Tonight’s Smackdown Live takes place from the Amway Center in Orlando, FL.
WWE has shared the following Quick Hits preview points on WWE.com ahead of tonight’s episode of Smackdown Live:
- Will anyone step up to challenge AJ Styles?
- Are Shane McMahon & Daniel Bryan on the same page?
- What will happen to the United States Championship?
- Will anyone else declare for the Royal Rumble Matches?
We encourage you to begin your discussion about tonight’s Smackdown Live in the comments section at the bottom of this post, the WZ Forums or via the WZ FB Discussion Group.
Be sure to join WZ tonight at 8pm EST for live coverage of the show! Don’t forget to use #WZChat on Twitter to be included in our live coverage here on WrestleZone!
On AJ Styles facing Sami Zayn on the first Smackdown Live of 2018:
WWE Champion AJ Styles and Sami Zayn will square off in a non-title match on SmackDown LIVE tonight. The battle marks the first time these two Superstars will face each other one-on-one on the blue brand, though these two have been no strangers to one another in recent weeks.
When the two match combatants last crossed paths, The Phenomenal One found his name in the loss column after a distraction by Zayn led Kevin Owens to a shocking victory on the final SmackDown LIVE of 2017. The result left Zayn & Owens celebrating on the entrance ramp while Styles engaged in a testy confrontation with SmackDown LIVE Commissioner Shane McMahon.
Can Styles settle the score with Zayn after this past week’s actions? Will Owens return the favor to Zayn in his battle with The Phenomenal One, or will Shane-O-Mac make sure the match occurs without incident?
Find out when Styles and Zayn step into the ring on the first SmackDown LIVE of 2018 — tonight at 8/7 C on USA Network.
On Chad Gable & Shelton Benjamin challenging The Usos for the WWE Smackdown Live Championships:
SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Usos will defend their titles against Chad Gable & Shelton Benjamin tonight on SmackDown LIVE.
Gable & Benjamin earned the opportunity by defeating The New Day and Rusev & Aiden English in a thrilling Triple Threat Match on the Dec. 26 edition of SmackDown LIVE. There’s no love lost between these two teams. Gable & Benjamin felt they have been owed a rematch for the titles since their last opportunity in November. On that night, the mat wrestling mavens were victorious by count-out, thus they did not leave with the titles. Benjamin & Gable also scored a pinfall victory over the champions in non-title action on Team Blue on Dec. 19.
Who will leave the first SmackDown LIVE of 2018 with Team Blue’s tag team titles? Find out tonight at 8/7 C on USA Network!
Shelton Benjamin
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Shelton Benjamin
Shelton Benjamin scrambles to evade a Johnny Nitro body slam during the WWE RAW Superslam event at Acer Arena, Homebush stadium on august 4, 2006. (Photo by Don Arnold/WireImage)
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Shelton Benjamin
Shelton Benjamin, WWE Raw Superstar and guest during "See No Evil" Premiere - Arrivals in Los Angeles, California, United States. (Photo by J.Sciulli/WireImage for LIONSGATE)
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Shelton Benjamin
Shelton Benjamin, WWE Raw Superstar and guest during "See No Evil" Premiere - Arrivals in Los Angeles, California, United States. (Photo by J.Sciulli/WireImage for LIONSGATE)
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Shelton Benjamin
United States Champion Shelton Benjamin reacts to the cheer of the fans as he enters the ring during a WWE Smackdown event at Rose Garden arena in Portland. (Photo by Chris Ryan/Corbis via Getty Images)
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Shelton Benjamin
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 15: CM Punk trys to bridge out against Shelton Benjamin during WWE Smackdown at Acer Arena on June 15, 2008 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Gaye Gerard/Getty Images)
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Shelton Benjamin
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 15: Shelton Benjamin puts CM Punk into a headlock during WWE Smackdown at Acer Arena on June 15, 2008 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Gaye Gerard/Getty Images)
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Shelton Benjamin
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 15: Shelton Benjamin stands over CM Punk during WWE Smackdown at Acer Arena on June 15, 2008 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Gaye Gerard/Getty Images)
