WWE Smackdown preview and predictions for the main segments on episode airing August 14th.
WWE Smackdown Preview & Predictions
When: 8:00 PM ET, Friday, August 14, 2020
Where: WWE Performance Center, Orlando, FL
TV: FOX
WWE Smackdown 8/14 Show Preview
With Summerslam less than 10 days away, the matches for the blue brand should be finalized on this edition of Smackdown. The main event of Smackdown will be Tri-Brand Battle Royal to determine who will face Bayley for the Smackdown Women’s Championship at Summerslam. After Bayley caused havoc on Raw, NXT, and Smackdown over the past few months, this will be a big opportunity for several women to get their chance at revenge.
Also being advertised for Smackdown will be Braun Strowman finally confronting The Fiend. After weeks of mind games, Strowman wants to meet The Fiend face to face. Alexa Bliss will also be speaking about her “abduction” by The Fiend this week as well. Another match being advertised for this week’s show is Big E against John Morrison as Big E’s singles push continues.
Number One Contender’s Tri-Brand Battle Royal For Smackdown Women’s Championship
A tri-brand battle royal to determine who will face Bayley at Summerslam for the Smackdown Women’s Championship is a great move by WWE. Bayley and Sasha Banks have wreaked havoc over all 3 brands the last couple months so making the title shot available to any woman on the roster is smart. It also could elevate someone from NXT if one of their stars win the battle royal.
This would be the perfect time for Rhea Ripley to move to Smackdown. Bayley versus Ripley would be a great match for Summerslam. Ripley’s match against Charlotte at Wrestlemania was arguably the best match all weekend and I’m sure she could do the same with Bayley. Although I don’t think Ripley can afford another big loss since I don’t see Bayley losing the title any time soon.
Regardless, this battle royal will be a fun time and hopefully the winner is a credible challenger for Bayley. There are so many talented women on the roster that deserve the Summerslam spotlight that it’s almost impossible for WWE to screw this up. But then again, WWE does have a way of dropping the ball in recent years.
Braun Strowman Confronts The Fiend
I don’t know if it’s just me but I think Summerslam would be the perfect place for a double turn for Braun Strowman and Bray Wyatt/The Fiend. Wyatt has been the most popular character in WWE over the past year and regardless of the heinous actions he commits, the fans still love him, myself included. On the other hand, Strowman’s run as Universal Champion has been mostly boring and to be honest, Strowman doesn’t have the “IT” it takes to be the top star of a brand/company.
After saying last week that he didn’t care about Alexa Bliss after her abduction by The Fiend, it seems like a possibility that we are headed in that direction. My belief is that if the Undertaker could be a face for most of his career, why can’t Bray Wyatt? He’s so damn creative that he could make almost anything work. Strowman plans on confronting The Fiend this week so we will see what direction they are taking with this story. Bliss will also be talking about her experience with The Fiend so I’m sure that’ll provide clues on where we are headed with all 3 characters.
WWE Smackdown 8/14 Predictions
10 PT Pick = Braun Strowman OVER 1.5 Appearances
9 PT Pick = Matches Made For Summerslam OVER 1.5
8 PT Pick = Bray Wyatt UNDER 1.5 Appearances
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