SmackDown Preview: Wyatts Set for Implosion Tonight

It’s the final WWE show before the Royal Rumble, and the event is almost set. What last-minute surprises will we see before the big battle royal? Here’s what to expect from SmackDown tonight.

The headline match is a battle between Randy Orton and Luke Harper. The two Wyatt Family members have been at each other’s throats for weeks now, and Bray has set them against each other to settle their differences.

Randy’s eventual turn on the family has felt inevitable from the beginning, but a gently-teased swerve where Harper might become the outcast has kept this story engaging. With this as SmackDown’s headline and the Royal Rumble as the place tag teams go to die, it seems the Family isn’t long for this world. But who can say how that break-up will take place?

If you’ve been following us for any amount of time, the reveal of Mickie James under La Luchadora’s mask last week was the least surprising outcome imaginable. But that doesn’t mean we’re not excited about it. James will be interviewed in the ring by Renee Young, and don’t be surprised if events conspire to give her a Royal Rumble match–likely against Becky Lynch.

We’ll also see AJ Styles call out John Cena ahead of their WWE Championship match this Sunday. And Kalisto goes one-on-one against Dolph Ziggler to settle the score after latter’s villainous heel turn.

SmackDown takes place at the Huntington Center in Toledo, OH tonight, broadcast live as always on the USA Network at 8PM Eastern/7PM Central. We’ll have live coverage of everything as it happens, so stick with us here, on Twitter, and on Facebook for all the latest!