Top five returns that can happen at WWE Smackdown season opener on USA Network

Some returns we might see on WWE SmackDown

WWE Smackdown have officially bid goodbye to the Fox Network with the season finale episode having concluded. This marks an end to a five-year-long working relationship that elevated both the Fox Network and WWE to greater heights.

Many might argue this was the greatest phase of Smackdown in its 25 years history, with Roman Reigns leading the helm as the Tribal Chief with The Bloodline story, which is probably one of the, if not the greatest, wrestling stories ever told in the history of the company.

But all of that is now behind us, and WWE Smackdown is now returning to the USA network next week as part of a five-year deal with them.

The match card for Friday Night Smackdown is already stacked as it is, with Cody Rhodes defending his undisputed WWE championship in the main event of the show against Solo Sikoa in a steel cage match. Also, Kevin Owens is set to team up with a mystery partner to take on A Town Down Under.

Despite such a stacked match card, we might likely be getting a few unadvertised returns on the show, as it is rumored that Triple H is keen to make this season premiere an episode to be remembered for ages. Here are the top five returns that can happen on the night:

Jimmy Uso

Jimmy Uso has been out with an undisclosed injury after being kicked out of the Bloodline by Solo Sikoa on the Smackdown after WrestleMania.

But now might be the perfect time for him to make his much-anticipated return. In the last confrontation between Roman Reigns and the New Bloodline, he got outnumbered by them and therefore brutally beaten up.

So, it will make sense for Reigns to return with a little bit of backup this time in the form of his cousin Jimmy Uso, who also has got a bone to pick with the New Bloodline.

Roman Reigns

Roman Reigns is almost guaranteed to be appearing on the season premiere of Smackdown as he is the company’s biggest star, and he can’t be compromised on the premiere episode of all days.

From a storyline perspective too, it makes a lot of sense for him to return, as even though the Undisputed Championship is being defended inside a steel cage, we all know that the New Bloodline with the Tanga Brothers and Jacob Fatu is going to find a way to interfere in the match anyway.

This would open the door for Roman Reigns to once again come back and even the odds, this time perhaps along with Jimmy Uso and cost Solo Sikoa his shot at the championship once again.

Randy Orton

A Town Down Under, the team of Austin Theory and Grayson Waller, are set to take on Kevin Owens and a mystery partner on the season premiere of Smackdown, and we can all guess who this one is, right?

Randy Orton is set to return next week as Kevin Owens’ mystery partner. He was a member of the Blue Brand before Summerslam, and the only reason he moved to Raw until Bash In Berlin was to build his rivalry with Gunther for the show, but now that all of it is over, and it is time for Randy Orton to come back to Smackdown, we might get it as soon as next week.

Charlotte Flair

Charlotte Flair’s last match in WWE took place on December 8, 2023, when she lost a match to Asuka. She had been involved in a feud with Damage CTRL.

However, that match saw Flair sustain a very serious injury. During the bout, she tore her MCL, ACL, and meniscus. She had surgery to repair it and was in rehab to help it heal. Her recovery period was said to be around nine months, and it seems Charlotte is all but ready to make her return now.

The only reason WWE might be delaying it seems is that they don’t have any stories for her at the moment, as Bianca Belair will be feuding with Jade Cargill, and Nia Jax will be feuding with Tiffany Stratton.

But if the Nia Jax-Tiffany Stratton feud is over right in time before Wrestlemania, we might get Tiffany Stratton vs. Charlotte Flair for the Women’s Championship at Wrestlemania next year.

If that is the case, we might see Charlotte Flair next week on the season premiere of Smackdown subtly planting the seeds for the momentous showdown in Las Vegas next year.

The Rock

When Smackdown premiered on Fox, The Rock would make a surprise appearance on that night, being involved in a segment with Becky Lynch and Baron Corbin. It is also important to note that The Rock’s last run in WWE was majorly taking place in the blue brand as well, where he would be involved in a rivalry with Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins with his cousin Roman Reigns.

The Rock might return on Smackdown next week to have a brief interaction with Cody Rhodes, as it is highly likely that the two will be involved in the main event of Wrestlemania next year.

He might also return at the end of the night, attacking Cody Rhodes from behind after he has successfully defended his championship in the main event of the show. Again, it will make a lot of sense from a storyline point of view.

The Rock has previously explicitly stated that whenever he is coming back, he will be back for Cody. So, if the schedule permits The Brahma Bull to appear on the season premiere at the USA network next week, it will surely be a huge statement of intent from The Modern Era of the WWE.

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