WWE SMACKDOWN PRIMER 11/7: Spoiler-free – Two big title matches, Styles vs. Jinder, Usos vs. Gable & Shelton, plus intergender match-up

WWE SMACKDOWN PRIMER
NOVEMBER 7, 2017
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND
By Joey Galizia (@RamJam89), PWTORCH SPECIALIST

ACCORDING TO WWE.COM

• The Phenomenal A.J. Styles vs. The Maharaja Jinder Mahal for the WWE Championship
• The Usos defend the Smackdown Tag Team championships against Chad Gable & Shelton Benjamin.
• Becky Lynch finally gets her hands on James Ellsworth in an inter-gender matchup.
• Will Raw retaliate?

“FOR THE PEOPLE OR FOR THE BUSINESS”

For the last couple weeks WWE has been teasing that every current champion on the main roster may not be walking into Survivor Series with their belts.  (We saw this play out last night on Raw, which we’ll get to later.) As the brands prepare to go to war for ultimate supremacy, who walks in with gold is probably more important than ever. However, after the 19th, the battle of Red vs. Blue will be over and each show can focus on their brand specific feuds moving forward.

So it’s quite a surprise that A.J. Styles would be given his shot at the WWE Champion Jinder Mahal tonight on Smackdown two weeks before Survivor Series. After disposing of the Singh brothers in back-to-back weeks A.J. looks ready to become a two-time WWE Champion. The question is: Is A.J. prepared to face the repercussions of winning the title? The repercussions being a date with The Beast Brock Lesnar in a champion vs. champion showdown. I’m not here to speculate or guess what may happen but with another tour of India coming up and all of the promo package work the WWE editing team has done on hyping Jinder vs. Brock, I think this title opportunity may just be a pit-stop. I hope I’m wrong, though, because a clash between the Phenomenal One and the mayor of Suplex City sounds far too exciting to pass up.

“DOWN SINCE”

Jinder isn’t the only man putting his title on the line tonight. Jimmy and Jey Uso will be defending their Smackdown Tag Team championships against the red-hot team of Chad Gable & Shelton Benjamin this evening in Manchester. American Alpha 2.0 earned a shot at the superkicking Samoans in a Fatal Four-way contender’s bout a few weeks ago, and will get their shot ahead of Survivor Series as well. Will the tag-team scene be completely different for the big card on Nov. 19? WELL…

“THEY DON’T’ WANT NONE”

-That’s how it played out on Raw last night when Cesaro & Sheamus took advantage of a distraction from an invading New Day to steal a victory of Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose. The unicorn train has been front and center for both SD invasions of Raw, but this time they may have pissed off the wrong crew. While a full-scale retaliation doesn’t sound like the best idea yet, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Architect and the Lunatic Fringe decided to cause some mayhem.

-In the women’s scene SD team captain Becky Lynch will finally get to gain some retribution on that sneaky little rodent known as James Ellsworth. The chinless wonder has been causing Becky Balboa misery for months, and it’s about time that she took his arm as penance for his sins.

Meanwhile the champion Natalya prepares to face Alexa Bliss, but she still needs to keep an eye on Ms. Money in the Bank Carmella. (WHO HAS TO BE CASHING IN AT SOME POINT.)

-Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn may not be on the men’s team for Survivor Series, but that doesn’t mean that they will be ignored. Both lost their qualifier matches and currently appear to be on the sideline for the 19th. K.O. was defeated by Nakamura and Zayn by the Viper Randy Orton.

-Speaking of team SD, Bobby Roode will be bringing his Glorious personae to aide his compadres in their quest to destroy the flagship show. He bested Dolph Ziggler in a two-out-of-three falls matchup last week to put an end to their odd little tantrum. Including Shane that leaves one spot left open. Will Rusev try to claim said spot? Or will the Phenomenal One be added if he falls short chasing Mahal.

Like yesterday, spoilers will be out for this show before it airs due to the filming time in Manchester. Should be an interesting show. You watching?

NOW CHECK OUT LAST WEEK’S COLUMN: WWE SMACKDOWN PRIMER 10/31: Ziggler vs. Roode best of three falls, Owens vs. Nakamura for spot on Survivor Series team, Styles vs. Singh, Breezango’s Strangerer Things