Backlash Predictions

Hello! It's the first of the now twice a month Predictions posts! Everybody contain your excitement. I know I'm looking forward to losing even more sleep than I am already. We'll probably have to rely on Meltzer for this, but I'm really curious to see how the split-brand PPV's do viewership wise. Specifically how the Smackdown specific PPV's do, because as much as I'm sure most of us have enjoyed the weekly Smackdown show- it can't shake off the stigma of it being the "B Show" in less than 2 Months. I bring this up because of the reports of them giving away tickets for free and the general low attendance expected tonight. Especially for tonight's PPV that was going to be a House Show up until the PPV was announced approximately two and a half months ago. So basically, it's going to take time for Smackdown to be viewed at the same level that RAW is.

I suppose the notable thing right off the bat is that at the time of writing this is there's only 6 announced matches on the card, and one Tag Team is going to be in two of them! To put that into context for you, Takeover: Brooklyn had 6 matches as well, three of which went for close to or more than 20 minutes. That was a two hour show. So basically, my first prediction tonight is whether it will in fact be a 6 match card or if we get some other matches to fill the card out. I can't see a scenario where it is actually a 6 match card. I just can't. Even if the AJ Styles/Dean Ambrose match goes really long. So my first prediction is who will be in said card-filling out matches.

I've got a weird feeling that Jason Jordan's going to be in a Singles Match. It might just be because I remember something Alvarez said around the Draft time about them thinking about calling Jordan up on his own. I'm probably wrong, but I thought I'd just throw that one out there. I think the more likely candidates are us getting an Apollo Crews match against someone (would've said Curt Hawkins if he weren't billed for Tuesday), and then either Kane/Baron Corbin- or if they want to build that match up a bit Kane against Tyler Breeze, Fandango or both. I was also expecting some sort of Kalisto match, and while I don't think it's confirmed- I read on Reddit that he's injured. I might have missed that one while I was in New York.

Either way, those two matches would take us up to an 8 match card which would be able to fill 3 hours pretty comfortably given how long I'm expecting the AJ/Dean and the Women's match to go. On the subject of the card, let's get into some predictions! That's what you're here for right?

The Usos v The Hype Bros
I feel like it's worth repeating the point I made about this match in my Smackdown Review. Within kayfabe, why would Bryan and Shane reward The Usos for causing the situation that meant this match had to be made in the first place? The Usos shouldn't have been rewarded for injuring Gable, they should've been suspended! By the way, I still won't believe Gable wasn't suspended until he's back in less than 4 weeks. I just think with all of the Ryan Lochte stuff, given the fact Gable's a former olympian they decided to keep a lid on it. As I said it's all speculation, and if he's back in less than 4 weeks I'm obviously wrong- but that's just my opinion on it at this moment in time.

I think this outcome is fairly obvious. They can't have The Usos lose to the Hype Bros after just turning them. As a result, The Usos will win. Ideally with shenanigans, just because the Smackdown Tag Division is so weak- The Hype Bros have to be kept looking relatively strong because there will be a time in the not too distant future where they'll be going for the Titles.
Winner: The Usos

Heath Slater & Rhyno v The Usos- Smackdown Tag Title Match
I'm in two minds about the finish of this match. If they hadn't done the injury angle with Gable the picture was quite clear to me. It would've been Heath & Rhyno v American Alpha, and The Usos cost Alpha the win- and then Heath gets his contract. However, now that angle's been taken off the table- and The Usos have already turned I'm not really sure. Especially with how over Heath's got, I could see them wanting to stretch out (read: milking dry) this angle with Heath's quest for a contract for a little while longer. That's a definite possibility, but I think we've reached the natural conclusion of the Slater angle tonight- and Heath will be bringing a contract home to his 7,000 kids. To me, the most likely scenario is a Jason Jordan run-in costing The Usos- followed by a few weeks of The Usos killing him before Gable makes his triumphant return with a run-in to build up No Mercy.

Actually, if they do a celebration either tonight or Tuesday (if Heath wins) where all of his kids come down to the ring to celebrate and there's like 100 ginger kids coming down the ramp I'll forgive everything the WWE has ever done. I know they did that dark segment at Smackdown where he introduced his "family", but it wasn't on TV- and therefore to me it's not canon.
Winner: Heath Slater & Rhyno

Dolph Ziggler v The Miz- IC Title Match
At least to me, there's some legs to this feud- so the only "right" outcome at this stage is for Miz to retain. He won't necessarily "win", but I think- or rather hope that he retains. It'll be really interesting if he doesn't, because that may indicate that his promo on Talking Smack a few weeks ago has meant a bump up the card for him. It may sound weird, and the feud with Orton probably isn't a one-off- but I've always really wanted a proper Bray/Miz feud. I just think it'll give Bray a lot of stuff to talk about in his promos and the clash of worlds so to speak would be quite good. That's one for a bit down the line though. In short, if Miz does lose the Title tonight he's going up the card not down.

