The SmackDown World Cup is shaping up to be an excellent addition to the blue brand’s storylines. The World Cup features Eight competitors representing different countries in a single knockout tournament. The winner would receive a shot at Gunther’s WWE Intercontinental Champion.
The 2 first round matches concluded last week, and the remaining ones are coming to a close on the upcoming edition of Friday Night SmackDown. The first two bouts saw Shinsuke Nakamura, and Jinder Mahal suffer defeat and elimination at the hands of Santos Escobar and Braun Strowman respectively. With only 6 competitors left in the tournament, let’s rank their chances of clinching the SmackDown World Cup:
6. Mustafa Ali
The 450-splash expert was a last-minute replacement for Rey Mysterio. His creative frustrations and vocal nature might be a setback for his booking to win the SmackDown World Cup. Therefore, Ali ranks at number #6 on our list with the least chances to win the tournament.
NEXT WEEK on #SmackDown@AliWWE vs. @KingRicochet in the #SmackDownWorldCup! pic.twitter.com/PyQvDCIA5L
— WWE (@WWE) November 12, 2022
5. Ricochet
Despite being a former WWE Intercontinental and United States Champion, Ricochet has not been able to connect with the audience so far. He is rarely seen on WWE TV and even his amazing athleticism has failed to impress the WWE Universe. This makes his chances slightly less to win the World Cup, gaining the #5 slot, one ahead of his scheduled opponent for the World Cup, Mustafa Ali.
4. Butch
One half of the Brawling Brutes, the hard-hitting Butch looks to be a prospect for winning the World Cup. The Englishmen regular TV presence, featured in high-profile storylines and amazing in-ring acumen puts him above Ricochet and Ali in our list at #4 to claim the prestigious World Cup.
3. Santos Escobar
The leader of Legedo Del Fantasma’s chances to win the World Cup for Mexico is a bigger possibility, after his huge win over the Japanese star Shinsuke Nakamura, with Santos Escobar occupying the number #3 spot on our list.
2. Braun Strowman
With his brute strength and ability to lay carnage, The Monster of All Monsters is a massive favorite to win the SmackDown World Cup.
1. Sami Zayn
Los 8 luchadores de la #SmackDown World Cup:
๐บ๐ธ – Ricochet
๐บ๐ธ – Braun Strowman
๐ฒ๐ฝ – Santos Escobar
๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ – Butch
๐จ๐ฆ – Sami Zayn
๐ฎ๐ณ – Jinder Mahal
๐ฏ๐ต – Shinsuke Nakamura
๐ต๐ฐ – Mustafa AliAdvertisementSami debe de ser el mรกximo favorito. Y echo de menos alguna nacionalidad mรกs. pic.twitter.com/SEC16aHLo1
— Luigi (@LuigiWrestling) November 12, 2022
The highly popular ‘Honorary Uce’ of the Bloodline, Sami Zayn is one of the major attractions on Friday Night SmackDown. Zayn’s incredible character work and connect with the WWE Universe makes him the front-runner to bring the SmackDown World Cup to the Island of Relevancy, that would surely make Roman Reigns happy.
