SD Live: Battle Royal will crown new #1 contender for WWE Championship next week

After Randy Orton decided to give up the privileges that go along with winning the Royal Rumble (headlining WrestleMania) Smackdown officials had a difficult decision to make. If Orton won’t face WWE Champion Bray Wyatt in the main event of WrestleMania 33, who will?

Just moments ago on the WWE Network exclusive Smackdown Live after-show Talking Smack, Daniel Bryan revealed that a Battle Royal will take place to crown a new #1 contender for the most prestigious prize in WWE.

BREAKING: @WWEDanielBryan announces a #1Contender #BattleRoyal NEXT WEEK on #SDLive to replace @RandyOrton, who refuses to face Bray Wyatt! pic.twitter.com/f9WCD4D6Tz

— WWE (@WWE) February 15, 2017

Editor’s Note: With Randy Orton continuing to pledge his undying allegiance to Wyatt, the only way to get him back into the main event would be to have the recently excommunicated Luke Harper win next week’s Battle Royal. Luke Harper in the main event of WrestleMania? Sign us up. That said, Wyatt versus Orton in a singles match is still the likely outcome come April – you can expect more creative ways like this from the blue brand to make us think otherwise with well over a month until Orlando.

image credit – WWE