It's Draft Day in the WWE as the brand extension is set to go full-force with "SmackDown Live" on Tuesday night.
With just five nights until Battleground, "SmackDown" is set to emanate live from the DCU Center in Worcester, Mass., as "RAW" leaders Stephanie McMahon and Mick Foley and "SmackDown" executives Shane McMahon and Daniel Bryan prepare for one of the biggest nights in WWE history.
Here are five things to watch for this week on "SmackDown Live."
1) Draft Day
The most important part of this week's show will be the WWE Draft. There are plenty of surprises in store this week and six NXT Superstars are guaranteed to be called up to the main roster. The full Draft rules can be viewed here. Our mock Draft can be found here. "RAW" will have the first overall pick, and there are plenty of options for the honor. When the night comes to an end, the landscape of the WWE will be changed forever.
2) Title Wave
There was controversy abound on "RAW" this week as Stephanie McMahon declared Seth Rollins the WWE Champion after a double pin during his match with Dean Ambrose, while the call was eventually overturned via replay at the request of Shane McMahon, meaning the "Lunatic Fringe" was champion due to a draw. It was revealed the two will square off again for the richest prize in the game on "SmackDown." It appears likely both Superstars will be on different brands and each represent their respective show as champion down the line.
3) 'SmackDown' Surprise
With the WWE Draft occurring on Tuesday, there is no doubt that the NXT stars may not be the only surprises coming. Though the WWE's rules for the Draft have seemingly listed all eligible stars, there were rumors that the company may be also bringing back past faces as potential surprise selections. Names such as MVP and Kurt Angle have been rumored, so there may be some unexpected twists and turns.
4) Midcard Mania
There are a several storylines in the midcard title pictures and "SmackDown" will be the final buildup toward the Battleground event. Rusev is getting set for a United States Championship clash with Zack Ryder, The Miz is ready to defend the Intercontinental Championship against Darren Young and The New Day are going to have a non-title collision with The Wyatt Family. With the Draft, many of these parties could end up on different shows and this will be the last time they're all together on "SmackDown."
5) The Battle Begins
There are other rivalries to keep an eye on as the Draft won't take away from the Battleground buildup. Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens are set for battle on Sunday, while Becky Lynch is also in the midst of a feud with Natalya. Elsewhere in the women's division, Sasha Banks is on the hunt for a partner as she prepares to take on Charlotte and Dana Brooke at Battleground. The WWE has also teased a potential rift between John Cena and his partners Enzo and Cass in the midst of their feud with The Club.
