The predominant feud on the SmackDown! brand was between John "Bradshaw" Layfield (JBL) versus Booker T, with the two battling over JBL's WWE Championship. On the October 21 episode of "SmackDown!", SmackDown! General Manager Theodore Long booked a six-man tag team match involving Booker, Rob Van Dam, and Rey Mysterio taking on JBL, Kenzo Suzuki, and René Duprée. At the time, Booker was a heel and congratulated JBL's success with the company in a segment backstage. The tag team match got underway, and JBL was led to believe that Booker was going to betray Van Dam and Mysterio, as Booker warned both Van Dam and Mysterio not to interfere with him during the match. The match concluded with Booker pinning JBL after an axe kick, thus turning Booker face. On the October 28 episode of "SmackDown!", Booker defeated Orlando Jordan to earn the right to face JBL for the WWE Championship at Survivor Series. On the November 4 episode of "SmackDown!", JBL interfered in a match between Booker and Jordan, which ended in a disqualification, giving Booker T the win. After the disqualification by JBL, Theodore Long scheduled a tag team match between Booker and Josh Mathews versus JBL and Jordan. The tag team victory was given to Booker and Mathews, as Booker pinned Jordan for the win.