After the first round matchups of the first ever Smackdown World Cup, we now have a clearer picture of where they are going with it. Here’s your weekly update with the new winners and the storylines that may be coming out of it.
What Happened On This Week’s Smackdown World Cup
This week on Smackdown, we saw the last two first round matchups happen and even though there is a clear winner in this case, we can still fantasy book ahead and see what branches there may possibly be.
In our first match, we saw Riccochet defeating Mustfa Ali. Of course, anyone can look at this match on paper and tell that this was going to be a good match.
Riccochet picked up the victory, most likely because he is the Smackdown star, but I can also see some storyline coming out of this in the form of a friendly rivalry between the two.
If WWE can somehow get Ali on Smackdown, I think that I will be much easier to get Ali over because there is less high end competition in the undercard title scene because there is a world title on Smackdown.
In the other match, we saw Butch defeating Sami Zayn in a match whose outcome surprised me. I thought that the opponents for next week would’ve been switched and Riccochet would’ve been facing Santos Escobar instead.
What’s Next For the Smackdown World Cup?
Although we don’t know when the finals of the Smackdown World Cup will happen, I think that there is a possibility that they may happen at Survivor Series.
This Friday, we will see the Butch vs Santos Escobar, which on paper, sounds like an amazing match and will be a showcase for Escobar to help get him more established with a big win.
Expect some type of interference from The Bloodline to help Escobar win. I think that this is good because there are many storylines that could come out of this.
Escobar may not like The Bloodline sticking their noses into his group’s business which may lead to a mini story with his group and the Uso trio.
Also, it could start up a feud with The Brawling Brutes after Survivor Series. The thought is that Sheamus is going to face GUNTHER at WrestleMania and he needs a path to get there.
I think both groups can gain from the matches that would happen between the two groups with Escobar’s groups winning the multi man matches and Sheamus defeating Escobar in the singles matches.
On the other side, Braun might destroy Riccochet but I doubt it. They have been being very even with Riccochet and I think that is fine. He loses most of his matches but he wins from time to time to keep us honest.
I don’t think that this will be one of those times. Look for Braun to defeat Riccochet in a slightly competitive match and go on to face Santos Escobar at either Survivor Series or the following Smackdown.
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