacks on other Superstars earned him an opportunity in the Royal Rumble Match, you have to ask yourself whether the powers-that-be on SmackDown LIVE are even interested in discouraging Ziggler’s behavior. Could his action be exactly what the aggressive former World Champion needs to ultimately get him back on top?
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