SmackDown is set to ignite the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona, tonight (Sept. 22) for the third episode in the build-up to Fastlane, scheduled for October 7. However, the buzz surrounds Grayson Waller’s recent verbal barrage against John Cena and what it could mean for Cena’s future in the squared circle.
Waller’s On-Point Critique
In a recent episode of Grayson Waller’s talk show, John Cena found himself in the hot seat. However, Waller and Jim Uso refused to let Cena have a word in edgewise. Waller’s scathing assessment of Cena’s current in-ring abilities left no room for ambiguity:
“You had to make it all about you one more time. In fact, at Payback, you got back in the ring. But not as a competitor, no, as a special guest referee. And then you had the audacity to come out here and lie to these people. He’s lied to you because the truth is… you don’t want to be an in-ring competitor anymore. Yeah, truth hurts, right?
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And there is no doubt that you are the greatest of all time. But there’s also no doubt that you’re not even close to being the greatest right now.”
Waller’s biting critique has a valid point, as Cena’s recent track record in the ring hasn’t been stellar. His last pay-per-view victory dates back to 2018, and his loss to Austin Theory at WrestleMania this year seemed to confirm Waller’s claims about Cena’s decline.
Cena’s Next Move
The verbal jousting was interrupted by Jim Uso and Solo Sikoa, who launched an attack on Cena. AJ Styles intervened to rescue Cena, leaving fans speculating about Cena’s next match. With Fastlane approaching, it’s anticipated that Cena will address Waller’s comments on tonight’s episode of SmackDown. The big question is, who will be Cena’s next opponent? Will it be a singles match against Uso or a tag team showdown with AJ Styles against Uso and Sikoa?
Title Scene Heats Up
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Tonight’s SmackDown also promises action in the title scene. WWE Women’s Champion IYO SKY faces a challenging defense against Asuka. Damage CTRL, IYO’s allies, have expressed doubts about her readiness for this bout, making it a pivotal moment for the Genius of the Sky.
United States Champion Rey Mysterio and Santos Escobar will join forces to take on the Street Profits, setting the stage for a potential clash between the champions in the near future.
The future of WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns remains uncertain, as he is not booked for Fastlane and hasn’t appeared on TV recently. Possible contenders like AJ Styles or LA Knight could be on the horizon, but nothing is confirmed.
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What Lies Ahead
SmackDown promises more intriguing storylines to follow:
- Bayley’s feud with Shotzi continues, with fans eager to see how Shotzi plans to seek revenge.
- Adam Pearce anticipates the return of Pretty Deadly to the ring, raising questions about their championship pursuits.
- LA Knight, fresh from his feud with The Miz, aims to secure championship gold, leaving fans curious about his target.
- Austin Theory seeks redemption after suffering a beatdown from The Rock and Pat McAfee.
- Karrion Kross may resurface on TV after his uneventful feud with AJ Styles.
- The future of Hit Row hangs in the balance following Top Dolla’s release.
- The WWE Universe awaits a trade compensation move, as Raw may send a wrestler to SmackDown in exchange for Jey Uso.
