Representing what could one day headline WrestleMania or SummerSlam , tonight’s WWE SmackDown features a main event with WWE Intercontinental Champion Kevin Owens facing off against AJ Styles in a non-title match. While it would appear Owens will defend against Sami Zayn at WrestleMania 32 and Styles will face Chris Jericho, neither match is yet confirmed. At the same time, Roman Reigns violently unleashed his fury on WWE World Heavyweight Champion Triple H during WWE Raw this week. Having done so in silence, will he address the WWE Universe on SmackDown this week?
Dean Ambrose is set to face Brock Lesnar in a No Holds Barred Street Fight on April 3 in Dallas. What will he have to say to his hometown crowd in Cincinnati? While all of the drama surrounding The Undertaker, Vince McMahon, and Shane McMahon has been left on Monday Night Raw , the feuds involving The New Day, The League of Nations, and the WWE Divas Championship are also addressed on the USA Network tonight.
SmackDown spoilers are currently available for tonight’s show, but a spoiler-free preview follows. Following the spoiler-free match list, a deeper look at WWE’s official SmackDown preview is presented. This episode of WWE Thursday Night SmackDown , airing on the USA Network on March 17, was taped in Cincinnati, Ohio, on March 15.
Match-list for WWE Thursday Night SmackDown on March 17, 2016
- Dolph Ziggler vs. The Miz: “The Battle of Ohio”
- Goldust vs. Bubba Ray Dudley
- Charlotte, Sasha Banks & Becky Lynch: “Face-to-Face-to-Face”
- Kofi Kingston vs. King Barrrett
- Kevin Owens vs. A.J. Styles
- Plus appearances by Roman Reigns, Dean Ambrose, Kalisto, the Social Outcasts and many more!
In addition to those matches tonight, WWE.com has published a five-point SmackDown preview that gives the WWE Universe an idea of what storylines and feuds will be featured on tonight’s show.
Can Owens KO The Phenomenal One?
Kevin Owens vs. AJ Styles is a match the Internet Wrestling Community could salivate for. Despite being a non-title match on WWE’s B-show, it should prove to be an entertaining look into WWE’s not-so-distant future.
Of course, with WrestleMania 32 so close, there’s a good chance that Chris Jericho and/or Sami Zayn could make an appearance.
Reigns headed to SmackDown this Thursday?
On WWE Raw , The Big Dog got a taste of revenge when he left The Game in need of multiple stitches. While WWE hasn’t confirmed 100 percent that Reigns will be in attendance, it’s crazy to think they’d put his face on the promotional material if he wasn’t showing up.
. @WWERomanReigns just left a path of destruction through the #RAW locker room as he chased @TripleH . https://t.co/6c0OAdKiML
— WWE (@WWE) March 15, 2016
The real question is, will Reigns have anything significant to say to his WM32 opponent? Will his violent rampage continue even if The Authority isn’t in the building?
What does Charlotte have in store for Sasha and Becky?
When the daughter of the “Dirtiest Player in the Game” invites her two opponents for a “face-to-face-to-face” meeting, you can bet that she has something up her sleeve.
Forget attrition, it’s a war of SUBMISSION between @WWEDivas Champ @MsCharlotteWWE and @NatByNature ! #WWERoadblock https://t.co/c1YNa6g9fA
— WWE (@WWE) March 13, 2016
Does Charlotte have something physical in mind, or is she simply playing mind games with her Triple Threat Match opponents?
SmackDown ‘s Battle of Ohio
If there’s one place that The Miz and Dolph Ziggler are still relevant, it’s the same place that Republican Presidential candidate John Kasich was able to defeat Donald Trump: Ohio.
Dolph Ziggler vs. The Miz: photos #wwe https://t.co/Xukbtfec63 pic.twitter.com/ZqH5z8XbEp
— WWE Fan (@WWE_Fan_321) March 5, 2016
In the latest chapter of their recently-reignited feud, which Ohio-native will come out victorious in their homeland?
Will Kingston put a positive spin on his match against the King?
It what may turn into the most entertaining faction feud since Degeneration-X vs. The Nation of Domination, The New Day, and The League of Nations is easily one of the most comical-yet-physical feuds in recent WWE history.
GIVE THEM ALL THE OSCARS RT @WWEBigE : The New Day Presents: The League of Nations plots against The New Day https://t.co/0nqOaX2DVh
— Qwality TV (@QwalityTV) March 4, 2016
Unable to take the WWE Tag Team Championship from The New Day on two separate occasions, will King Barrett help build momentum for the international foursome as their big WrestleMania match-up approaches?
Where To Watch
USA airs WWE Thursday Night SmackDown at 8/7c. While they are not made available on the WWE Network for several weeks after they air on USA, replays of WWE SmackDown are available on-demand with a Hulu Plus subscription starting Friday.
[Image via WWE ]
