What Happened After This Week’s “Smackdown Live” Tapings?

Practicing is very important. With just over a month to go before his Smackdown World Title shot at “Wrestlemania XXXIV”, Shinsuke Nakamura is in need of some momentum. He’s barely wrestled on TV since winning the 2018 Royal Rumble and needs to do something as we head towards New Orleans. He was in action on Tuesday, albeit after the cameras were off.

At least he has something for this weekend.

Rusev challenges Shinsuke Nakamura to a match at WWE Fastlane: SmackDown LIVE, March 6, 2018

According to Wrestlinginc.com, Nakamura defeated Rusev in this week’s post-show dark match. Nakamura won the match via DQ when Aiden English interfered, followed by Nakamura hitting English with a Kinshasa. Before the match, Nakamura sang to Rusev as he did on “Smackdown Live”. During the show, Nakamura vs. Rusev was announced for Sunday’s “Fastlane 2018”.

Opinion: I’m not sure I get how they’re going about setting up Nakamura for his “Wrestlemania XXXIV” match. He was barely on TV for weeks and is then put into a mini feud with one of the most popular acts on “Smackdown Live”. A win over Rusev on pay per view will help him, but is that really the best method to get him ready for a major match?

In case you need more of English getting beaten up.

Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Aiden English: SmackDown LIVE, Feb. 27, 2018

Are you interested in Nakamura vs. Rusev? What does Rusev do at “Wrestlemania”? Let us know in the comments below.

Thomas Hall has been a wrestling fan for over thirty years and has seen over 50,000 wrestling matches. He has also been a wrestling reviewer since 2009 with over 5,000 full shows covered. You can find his work at kbwrestlingreviews.com, or check out his Amazon author page with 26 wrestling books. His latest book is the History of the WWE Championship.

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