SmackDown LIVE preview, April 17, 2018: How will the Superstar Shake-up affect Team Blue?
The first night of the 2018 Superstar Shake-up saw major changes, as Raw gained United States Champion Jinder Mahal (who then lost the title to Jeff Hardy), Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn and The riotttttttttt Squad, among others, from Team Blue. However, SmackDown LIVE also gained a Superstar in The Miz. How will the faces of Team Blue continue to change? Who will show up on SmackDown LIVE? Find out during night two of the 2018 Superstar Shake-up, starting at 8/7 C on USA Network!
>The Superstar Shake-up continues
Night one of the 2018 Superstar Shake-up proved to be momentous, as Team Blue stalwarts like Bobby Roode, Jinder Mahal, Dolph Ziggler and Natalya made their way to Monday nights.
On the flip side, former Intercontinental Champion The Miz was acquired by Commissioner Shane McMahon and General Manager Paige at the behest of former GM Daniel Bryan. Who else will be joining The A-Lister on Tuesdays?
>Will Shinsuke Nakamura continue to antagonize AJ Styles?
Shinsuke Nakamura has unveiled a new side of his eccentric persona in the days following his shocking attack on WWE Champion AJ Styles at WrestleMania. The Rockstar taunted his opponent with a disingenuous apology for the low blow on The Grandest Stage of Them All, then ruined the fantasy match between The Phenomenal One and Daniel Bryan, clobbering The “Yes!” Man with a thunderous Kinshasa and hitting Styles with another heinous low blow.
Will Nakamura continue to torment Styles when he least expects it, or will The Phenomenal One get the payback he’s looking for?
<Princess Mella’s reign begins
Last Tuesday, Carmella stunned the WWE Universe. After the debuting IIconics opened the door for her with a vicious attack on Charlotte Flair, The Princess of Staten Island walked through and cashed in her Money in the Bank contract on the spot. With one boot to the battered Queen’s face, Carmella left New Orleans with the SmackDown Women’s Championship.
Now that she’s on top of the mountain, how will the moon-walking, trash-talking Princess of Staten Island officially kick off her reign? Will The Queen be waiting to dethrone her?
>Are The Usos ready for a bludgeoning?
The Usos defeated The New Day last week to earn a SmackDown Tag Team Championship opportunity against The Bludgeon Brothers at the Greatest Royal Rumble event next Friday. Jimmy & Jey did not have any time to celebrate their victory, as Harper & Rowan arrived to remind them of what awaits in Saudi Arabia, pointing their mighty mallets at their challengers.
The Usos have stated that they are ready to take on the champions, but are they truly prepared to do what it takes to knock off the malicious duo and reclaim their titles?
>The Miz returns to Team Blue
One of the most shocking moments of the first night of the 2018 Superstar Shake-up came when Kurt Angle arrived on “Miz TV” to tell The Awesome One that he would be heading to SmackDown LIVE without The Miztourage.
The A-Lister’s first turn on Team Blue was controversial, as he clashed with John Cena and was a consistent antagonist of then-General Manager Daniel Bryan, who was not cleared to compete at the time. Now, Bryan apparently demanded Miz’s return to SmackDown LIVE. Does he have payback on his mind?
What does the first new arrival to Team Blue have in store? Find out during night two of the 2018 Superstar Shake-up on SmackDown LIVE, tonight at 8/7 C on USA Network!