SmackDown Preview for September 27, 2016 - A World Title Rematch

We’re halfway to SmackDown’s second pay-per-view, No Mercy, and the blue brand continues to be making the best of things after the brand split. With compelling stories, solid in-ring action, and a smart utilization of overlooked talent, SmackDown is quickly becoming WWE’s fan-favorite program.

Most of the title matches for next month’s PPV are set, and all that remains to be seen is how the competitors handle the action in the meantime. The biggest question–who will be heading into No Mercy as WWE World Heavyweight Champion?

Dean Ambrose takes on AJ Styles in World Championship rematch

It’s SmackDown Live’s first televised world title defense, and if the match these two had at Backlash is any indication, it should be an excellent contest. It would be shocking if AJ dropped the title here given his big push as the brand’s top heel, but Dean’s charisma and AJ’s apparent inability to have a bad match means that SmackDown’s main event will be well worth tuning into.

It may be looking like a predictable conclusion, but that predictability highlights one of the strengths of the current SmackDown: consistency. In the world of wrestling, former champions are supposed to have one-on-one rematches for the title, and GM Daniel Bryan will ensure that this clause is taken care of before the next defense. It’s a small thing, but WWE has had a bad habit of simply forgetting about those small threads, hurting the believability of the show. Not so on SmackDown.

The women’s division keeps rocking

In the draft, it seemed that SmackDown’s women’s division got the looks, while Raw got the talent, but smart booking has ensured that the ladies of the blue brand have been kicking ass every week. We already knew that champion Becky Lynch was a terrific competitor, and her feud with the NXT-favorite bad girl, Alexa Bliss, has elevated both fighters. Nikki Bella and Carmella have had similar success, and with both Daniel Bryan and Nikki teasing a no-DQ stipulation, they could soon be set for a brutal brawl at No Mercy.

What’s next for the Miz, Dolph Ziggler, and the Intercontinental Championship?

The Miz reinvigorated his Intercontinental Title run with an impassioned promo on Talking Smack, and his cowardly, insecure character has been a highlight on SmackDown ever since. He’s slowly becoming more aggressive in the ring while still not quite being confident enough to secure a match without resorting to dirty tactics. In short, it’s been great character development. Who challenges for the title at No Mercy? I expect Dolph Ziggler to seek revenge, and a championship run might be what the show-off needs to keep from fading into obscurity again.

The Viper takes on the Wyatt Family

Randy Orton has been cleared to compete after the concussion he suffered at SummerSlam, which means it’s finally time for his feud with Bray Wyatt to heat up. The Apex Predator took down Bray’s acolyte Erick Rowan last week, which means that now is the time for Orton to set his sights on Wyatt himself. Expect an announcement for their No Mercy match tonight.

The Usos are set to become the dominant heels of SmackDown’s tag division

I had no idea I wanted it, but turning the Usos into monster heels has been put some incredible life into SmackDown’s tag division. The title reign of Slater and Rhyno has been fun, but don’t expect it to be very long. I expect to see the Usos continue their dominance tonight, and for the incredible duo in American Alpha to showcase what they’re capable of. Once the Usos capture the tag titles, I expect to see a lengthy, awesome feud between the two tag teams.