WWE SmackDown After WrestleMania 42 Preview: Cody Rhodes relinquishing his title, New champion crowned?

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Here’s a full preview of the SmackDown after WrestleMania 42:

#5. Rhea Ripley puts the SmackDown women’s division on notice

Rhea Ripley captured the WWE Women’s Champion at WrestleMania 42 by beating Jade Cargill. She is now officially a part of the SmackDown roster and tonight, Mami makes her first appearance on the brand as champion. Ripley could address the WWE Universe about her championship win and put the entire women’s division of the blue brand on notice.

The Eradicator is likely to find her first challenger tonight and things could get really exciting. But the biggest question is who would step up to her. There is a chance that Jade Cargill could confront Rhea Ripley and seek a rematch for the WWE Women’s Championship. This could lead to another match between the two rivals at WWE’s upcoming premium live event, Backlash.

#4. NXT stars are set for main roster call-up

The RAW after WrestleMania 42 saw the debut of several NXT talents on the main roster and the same is expected to happen tonight. Friday Night SmackDown will see the arrival of some new stars that will bring fresh energy into the brand. Names like Jacy Jayne, Ricky Saints and even Blake Monroe could show up tonight on the blue brand as its new member.

A few of them could go after the current champions, while others might start a fresh feud with the top stars of the roster. This will be a great way to revive SmackDown and captivate fans’ interest amid its crisis. The blue brand receiving a significant talent infusion from NXT will also play a key role in shaping its landscape in the post-WrestleMania period that seeks a change.

#3. What’s next for Randy Orton?

Randy Orton lost the opportunity to become the Undisputed WWE Champion at WrestleMania 42 as he failed to beat Cody Rhodes. However, he attacked The American Nightmare after the match, hitting the champ with a vicious punt kick. But the biggest question is what’s next for Orton. There is a chance that fans could witness The Apex Predator’s fury tonight on the show.

During a potential segment, Randy Orton could ambush Cody Rhodes from behind and unleash a merciless attack on him. The nature of the attack could be so severe that The Prodical Son might have to be carried away on a stretcher to an ambulance. This could result in Rhodes suffering a storyline injury that would put him on the shelf for a considerable period.

#2. Tiffany Stratton goes after Giulia

Tiffany Stratton defeated Jordynne Grace last week on SmackDown to earn a shot at Giulia’s Women’s United States Championship. Now that WrestleMania 42 is in the rear-view mirror, WWE can finally put this feud in the spotlight. The company can make this title match official for tonight and who knows, Triple H might deliver the first big shocker of the post-Mania season.

Stratton could battle Giulia for the Women’s United States Title tonight in the heart of Texas. In a shocking turn of events, The Buff Barbie could defeat the champ to capture the coveted title. There is a good chance that WWE might showcase such a big moment tonight to capitalize on the red-hot momentum of WrestleMania 42. The crowning of a new champion will create thunderous buzz.

#1. Cody Rhodes to relinquish his WWE Championship?

WrestleMania 42 was not a delightful night for Cody Rhodes as he left the stadium with bruises and wounds; his eyes were almost shut. The American Nightmare showed up with a black eye on RAW this week and it looked gruesome. According to recent reports from Dave Meltzer, Rhodes is placed under concussion protocol and things are more serious than it looks.

Since then, rumors have been swirling that he could relinquish his championship. While the chances of it happening seem low at this point, the one thing that seems clear is that Cody Rhodes is not medically cleared to compete. Therefore, he could show up tonight on SmackDown to address his situation. WWE could showcase an angle where Randy Orton ambushes him, and it could lead to Rhodes being written off from television for a few weeks.