There have been two WWE Pay-Per-View since the brand extension on July 19. The weekend after the draft hosted Battleground, where Dean Ambrose retained the WWE Championship to bring it to SmackDown. The following Pay-Per-View would be SummerSlam, where Raw and SmackDown had their own matches, followed by the inter-promotional main event of Raw’s Brock Lesnar vs. SmackDown’s Randy Orton. Backlash tomorrow night (September 11) is the first Pay-Per-View after the draft that is just for one brand. Let’s see what the blue brand has in store, and who we should expect to come out on top.
The Usos vs. The Hype Bros – SmackDown Tag Team Championship Tournament Match
Both The Usos and The Hype Bros have lost in the SmackDown Tag Team Championship Tournament. The Hype Bros lost to Heath Slater and Rhyno (who are in the finals) and The Usos lost to American Alpha in under 30 seconds.
American Alpha was originally scheduled to face Heath Slater and Rhyno in the tournament finals, but The Usos had other plans. After their very quick loss on Tuesday, Jimmy and Jey Uso assaulted Jason Jordan and Chad Gable, then injured Gable’s leg. This assault would be enough to keep American Alpha out of the tournament, so it opens up an opportunity for another team to take their place.
Since The Usos and The Hype Bros made it the farthest in the tournament out of the remaining teams, they will face each other to earn a SmackDown Tag Team Championship match later in the night.
Prediction:
The Usos attacking American Alpha last week signified a full-blown heel turn, which means The Usos have a chance to be interesting again. They have stopped caring about the fans, and will do whatever they please to get to the championships. It is nice that Zack Ryder and Mojo Rawley have a spot on a Pay-Per-View card, but the Hype Train is not going to get them to the finals. Winners: The Usos
The Usos/The Hype Bros vs. Heath Slater & Rhyno – SmackDown Tag Team Championships
Heath Slater and Rhyno being in the finals of a tag team tournament is probably the last thing you would expect. However, this is 2016 and nowhere near the craziest thing that has happened in wrestling this year (see below, where AJ Styles has his third opportunity at the WWE World Championship).
Slater has been amazing since he was forgotten in the draft, and has delivered some of the best character work in the last few months of WWE. Rhyno, the man currently running for a seat in the House of Representatives, is helping Slater earn a SmackDown contract so he can support all of his kids and upgrade to a double-wide trailer.
Prediction:
No matter what team faces Slater and Rhyno in this match, I think it is finally time for Heath Slater to get his SmackDown contract. He has shown that he is a quality talent when given the time, and a belt around his waist will help turn Heath Slater from a lower card jobber into a believable upper mid-carder. Winners, and FIRST-EVER SmackDown Tag Team Champions: Heath Slater & Rhyno
The Miz (c) vs. Dolph Ziggler – Intercontinental Championship
Speaking of people who do a great job when given time, Dolph Ziggler has been on a roll (outside of winning the WWE World Championship) since the first SmackDown Six-Pack Challenge. Ziggler had a feud with Dean Ambrose that was intense and showed passion, but Ziggler lost the big match at SummerSlam. This is Dolph Ziggler’s chance to prove that he can win the big one, or else he is going to have to “rethink some things.”
The Miz had a huge “pipebomb” moment on Talking Smack a few weeks ago where he ripped into Daniel Bryan after Bryan called him a coward in the ring. The Miz is arguably one of the best heels in the company, up there with Kevin Owens and Chris Jericho.
Prediction:
The Miz has been a very reliable guy for WWE this year. He helped put AJ Styles over earlier this year, and has played a very important, but overlooked, role in building everyone else around him. Now that he has the Intercontinental Championship around his waist, he has provided interest to the title and has started achieving his goal of making it as important as it once was. Ziggler loses, and he can change his arsenal and come back with a clean slate, while the never-ending reign of The Miz will continue. Winner, and STILL Intercontinental Champion: The Miz
Randy Orton vs. Bray Wyatt
There has not really been a lot going into this match. Sure, there have been a few cryptic promos back and forth. It pretty much boils down to Randy Orton being the “Apex Predator,” and Bray Wyatt wanting to become the new top predator.
Prediction:
Randy Orton returned a couple of weeks before SummerSlam and has not picked up a major win since. However, Bray Wyatt has practically never won a feud in his career. This might be a long shot, but a win for Bray Wyatt here can build him into the top heel that he should’ve been for a long time. Winner: Bray Wyatt
Natalya vs. Becky Lynch vs. Carmella vs. Naomi vs. Alexa Bliss vs. Nikki Bella – SmackDown Women’s Championship Six-Pack Challenge
Since Charlotte was drafted to Raw, so was the Raw (formerly WWE) Women’s Championship. Since SmackDown has a strong women’s division, they need a title of their own. The entire division (minus the suspended Eva Marie) will compete in an elimination match to determine who will be the only first-ever SmackDown Women’s Champion.
Prediction:
There are two obvious choices here: Becky Lynch and Nikki Bella. Lynch is the only member of the Four Horsewomen to never have held a championship in WWE, and it has been long overdue. Nikki Bella could immediately add some credibility to the championship (I’m not saying that Lynch can’t), since she was the longest-reigning Divas Champion of all time. Also, Nikki Bella could go straight into a program with Carmella that has already been hinted at. However, Becky Lynch has been “lass kicking” constantly since the historic Women’s Championship WrestleMania match, and is in a great position to hold some gold tomorrow. Winner, and FIRST-EVER SmackDown Women’s Champion: Becky Lynch
Dean Ambrose (c) vs. AJ Styles
Dean Ambrose has had an impressive WWE World Championship reign. After Seth Rollins defeated Roman Reigns at Money in the Bank, Ambrose cashed in his briefcase to win the title and has never lost a championship match since. In the meantime, AJ Styles defeated John Cena twice to become the self-proclaimed new “face that runs the place.” After defeating Cena clean, it only makes sense that Styles is the next person in line for a title shot.
Prediction:
Ambrose has been a great champion, but AJ Styles has had a hell of a year. This is the time for Styles to really become the new face that runs the place, and prove that belongs when he wins a the WWE Championship. Winner, and NEW WWE World Champion: AJ Styles
