This is How WWE SmackDown Before Saturday Night’s Main Event Must Be Booked

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Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley will combine forces with The Allies of Convenience (Alexa Bliss & Charlotte Flair) to take on Jade Cargill, Michin, and B-Fab in a six-woman tag team contest. Meanwhile, The Irresistible Forces (Lash Legend & Nia Jax) will challenge Paige & Brie Bella for the Women’s Tag Team Championship.

WWE has yet to announce the official lineup for the upcoming edition of SmackDown. However, Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes, Gunther, United States Champion Trick Williams, and many other prominent superstars are expected to appear on the show.

This week’s episode of WWE SmackDown is crucial for the company because it will conclude the buildup to SNME while continuing the road to Clash in Italy. Hence, the creative must leave no stone unturned in making it a must-watch program.

In this article, we will discuss how WWE SmackDown before SNME XLIV must be booked.

#3. The Irresistible Forces Must Assert Their Dominance on WWE SmackDown

Nia Jax and Lash Legend won the Women’s Tag Team Championship from Rhea Ripley and IYO SKY before Elimination Chamber 2026. They had a dominant, but short-lived, run as champions. At WrestleMania 42, the duo put their gold on the line against three top tandems.

One of the teams in the four-way showdown was The Bella Twins. However, before the match, Nikki Bella announced that she was not cleared to compete. A returning Paige took Nikki’s spot in the bout and won the gold alongside Brie.

Paige and Brie have been defending champions. They have even defeated The Irresistible Forces in a Women’s Tag Team Championship rematch on SmackDown. At SNME, the two sides will collide again for the coveted title.

Tonight on WWE SmackDown, Legend and Jax must destroy the champions to send a strong message. The Irresistible Forces’ recent losses have arguably hurt their momentum. Hence, they should be booked to launch a beatdown on The Glampire and Brie on the blue show.

A potential attack on the champions could allow Jax and Legend to gain the upper hand heading into the championship match. Given fans’ positive response to Brie’s and Paige’s title reign, they are unlikely to drop the championship anytime soon. Hence, the heels should at least look strong in the buildup to the match.

#2. Michin & B-Fab Should Defeat Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss in a Potential Tag Team Match

After failing to take down Jade Cargill, Michin and B-Fab aligned with her to form a heel faction. On the Road to WrestleMania 42, the trio constantly tormented Rhea Ripley. At The Show of Shows, Mami dethroned Cargill as the Women’s Champion. She received help from IYO SKY in eliminating B-Fab and the former Mia Yim from the equation.

Cargill’s faction recently returned to WWE SmackDown. Big Jade has her sights set on the Women’s Championship. Before she potentially challenges for the title, her faction will take on Ripley, Flair, and Bliss at SNME. WWE should book Michin and B-Fab in a tag team match against The Queen and Bliss on this week’s SmackDown.

The heel duo needs to pick up a big win ahead of the six-woman tag team contest. Hence, the former Mia Yim and B-Fab must defeat the babyface duo with the help of The Storm.

Big Jade’s faction has yet to capture fans’ attention. Moreover, it has arguably been portrayed as a weak group since its formation. If WWE wants to change viewers’ perception, it must book Michin and B-Fab to defeat veterans like Flair and Bliss.

#1. Gunther Must Stand Tall on WWE SmackDown

Gunther moved to SmackDown following his win over Seth Rollins at WrestleMania 42. After he solved Paul Heyman’s Rollins problem, The Oracle got him an Undisputed WWE Championship shot.

The Ring General is currently feuding with Cody Rhodes. He recently locked The American Nightmare in the sleeper hold. However, Rhodes managed to fend off an attack from the Austrian superstar the following week.

Last week, Gunther faced Royce Keys in a number contender’s match on WWE SmackDown. He defeated Keys to earn an Undisputed WWE Championship match against The Prodigal Son at Clash in Italy on May 31. Although the former World Heavyweight Champion won, his win over The Monstar wasn’t clean.

Solo Sikoa inadvertently cost Keys a potential win over Gunther. The former Imperium is heading into one of the biggest matches of his career in Turin. Hence, he cannot afford to look weak mere days before the show.

The Austrian Anomaly should stand tall on WWE SmackDown, either in a fiery promo segment or in a hard-hitting pull-apart brawl. Gunther has retired Goldberg, John Cena, and AJ Styles in the past year. Therefore, he must be portrayed as an unstoppable force against Cody Rhodes.