WWE SmackDown: Burning Questions to Address After Oct. 25 Show

WWE SmackDown is already in the Survivor Series spirit. The biggest questions that emerged about the blue brand after Tuesday's show are all about alliances.

Is the James Ellsworth-Dean Ambrose connection alive and well after the former upended The Lunatic Fringe's title hopes? Is Randy Orton now one of Bray Wyatt's followers? Is The Spirit Squad going to hang around until the Nov. 20 pay-per-view and beyond? 

And Nikki Bella garnered a captain's role for Survivor Series, but which of SmackDown's women will join her?  

Tuesday's SmackDown excelled at creating suspense. The bulk of these questions aren't a result of confusion as much as anticipation.

After watching Ellsworth superkick Ambrose's dreams dead and Orton seemingly pledge himself to The Wyatt Family, it's going to be a long wait to find out how these narratives unfold next week.

What's Ahead for Ellsworth?

The Cinderella story continued for the most unexpected star of the year, as Ellsworth was involved in the SmackDown main event for the third week in a row.

This time, he accompanied Ambrose to ringside. The Lunatic Fringe could claim the No. 1 contender's spot by taking down AJ Styles in non-title action.

Ellsworth, though, lost control during the match. Styles knocked him on his ass. The chinless warrior retaliated with a superkick that earned Ambrose a disqualification. 

On Talking Smack, Ellsworth was contrite and ashamed.

Does Ambrose get back at him? Will this lead to Styles trying to manipulate Ellsworth somehow?

Whatever WWE has planned, it's clear the Ellsworth tale isn't over, as surreal as that sounds. SmackDown promises to keep featuring the lovable loser. Can the blue brand keep up its strong storytelling and creative use of Ellsworth?

That will be a major development to look out for as the weeks roll on.

Is Orton Really Joining The Wyatt Family?

Orton attacked Kane on Tuesday's SmackDown, leaving his supposed partner out cold and alone with Wyatt looming. The Viper didn't go into detail in a backstage interview, but he implied that he will stop trying to beat The Wyatt Family and join them instead.

Is this a tease? Will Orton pull a Daniel Bryan, infiltrating the faction as a means to take down the monster? Or are we going to a see a full-scale transformation from Orton?

If that's the case, SmackDown will have to make some adjustments. Wade Keller of PWTorch asked, "Who fills the babyface slot, if indeed this is a semi-permanent heel turn?"

There is little certainty about this situation, but there is plenty of suspense in its stead.

Thanks to Orton's ambush, his feud with Wyatt is suddenly more compelling. WWE has a multitude of potential paths to take with this story. Wyatt could grow stronger as a mind-controlling leader, or Orton could play the rebel who breaks up the backwoods army.

Either way, SmackDown added another reason for fans to tune in.

Why So Much Spirit Squad?

Dolph Ziggler's old stablemates arrived when it looked like the current intercontinental champion may be headed for early retirement at The Miz's hands at No Mercy. The Miz brought back The Spirit Squad to torture its old pal, but it has yet to go away some three weeks later.

The male cheerleaders goaded Heath Slater and Rhyno into giving them a shot at the tag team titles on Tuesday night.

The Spirit Squad failed to win the gold, but one has to wonder why the duo is in the title mix in the first place.

The tag team division is filled with untapped promise. WWE has failed to boost Breezango or The Ascension in the least since the brand split. The Usos' rivalry with American Alpha has taken a backseat lately.

And a pair of guys who weren't that interesting when they were around the first time are getting all this spotlight? The folks at the Mat Men podcast are among those who find it hard to believe what they are seeing:

Bringing in Ellsworth has altered and advanced the dynamic of the Ambrose-Styles feud. The same can't be said for The Spirit Squad's role with the Ziggler-Miz rivalry.

Its inclusion is a one-note addition to the symphony of the squared circle. And WWE has been blasting that note far longer than needed.

Who Will Fill Out the Survivor Series Teams?

Much of Tuesday's SmackDown focused on Superstars positioning themselves for Survivor Series. The brand's general manager, Daniel Bryan, set up a pair of qualifying matches.

The Hype Bros took on The Ascension for a spot in the Raw vs. SmackDown tag team elimination match. Bella and Natalya battled it out for the right to be the captain of SmackDown's female squad at the PPV.

Natalya's loss also means she won't be on the team at all.

With such a thin roster, it's unclear who will join The Hype Bros and Bella on their respective squads. WWE announced that Slater and Rhyno automatically qualified as the champs. That leaves three spots and five teams—Breezango, The Usos, American Alpha, The Vaudevillains and The Spirit Squad.

Breezango and The Vaudevillains have been invisible for weeks, so it would be surprising to see them get the nod. But going with one of them would be better for the brand long-term than showcasing The Spirit Squad more.

As for the women, four of them are poised to join Bella. The division only has five women other than her and Natalya. 

Eva Marie, though, has been inactive, as she's been busy filming a movie. Will WWE bring her back in time to swipe one of the last Survivor Series spots? Or will the company bring in an NXT Superstar or the soon-to-return Mickie James?

Whatever combination WWE goes with, there will be plenty of animosity within Team Blue. Rivals such as Carmella and Bella and Becky Lynch and Alexa Bliss are destined to have to join forces.

Drama won't be in short supply come Survivor Series—that's for sure.