It's time for another episode of WWE SmackDown, and this week's show promises to be a doozy! With a live audience in the MVP Arena in Albany, New York, the blue brand is gearing up for the five-week build-up to SummerSlam. But here's the thing: WWE has somehow forgotten to book a card for the show. Yes, you read that right. Zero matches have been announced, and it's left Raw GM Adam Pearce in a bit of a pickle. Personally, I think this is a bold move by WWE, and it raises a lot of questions about the creative direction of the show. What makes this particularly fascinating is the potential implications for the upcoming SummerSlam pay-per-view event. If you take a step back and think about it, this could be a strategic move to build anticipation and create a sense of mystery around the event. In my opinion, WWE is playing a game of cat and mouse with its fans, and it's a risky move that could pay off big time if executed well. One thing that immediately stands out is the absence of any GUNTHER-related matches. The Ring General attacked GM Nick Aldis last week, and you'd think that would warrant some form of punishment. However, in the world of pro wrestling, suspending or firing the offender isn't always enough. Instead, we can expect some charismatic trash talk, low blows, and perhaps even a 2-on-1 match between Aldis and Pearce against GUNTHER at SummerSlam. What many people don't realize is that this could be a calculated move to build GUNTHER's character and create a compelling storyline. If you think about it, GUNTHER's booking since he sent John Cena and AJ Styles into retirement has been a bit of a failure. This could be WWE's way of giving him a second chance and creating a more engaging narrative around him. Now, let's talk about the rest of the card. There are a few other issues that Pearce might need to address, such as adding stakes to the CM Punk and Cody Rhodes vs. GUNTHER and Sami Zayn tag team match at Saturday Night's Main Event. Will Zayn return from his mental health break to demand a spot in the WWE Championship match? Will there be any tension between Punk and Rhodes as they formulate a strategy for winning at SNME? Additionally, we have the ongoing saga of Rhea Ripley, who's been out with an injury since early June. There aren't any obvious challengers for the WWE Women's Championship at SummerSlam, so WWE might keep quiet until she's ready to return. Another interesting development is Baron Corbin's surprise return to WWE last week. Will he get some promo time tonight to explain why he wants Trick Williams' furry custom title so badly? How does this alter Ricky Saints' pursuit of the belt? And what about the rising star, Blake Monroe, who attacked Chelsea Green on last week's episode? Will she get her revenge on SmackDown programming? Speaking of Chelsea, will she and Women's United States Champion Tiffany Stratton use the Irresistible Forces as a stepping stone to get a tag title match of their own? And what about the WWE Tag Team Champions, Damian Priest and R-Truth? Will they continue to delay their winner-take-all match against the AAA World Tag Team Champions, War Raiders? There's also the matter of Alexa Bliss and her double jointed elbow, who took a hit from Jade Cargill and her Baddies. Will Charlotte Flair demand a match at SummerSlam against Cargill to get revenge for her friend? Could this lead to Bliss turning heel on The Queen? And what about The Bloodline? Will Jacob Fatu and Big Jim Uso return to SmackDown to hunt down Solo Sikoa for betraying them on Raw? Will Royce Keys return the favor? And what's next for Finn Balor after his victory over Tama Tonga? Will the Tongans be nice enough to let him move on? And finally, where is Jordynne Grace? Her uncertain creative direction is a mystery, and I'm sure many fans are wondering the same thing. In conclusion, tonight's episode of WWE SmackDown is shaping up to be a wild ride. With zero matches announced, WWE is playing a game of cat and mouse with its fans, and it's a risky move that could pay off big time if executed well. So, tune in and see what unfolds! Personally, I can't wait to see how WWE handles this unique situation and how it impacts the build-up to SummerSlam. What about you? What are you looking forward to seeing on SmackDown tonight?
