WWE SmackDown: Potential Spoilers, Rumors, News and Preview for Feb. 28

WWE was supposed to fix the Randy Orton situation, but it's an even bigger mess than it was before.

Orton's surprising refusal to face his mentor, Bray Wyatt, at WrestleMania 33 was directly addressed by the company on Feb. 21. It was on that night when a Battle Royal was held to determine a new No. 1 contender for the WWE Championship.

But instead of one man left standing, there were two.

AJ Styles and Luke Harper ended the match together, and now, SmackDown Live will once again try to decide the WWE Championship match at The Show of Shows. Harper vs. Styles is an interesting bout, mostly because of Harper's rise as a main event star.

It's also intriguing because, if Styles loses, his WrestleMania fate is still up in the air.

The problem is that fate may include Shane McMahon, who many believe could be the man to face The Phenomenal One at WrestleMania on April 2. It's not a match that anyone seems to want, but that may not stop it from happening.

But when will the heat between the two men begin?

Harper and Styles Clash

The match for main event stardom cannot be overlooked and may be the key to getting Styles vs. McMahon moving in the right direction. 

Harper is one of the most physically gifted big men WWE has ever seen. He's quick, agile and fully capable of making his mark on the company. All he needs is the right stage against the right opponent.

Styles is that opponent.

But this match may be more about what's to come instead of what's happening. The first time WWE tried to get it right with the Battle Royal, it failed. If Styles once again finds himself without a win, he may snap.

If he snaps on the boss, then his Road to WrestleMania will officially begin.

McMahon's possible presence at ringside after Styles' match with Harper would set the scene for April 2. If Styles takes out his frustration on McMahon, then there would be no doubt as to what WWE intends on booking for WrestleMania.

Whether fans want that match is still up for debate.

As a result of all this, the champ's fate is on hold. Instead of beginning his title run on TV and building to a pay-per-view, Wyatt is left in limbo. It's all about getting him to WrestleMania—and likely taking the belt off him when he gets there.

It's not a fate he deserves, as he only just won the gold and has not had a real opportunity to enjoy it. His supporters have had his back from day one and wanted to see him succeed, but winning the company's top championship should not be a means to an end.

Wyatt has earned the right to wear the gold, and he should do so after WrestleMania is over.

Elsewhere, Baron Corbin and Dean Ambrose will continue their rivalry on SmackDown, which should lead to a WrestleMania match of their own. Corbin has been steadily growing week after week, and he's quickly reaching the point where he will be ready to take the intercontinental title.

Ambrose is still one of SmackDown Live's top players, but Corbin's time is coming.

Feel the Glow, Watch It Go

Naomi's time came and went.

Her relinquishment of the SmackDown Women's Championship came as a surprise to everyone. Naomi's win over Alexa Bliss was a feel-good moment, mostly because Naomi was one of the last members of the women's revolution to finally wear the gold.

But then she was forced to give it back.

Naomi's injury will need time to heal, but time is on the side of another Superstar who could be headed to the main roster soon. According to Steven Fernandes of PWInsider.com, NXT women's champion Asuka has been booked to work a SmackDown Live event at Madison Square Garden on March 12.

Asuka will be teaming with Becky Lynch, Tamina and Nikki Bella against Bliss, Carmella, Mickie James and Natalya. Though one event does not necessarily signal a main-roster move right now, it's interesting that WWE would choose Asuka for this spot.

Perhaps the company is testing the waters for Asuka's eventual move to Tuesday nights.

The problem is that she's still a top titleholder on NXT. Her immediate competition is not ready to take her place, so Asuka may remain where she is for now. In the meantime, Bliss must move on to the next challenge.

That challenge could come from Lynch again. Or it could come from Bella, who may be overdue for another run with the gold. But that may not happen, thanks to another developing situation on SmackDown Live.

Mixed Tag Turmoil

The idea of Bella teaming with John Cena may have seemed like a silly one to some in the beginning.

After all, the two had little to do with each other on SmackDown Live. Their relationship was usually featured on Total Divas, but that was it. But thanks to Natalya, Cena's and Bella's careers have intersected on TV.

Now, it seems it's all being done to build a match for WrestleMania.

Maryse struck first blood when she attacked Bella, and now, Cena will address the situation when he appears on Miz TV. Cena and The Miz have not had any real heat in a while, but it's a ready-made feud that could be revisited whenever WWE wants to.

Bella and Cena vs. The Miz and Maryse at WrestleMania. It may not be the match fans expected, but it may just be what they get.

Cena somewhat dodged the issue in a recent interview with Justin Barrasso of Sports Illustrated, saying that, whatever he was given to do, he would do it to the best of his ability. But the bout makes sense, it works and it gives Bella something to do before she's put into women's title contention. The Miz would be distracted from the Intercontinental Championship until the company decides to put it on him again.

But more importantly, Cena will be continuing his role as the top guy who's sliding to the background to make room for the New Era.

Anyone who perhaps believed it was all just a gimmick is now believing otherwise. Cena is settling into his new spot next to the top. He's still the main star in many ways, but without him agreeing to pull back, other stars would not be getting their dues.

Proof positive that he's serious about it would come if the mixed tag team match happens at WrestleMania.

Tom Clark can regularly be seen on Bleacher Report. His podcast, Tom Clark's Main Event, is available on iTunes, Google Play, Amazon Android, Windows Phone and online here.