WWE Friday Night SmackDown Preview And Schedule: March 17, 2023

Contenders Match set for Smackdown (image courtesy Twitter) — Contender's Match set for Smackdown (image courtesy Twitter)

Bengaluru, March 17: In a predicted shaky edition of Smackdown on the road to WrestleMania 39, The Bloodline continues to feature in the center stage when Sami Zayn comes face-to-face with his former buddy Jey Uso in the headliner.

Also, a mega contender's match is scheduled for the show featuring two former WWE Champions to determine the next challenger for the Intercontinental Title and a match for the champion GUNTHER at WrestleMania 39.

Here is more on the confirmed segments of the March 17 edition of Friday Night Smackdown scheduled from the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri:

Sami Zayn to confront Jey Uso

The emotional roller-coaster ride for Sami Zayn may continue for Sami Zayn when he meets the friend-turned-foe in Jey Uso on this week's SmackDown inside that squared circle.

The well-documented relationship between Zayn and "Main Event" Jey Uso goes way back to when the latter had problems with The Bloodline recruiting The Canadian Superstar to the group.

From untrusted stablemates, they went on to become full-blown allies during Zayn's nearly eight-month tenure in The Bloodline. Then in January, The Master Strategist were thrown out of The Bloodline and it was Jey who put up a silent protest.

For obvious reasons, Zayn requested Jey's assistance in taking down The Bloodline. Two weeks ago, Jey intended to agree to the offer but then he shocked the WWE Universe with an attack on Zayn to rejoin his brother Jimmy.

Jey has since been vocal about his loyalties to his family. However, we shouldn't forget that Jey himself had a tumultuous start in The Bloodline in the early days of the faction.

Roman Reigns literally forced him to join the stable after crushing him in an "I Quit" Hell in a Cell match, two years ago. From this perspective, you never really know what the self-proclaimed Emmy-nominated storyline (by Paul Heyman) has to offer on SmackDown.

Sheamus vs. Drew McIntyre

Last week on SmackDown, Drew McIntyre, Sheamus, Karrion Kross, Xavier Woods, and LA Knight battled it out in a Fatal-5-Way Match for a chance at GUNTHER's Intercontinental Championship at WrestleMania 39.

The closing moment of the match witnessed both McIntyre and Sheamus hitting their respective finishers, Claymore and Brogue Kick on Knight and Woods to earn the pin-fall wins at the same.

Since McIntyre and Sheamus pinned both the competitors, at the same time, the referee couldn't take a decision on the clear victor. GUNTHER was also furious with the thought of getting challenger(s) instead of a challenger.

In this circumstance, WWE Official Adam Pearce made the call for Drew McIntyre and Sheamus to face each other this week in a possible earth-shattering collision with the winner being granted an opportunity for the Intercontinental Title against Gunther at WrestleMania.

Possible appearances from the Raw roster

Apart from the above-mentioned two segments, Ringside News has confirmed that WWE Superstars will continue the trend of making cross-brand appearances on the road to WrestleMania 39.

Two Raw Superstars are currently slated to be on the show with one name being the former 2-time WWE Champion Bobby Lashley. Due to Bray Wyatt's recent absence from TV and house shows, Lashley vs. Wyatt at WrestleMania is said to be in jeopardy, at this juncture.

The other Raw superstar scheduled for a SmackDown appearance is the United States Champion Austin Theory. With the biggest match of his career closing in at the Show of Shows against John Cena, the top brass heel is likely to garner more heel heat from the audience.