Welcome to the Opening Bell, where we round up what’s been announced for WWE (Raw and SmackDown) and AEW (Dynamite and Rampage) programming for the week we’ve just begun.
WWE Raw preview – Monday, Aug. 29, PPG Paints Arena
The final live WWE show before Clash at the Castle (because SmackDown was taped last week, since everyone is traveling to Wales) is unsurprisingly loaded. The card starts with the crowning of new Women’s Tag Team Champions, as Raquel Rodriguez and Aliyah collide with Dakota Kai and IYO SKY.
Bobby Lashley and The Miz will also do battle on Monday night, but there’s a story to tell first since Miz was dragged into … um, wherever by Dexter Lumis last week. Is he any the worse for wear? And how exactly did he escape? Hopefully there’s a fun story in there somewhere.
Also on the slate for this week’s Raw:
- Hall of Famer Kurt Angle makes an appearance in his hometown
- The Usos and Sami Zayn visit from SmackDown to represent the Bloodline (yes, Sami too)
- Riddle and Seth Rollins have one final face-to-face before Clash at the Castle and it’s likely to result in fisticuffs
AEW Dynamite preview – Wednesday, Aug. 31, NOW Arena, Chicago
Hey, what do you know, AEW has a big event this weekend as well, so Dynamite is also a pretty stacked show as a result. The World Trios Championship tournament will have its Dynamite final (or as it’s better known more generally, the tourney semifinal) when Kenny Omega and the Young Bucks take on Will Ospreay and Aussie Open of the United Empire. Get your popcorn ready, as the great American philosopher Terrell Owens once said.
Also of interest is a tag team match pitting Toni Storm and Hikaru Shida against Dr. Britt Baker and Jamie Hayter. You may recognize those women as the four who will compete at All Out for the interim AEW Women’s Championship.
Plus there’s more already announced for Dynamite:
- Bryan Danielson will step in against Jake Hager, with Chris Jericho on guest commentary
- We’ll hear from AEW World Champion Jon Moxley … hopefully to give him an opponent for All Out, eh?
WWE SmackDown preview – Friday, Sept. 2, Little Caesars Arena, Detroit (taped on Aug. 26)
As mentioned above, this episode is already in the can, as it was recorded after the live SmackDown last week in Motown. You can get full spoilers online should you be so inclined.
If you’d rather just have teasers of what’s to come and enjoy SmackDown as it happens on Friday, here’s what to expect:
- Karrion Kross makes his in-ring SmackDown debut against Drew Gulak
- Ronda Rousey expresses some frustrations to Adam Pearce
- Happy Corbin issues an open challenge, then has to face Shinsuke Nakamura because of it
- Butch takes on Ludwig Kaiser
- Viking Raiders and New Day face off in a Viking Rules match
- The Bloodline throws a two-year anniversary celebration for Roman Reigns since he’s now held the Universal Championship for two years
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AEW Rampage preview – Friday, Sept. 2, NOW Arena, Chicago
In a bit of role reversal, Rampage is live this week while SmackDown is recorded. That means it should be a sweet hour of TV even though AEW has so far not said much about what to expect yet.
One match we feel confident will take place is the other semifinal of the World Trios Tournament. The two teams left on the Rampage side of the bracket are Dark Order, after they upset House of Black, and Best Friends. Expect to see them compete this Friday for the right to challenge for the inaugural championship on Sunday.