3 wild card Smackdown Live predictions that could change the game

WWE is fond of telling us that anything can happen at any moment. It makes sense if you think about it; the best way to get viewers to watch all the content that you create is to tell them that all it takes is one episode. Miss just one episode, or one moment of one episode, and you could miss something potentially epic.

This is sometimes true. For example, where were you when the Shield imploded? How about when Dolph Ziggler cashed in his Money in the Bank contract? What about the first time 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin gave Vince McMahon the stunner? All of these moments have something in common.

Firstly, they all took place on Monday Night Raw. Secondly, there was some type of buzz surrounding all of these events. Dolph Ziggler's cash-in took place on the RAW after Wrestlemania; a show that WWE has conditioned fans to expect big things from.

Steve Austin's altercation with Vince McMahon took place during the hottest phase in Wrestling whilst he was its hottest star; there were always going to be eye-balls on him.

And Seth Rollins betrayed the Shield in the main event of the RAW after the Shield had beaten Evolution after Batista had quit, and after Triple H had told the audience that there was always a Plan B. A big reveal was always expected; even if most did not expect the shocking event that happened.

Sometimes, game-changing moments take place without any build up or fanfare. Think Randy Orton defeating Christian for the World Heavyweight Championship the Smackdown after he had won it. Nobody expected it, but it instantly changed the game.

This article makes wildcard predictions that would absolutely change the game on Smackdown Live, instantly elevating all the superstars involved.

Agree? Disagree?

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#3 Dean Ambrose wins the United States Championship

Lunatic Champion

Roman Reigns is the current WWE Universal Champion.

Seth Rollins is the current WWE Intercontinental Champion.

Dean Ambrose is the sole member of the Shield without any championship gold.

If you missed Monday Night Raw, you wouldn't know that Dolph Ziggler, Braun Strowman, and Drew McIntyre used this fact (among other things), to attempt to drive a wedge between Dean Ambrose and his Shield members. Dolph Ziggler even told Ambrose that if he joined up with them, he could hold the Intercontinental Championship. This ploy seemed to have somewhat worked, if the backstage interactions and tense moment at the end of RAW wherein Ambrose took his time getting back into the ring to celebrate with his Shield brothers are any indication.

Whilst any deeper trust issues cannot be easily resolved, there is an easy way to solve the lack of championship gold problem.

The Shield have always done what they want, when they want, to who they want. What if the Shield invaded Smackdown Live, and Dean Ambrose challenged Shinsuke Nakamura for the United States Championship? What if he beat Shinsuke Nakamura?

Shinsuke Nakamura has not done a whole lot with the United States Championship after winning it. (Note to editor, please add hyperlink of my article 5 Possible Challengers for Shinsuke Nakamura's United States Championship: https://www.sportskeeda.com/wwe/5-challengers-for-shinsuke-nakamura-s-united-states-championship). It is not like the championship would be missed on Smackdown Live; it has not been seen for weeks.

This would instantly change the landscape of the entire WWE, and reinforce the Shield as the most dangerous faction in it.

#2 Charlotte Flair goes too far

Natural born villain

The Charlotte Flair versus Becky Lynch feud has been excellent so far.

There is just one slight problem; the audience refuses to boo Becky Lynch, and by extension, cheer Charlotte Flair against her. The WWE course corrected to some extent in the lead-up to WWE Hell in a Cell by presenting Becky Lynch as a bad-a** tweener, but this past week on Smackdown she clearly acted as a heel during her Championship coronation ceremony. She was rude to General Manager Paige, antagonized Charlotte Flair, and viciously beat her down.

The story dictates that Charlotte Flair get her revenge at some point. What if she got it tonight, and what if she went too far? The audience does not want to cheer her; why not give them a legitimate excuse to boo her?

Charlotte Flair going over to the dark side and turning into everything she has accused Becky Lynch of being would not only take the story in a very different direction but also sow the seeds for a possible double-turn in the near future.

#1 Shane McMahon returns as special guest referee

Here comes the referee

Samoa Joe and A.J. Styles have had an extremely heated rivalry. So heated, that General Manager Paige has booked them in a no-disqualification match for WWE Super-Showdown, and has declared that there must be a winner? The only problem with that statement is the fact that a no-disqualification stipulation doesn't guarantee competent officiating.

Enter Shane McMahon. After the usual dancing around the ring, what if Shane announced that the WWE Cham

As Commissioner of Smackdown Live, and well, a McMahon, he can do whatever he pleases. But just in case a storyline explanation is needed, there is past precedent; McMahon was special guest free for Kevin Owens versus A.J. Styles for their United States Championship match at SummerSlam last year due to incompetent officiating in their previous matches.

Shane McMahon's return instantly adds more star-power to this match and creates several intriguing future storyline possibilities. Will his past history with Styles affect his officiating? Will he turn heel and cost Styles the championship? Will an irate Samoa Joe blame him, McMahon, if he loses, thus setting up a feud between the two?

The possibilities are endless.

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