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Smackdown Live preview (Vancouver), 02/12/2020: Is Goldberg next?

Smackdown Live Preview Vancouver
Credit: WWE

WWE Super ShowDown is slowly coming together for the SmackDown brand.  The Saudi Arabian showcase will be streaming live at 1PM EST on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020 from the King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Last week’s Smackdown Live started building various matches for Super ShowDown. Rest assured, WWE Universe, more match announcements will be coming on this brand new episode of SmackDown Live.

Tune in to WWE Friday Night SmackDown live from Vancouver, British Columbia on FOX this Friday at 8pm EST/7pm CST to find out what is next for stars of the SmackDown brand as they head into Super ShowDown in two weeks.

Is Goldberg next?

WWE Hall Of Famer Bill Goldberg returned live via satellite and made it clear he wants to get his hands on The Fiend. The former WWE, Universal, and WCW champion wants his rematch for the Universal Championship that he never received after losing to Brock Lesnar a few years ago.

Current Universal Champion Bray Wyatt interrupted Goldberg and had a special edition of the Firefly Funhouse for “William”.  Is The Fiend next for Goldberg? With only two weeks to go till Super ShowDown, we will find out soon.

  • Strange: Kane was being built on television to be the next opponent for The Fiend at Super ShowDown. Kane was also announced for the Royal Rumble and was nowhere to be found.  Once again, WWE stops a budding storyline with zero explanation to its audience. How many times has WWE done this to its audience before? Not a great way to keep people watching your product WWE!!!
  • Why: I understand 100% the pay days are great for a legend like Goldberg anytime he shows up on WWE television. This match announcement has garnered zero interest from wrestling fans. This matchup is silly and nonsensical and there is zero chance Goldberg wins. Goldberg is a true legend who should only be used sporadically as a bulldozer. Why keep bringing Goldberg back to job him out each time? Squashing Goldberg does nothing for The Fiend and his legacy. That’s not an opinion either. It’s a fact!
  • Best In The World:  Hands down, The “Ruler Of Worlds,” Bray Wyatt, is the biggest star in the wrestling world. SmackDown Live would be in serious trouble without Wyatt keeping people interested week after week. Wyatt is a once in a lifetime talent that is leaps and bounds above any wrestler in any other promotion across the world.

Who gets the next shot at SmackDown Women’s Champion, Bayley?

I’m confused. Wasn’t Naomi next in line for SmackDown Women’s Champion, Bayley? Just two weeks ago, Naomi got the best of Bayley and was on the path to get her shot at the belt next, right? The seeds were planted for Naomi vs Bayley, but instead we are getting former SmackDown Women’s champion Carmella against the current champion.

  • Mella Is Money: The “Staten Island Queen” defeated Alexa Bliss, Dana Brooke and Naomi last week on SmackDown Live to be the new No. 1 contender for The SmackDown Women’s Championship. People forget how well Carmella transformed her character into a massive heel during her tenure as the head of the SmackDown Women’s Division a few years back. Carmella is an upgrade from Naomi in so many ways. If people give her time and don’t bury her from the start, Carmella can be an excellent face champion. Give Carmella a chance and let her show us why we should invest in her as a champion again.
  • Where Is Sasha Banks? I’ve heard from multiple sources that the current plan is for Sasha Banks vs Bayley to take place at WrestleMania 36. Currently on the shelf with an injured ankle, Banks’ status for WrestleMania 36 is still undetermined. Both WWE and Banks haven’t addressed the severity of her injury and this leaves the rest of the SmackDown Live women’s division on standby for Bayley’s WrestleMania 36 opponent.

Rinse and Repeat

WWE Intercontinental Champion Braun Strowman will continue his feud against former champion Shinsuke Nakamura after being beat down by Nakamura and the rest of Sammy Zayn’s crew last week. The Revival seem to now be members of Team Zayn as they assisted Team Sammy in their beatdown of the WWE Intercontinental Champion.  The IC title rematch between Nakamura and Strowman will happen at Super ShowDown and hopefully end this feud for good.

  • Yawn: Nakamura and Strowman has been a boring and drawn-out feud. I’m glad to see Strowman get his first taste of singles gold, but the time is now for new contenders. The Intercontinental Championship can be prestigious again under Strowman if he gets new and fresh feuds. Nakamura needs to be in NXT and Strowman needs new contenders to elevate his career back to the Main Event.
  • Change Of Scenery: Shinsuke Nakamura isn’t the only one who needs to be in NXT soon. Cesaro may be one of the best talents in the WWE who gets buried over and over. “The Swiss Cyborg” has talent and skills in the ring that very few people can match. For some reason, WWE just doesn’t see the value of Cesaro. NXT is the place Cesaro should be plying his craft at each week. Nakamura and Cesaro could be a huge part of their roster if given the chance at NXT.
  • Defeat: There is so much talent on SmackDown Live not getting used that could help NXT beat AEW Dynamite. New talent from SmackDown Live would also bring some interest and recognition to NXT as they battle AEW Dynamite for ratings supremacy every Wednesday. AEW Dynamite is winning their ratings battle week after week against NXT. It’s time to step your game up, WWE management, and use your roster appropriately to bolster NXT’s roster. Using talented performers on NXT who are seeing no TV time on SmackDown Live each week has zero downside to the WWE brand. Trust me, Mr. McMahon, I’m 100 % right on this!!!

Otis really grows on you

Heavy Machinery was a tag team that I had trouble getting behind. Slowly, they got more exposure on television and I was hooked on Otis and Tucker. There is always a star in every group and Otis is the star of Heavy Machinery. WWE made a smart move by adding in Mandy Rose to get over Heavy Machinery. Rose has made the loveable Otis even more endearing to the WWE Universe. This storyline has been a nice surprise each week on SmackDown Live.

  • Keep This Going: I really hope WWE doesn’t end this storyline soon. There is so much more they can do with this storyline that will benefit both Fire and Desire and Heavy Machinery. Will Sonya Deville finally get a singles run this year? I see lots of potential in Deville and turning on Rose could be what she needs for a solid run as a solo performer.
  • The Big Date: Otis and Mandy Rose are finally having their first date this week on SmackDown Live. Valentine’s Day landed on the same day of SmackDown Live this week. Will Cupid help Otis and Mandy find true love this week?  

More rinse and repeat

Why is the Shorty G and Sheamus feud still going on? Does anyone want to see more of Roman Reigns vs King Corbin? It looks like we aren’t done with either of them yet. These feuds are being extended and we will once again see King Corbin vs Roman Reigns and Sheamus vs Shorty G at either Super ShowDown or on this edition of SmackDown Live.

  • Laziness: There is far better matchups for Reigns, Corbin and Sheamus than the regurgitated storylines they are in. While Super ShowDown is a filler card before WrestleMania 36, each of these competitors deserve fresh and exciting feuds to elevate their individual stock with the WWE Universe.
  • Rumor Has It: The rumored WrestleMania 36 card will see King Corbin vs Braun Strowman for the IC Title, Sheamus vs Daniel Bryan vs Sheamus and Roman Reigns vs The Fiend for the Universal Championship. Corbin and Strowman make sense. I can get behind it. I’m not sold on Bryan vs Sheamus and Reigns vs Wyatt. These last two matchups are being done at the wrong time and wrong place.

Don’t forget to check out SmackDown Live this week as the superstars of the blue brand continue to develop the WWE Super ShowDown and WrestleMania 36 match cards.

In case you need to plan way in advance, WWE officially announced that WrestleMania 37 will be held at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California on March 28, 2021. This will be another huge venue for WWE to hold the showcase of the immortals and an event you surely will not want to miss.

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