If I had to pick one brand or company that was at the top in 2023, it would specifically be Smackdown. Even when Vince was in charge, Smackdown was consistently a great show week after week. In 2023, these wrestlers will be on the tips of wrestling fan’s tongues at the end of the year.
Santos Escobar
I think that he has already had a solid showing since arriving on Friday nights. Has it been perfect? No, but it is great for someone that the last guy that was in charge didn’t even want.
I don’t see Santos ever making it past spot main eventer, but there is nothing wrong with that. I think that he will hold down the Intercontinental title picture for years to come.
It won’t be a guarantee that he will become champion by the end of the year, but I can see some of the most memorable matches on Smackdown this year involving Escobar one way or another.
Just make that the tag team in his faction isn’t booked like enhancement talent and Santos Escobar will go far.
Shayna Baszler
This one has been a long time coming. Ever since she was in NXT, she has been someone that I’ve gravitated towards and wanted to see what she could do if given the opportunity.
I think the fact that she doesn’t look like your traditional WWE women’s wrestler had a lot to do with why she wasn’t pushed like I feel like she should have been, but that is the same reason why I think that she should be pushed.
Smackdown’s women’s division is on life support and hopefully Charlotte can drastically improve the quality of it but she won’t be able to do it alone.
Looking at who they have, I think that Emma is one of the only people that can help her, but Shayna will probably become the biggest heel women’s wrestler that the company has.
Solo Sikoa
There is only so long that Solo can be delegated to being the background muscle. He has been booked to be the biggest threat in the Bloodline.
While he is a great supporting character, I think that he will take a bigger role in the front in 2023.
The way that I think the company can get to this point is by having Solo attack Roman on probably the Smackdown after WrestleMania.
He would do this after Roman starts talking down on the Usos for losing the titles at WrestleMania. Solo would stick up for his real-life brothers and beat Roman down. After this, there will be a new Bloodline with Solo as its lead.
I think the way to get the most out of Solo would be to keep him away from chasing championships for the time being and having him just want to inflict as much pain on others as possible.
Some possible long-term opponents for him include Roman Reigns, Sheamus, Drew McIntyre, and Braun Stroman.
CHECK IT OUT: Get The Overtimer’s Hottest Stories, Breaking News and Special Features in your email, CLICK HERE!
