WWE will end 2022 with a bang this Friday night on SmackDown. John Cena will return to the ring teaming with Kevin Owens against Roman Reigns and Sami Zayn on the upcoming edition of the blue brand.
The Usos will put their Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship on the line against Sheamus and Butch of The Brawling Brutes. On this week’s edition of the show, Ronda Rousey will defend her SmackDown Women’s Championship against Raquel Rodriguez. Rodriguez captured the title last week by winning a gauntlet match.
WWE can ensure the biggest Smackdown episode of the year this Friday.
#5. John Cena brutally attacked by The Bloodline on WWE SmackDown
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The WWE Universe is eagerly waiting for John Cena’s in-ring return, but what if he doesn’t make it past the entrance ramp? The Bloodline has been attacking Superstars backstage for some time now, and the Tribal Chief may be upset that Cena is back in the spotlight.
John Cena has a streak of wrestling at least one match in WWE over the past 20 years. If Cena’s streak ends, it would be the start of a great storyline as The Bloodline defeated him before the bell.
#4. John Cena pinned Roman Reigns
WWE has already passed the torch to The Sensation’s leader Roman Reigns at No Mercy 2017. However, he may not be satisfied with Roman Reigns putting forth his interest in the company. The 45-year-old could return in an attempt to humble The Head of the Table.
Reigns needs a marquee opponent for WrestleMania 39 and there aren’t many options left on the main roster. Cena isn’t a bad backup plan if The Rock isn’t available for the biggest show of the year.
The feud could be set up to end Reigns’ streak of not pinning 16-time World Champion The Tribal Chief in three years.
#3. The Brawling Brutes ended The Usos’ historic title reign
The Usos are the current Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions and have held the titles for 528 days and counting. On the November 11 edition of SmackDown, Jimmy and Jay defeated Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods to break the record and become the longest reigning Tag Team Champions in company history.
Sheamus and Butch would enter Friday’s match as the underdogs, but were able to exit SmackDown as the new Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions.
In the eyes of many fans, the Celtic warrior has had a great year and it would be great to see him win gold.
# 2. Raquel Rodriguez captures the SmackDown Women’s Championship
WWE sees a lot of potential in Raquel Rodriguez and it’s hard to fault her. The 31-year-old has impressed since his arrival on the main roster but has mainly appeared in the tag team division. She appears ready to strike out on her own as a solo star and she has a huge opportunity to shock the world on Friday night.
Ronda Rousey has been brimming with confidence since winning back the SmackDown Women’s Championship from Liv Morgan at Extreme Rules. The Baddest Woman on the Planet has recruited Shayna Baszler as her backup, and the two have attacked Rodriguez several times on the blue brand recently.
Rodriguez got a bit of revenge last Friday by defeating The Queen of Spades and winning a gauntlet match to become the number one contender. If the former NXT Women’s Champion can stay focused and avoid Rousey’s armbar, she has a realistic shot at the title.
#1. Sami Zayn has been kicked out of The Bloodline
Sami Zayn was supposed to have a big night recently, but John Cena interrupted and announced a big tag team match for the final episode of the year. The Honorary Americans, frustrated at not being fully utilized by The Tribal Chief yet, enter the match.
Things will get even more complicated if The Usos lose their titles to The Brawling Brutes at the show. Zayn may enter the main event with too much pressure on himself and try to do too much in the match, only to become the superstar who gets pinned.
If this happens, then Reigns may decide that he does not want to fight with Honorary Use anymore. As the year comes to an end, the WWE Universe must be wondering what’s next for Sami Zayn. What do you think will go down on SmackDown? Let us know in the comments section below.