WrestleZone encourages 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.
Tonight’s Smackdown Live takes place from the PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA.
WWE has shared the following Quick Hits preview points on WWE.com ahead of tonight’s episode of Smackdown Live:
- AJ Styles & Shinsuke Nakamura to face Chad Gable & Shelton Benjamin
- Rusev battles Jinder Mahal days before U.S. Title Fatal 4-Way
- Charlotte Flair faces Natalya in a rematch from two weeks ago
- Shane McMahon to return ahead of WrestleMania
Be sure to join WZ tonight at 8 pm 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!
WWE’s full preview can be found HERE. We have included some excerpts below.
On Shane McMahon returning to Smackdown Live:
Last week, Daniel Bryan shocked the WWE Universe when he issued a challenge on behalf of himself and Shane McMahon to Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn for WrestleMania. Bryan had just been cleared to return to competition before he was brutally ambushed by Owens & Zayn, while McMahon was recently hospitalized with acute diverticulitis and an umbilical hernia suffered in a similar attack at the hands of KO and Zayn.
With five days remaining until this unbelievable showdown, Shane McMahon will be at SmackDown LIVE to address the WWE Universe. Will he be ready for WrestleMania? Will Owens & Zayn be keeping a close eye on McMahon’s status after crashing a SmackDown Live Event this past weekend? Find out tonight on SmackDown LIVE at 8/7 C on USA!
On AJ Styles and Shinsuke Nakamura taking on Chad Gable and Shelton Benjamin:
Last week, Shinsuke Nakamura had WWE Champion AJ Styles in his corner to keep an eye on Chad Gable while he battled Shelton Benjamin on SmackDown LIVE. Nakamura was victorious, but The Phenomenal One was attacked from behind by Gable & Benjamin until WWE’s Rockstar made the save. The Artist then played some mind games with Styles, stopping short of clobbering the WWE Champion with the Kinshasa before playfully reminding him with a pat on the head that a knee to the face awaits him in New Orleans.
With just five nights remaining until their dream match on The Grandest Stage of Them All, Styles and Nakamura will team up to battle Gable & Benjamin. Will Styles be able to concentrate on the tag team struggle, or is Nakamura truly inside The Phenomenal One’s head?
Shane McMahon
-
Shane McMahon #1
Vince McMahon and son Shane McMahon at the 2,357th Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony honoring Vince McMahon held on Hollywood Blvd on March 14, 2008 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Alexandra Wyman/WireImage)
-
Shane McMahon #2
Vince McMahon and son Shane McMahon at the 2,357th Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony honoring Vince McMahon held on Hollywood Blvd on March 14, 2008 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Alexandra Wyman/WireImage)
-
Shane McMahon #3
NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 07: Shane McMahon arrives at "The Celebrity Apprentice" viewing party at Tenjune on February 7, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Rob Loud/Getty Images)
-
Shane McMahon #4
ANAHEIM, CA - FEBRUARY 18: (FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY - NO COMMERCIAL USE) Shane McMahon, WBC welterweight champion Floyd Mayweather Jr., actress Lindsay Lohan and WWE Superstar John Cena at WWE Monday Night Raw at The Honda Center on February 18, 2008 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Jesse Grant/WireImage)
-
Shane McMahon #5
NEW YORK - APRIL 16: (R) Writer Marissa McMahon and husband Shane McMahon attends the premiere screening of "Anamorph" held at Tribeca Cinemas on April 16, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images)
-
Shane McMahon #6
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 15: (L-R) WWE World Heavyweight Champion Batista, WWE Executive Vice President Shane McMahon, and WWE wrestlers The Great Khali, Michelle McCool, MVP and Edge pose during the WWE Smackdown Photo Call at the Sheraton on the Park Hotel on June 15, 2008 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Gaye Gerard/Getty Images)
-
Shane McMahon #7
LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 21: (L-R) WWE wrestler John Cena and WWE executive Shane McMahon attend Game Two of the Western Conference Finals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Denver Nuggets at Staples Center on May 21, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
-
Shane McMahon #8
LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 21: John Cena (L) and Shane McMahon (R) attend Game Two of the Western Conference Finals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Denver Nuggets at Staples Center on May 21, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Noel Vasquez/Getty Images)
-
Shane McMahon #9
NEW YORK - MARCH 26: Shane McMahon speaks at a press conference for WrestleMania XXIV on March 26, 2008 at the Hard Rock Cafe in New York City. (Photo by Rob Loud/Getty Images)
-
Shane McMahon #10
LAS VEGAS - AUGUST 24: Global Media Executive Vice President Shane McMahon (L) and his sister, World Wrestling Entertainment Inc. Executive Vice President of creative development and operations Stephanie McMahon arrive for a birthday celebration for their father, WWE Chairman Vince McMahon, during the WWE Monday Night Raw show at the Thomas & Mack Center August 24, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
-
Shane McMahon #11
HOLLYWOOD - MARCH 14: Wrestling superstar Shane McMahon attends a ceremony honoring Vince McMahon with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at Hollywood and Highland on March 14, 2008 in Hollywood, California (Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images)