I also think this outcome could be directly linked to the outcome of the AJ/Ambrose match- in the sense that they may not want two babyface/heel champions on the show. So in short, I have absolutely no clue what's going to happen in this match. I'll go for Dolph, just because as I've repeatedly said I want AJ to win the Title and this would prolong that hope for a little while longer as the PPV progresses in my mind.
Winner: Dolph Ziggler

Bray Wyatt v Randy Orton
For those of you who've been paying attention on Twitter, you'll know what my prediction for this match is already. I can't see this being a "one and done" feud, and as a result- and with the way WWE does things it's a pretty safe bet that Bray wins in my opinion. Unless they seemingly change their minds, put the Brock/Orton rematch on the Network and use it to build Bray/Brock for Survivor Series.

The question really becomes how does Bray win, and with a certain Luke Harper seemingly ready to return- to me it's almost too perfect. So my prediction is basically exactly what happened at I think Battleground last year where Harper returned, superkicked Roman and allowed Bray to pick up the win. They might throw us a "curveball" with the outcome of this, and if they do I'd actually be in favour of it because it'd mean Bray has a better chance of "winning" the feud- but personally I can't see it.
Winner: Bray Wyatt

BONUS SECTION- Randy Orton possibly injured/not able to wrestle tonight? 
I've seen a few reports about this, and given what I've already said about this being a pretty bare card- I thought it was worth updating these Predictions. Basically, I don't think Randy's "injured injured" in the sense that he's going to be missing much- if any TV. From the way it's been reported it looks as though it's just an injury he hasn't fully gotten over yet. The question basically becomes, what do they do now?

They don't really have to deviate too much from what I've already predicted to happen. From the way it's been reported, it doesn't sound like Randy's too hurt to sell provided he protects whatever injury he's got. So to me, the best option is to film Randy getting ambushed backstage by Bray, Randy gets the upper hand briefly before Harper Superkicks him from off camera outta nowhere and Randy goes down, Bray does his "arms out" pose and they carry him off to the Wyatt Compound. That'll allow them to keep the feud relevant on TV with some vignettes while Randy gets over whatever injury he's got. Or they could just leave him there and Randy can act all pissed off on Tuesday and beyond about it. The point being, there's clear options on how to work this potential bad thing into a good one.

The only real worry is that for tonight, this was probably going to go around about 20 Minutes. That's even more time missing that needs to be filled. If the PPV does go a bit under (anywhere from 1-15 Minutes) I'd say that's fine- but any more than that and it's bad in my opinion. Although I will value the extra sleep it will give me.

Becky Lynch v Alexa Bliss v Nikki Bella v Naomi v Natalya v Carmella- Smackdown Women's Title 6-Pack Elimination Match
I just don't want Nikki to win. I think Alvarez said something similar, Nikki still has the "stink" of the "Divas" on her- because she pretty much summed up the Divas and the Divas Division. I don't hate Nikki, and comparatively to some people I like her. But she just doesn't really "fit" being the first Smackdown Women's Champion in my opinion. I realise it's somewhat hypocritical of me to say that given the fact before she was suspended I expected and wanted Eva to win the Title here- but it would've fit the Eva angle. Nikki just doesn't fit in the Title picture in my opinion. Becky Lynch is just a much better babyface than Nikki- that's a fact. Therefore my view is the best babyface (or best heel: Eva) should be the first Women's Champion.

I thought I'd predict the elimination order, and who does the eliminating as well just for a bit of fun. So here we go;
1. Carmella eliminated by Nikki Bella
I'm expecting this one to be quick. I mean first minute of the match quick. Ideally, they'd do a similar thing to when Zayn hit Owens with the Helluva Kick in that IC Title 4-Way a few months back- where Carmella just runs into a big forearm from Nikki and gets pinned.

2. Natalya eliminated by Naomi
I'd give Naomi one of the pins in this match, just to keep her competitive relative to the rest of the field so to speak. Natalya's the most expendable of all of the Women in-terms of long-term planning, so she should be the first elimination that's just an elimination and won't play into any angle/storyline.

3. Naomi eliminated by Nikki Bella
Even if she doesn't win, Nikki still needs to be kept looking strong- so as a result I'm expecting her to get the most eliminations tonight- and to be the only woman to get more than one elimination in the match. Which I think is the best way to go on the whole, because despite the nature of the match- all of the Women need to be kept looking alright just because of how thin the division is.

4. Nikki Bella eliminated by Alexa Bliss
This is where the early Carmella elimination comes into play. Nikki will be sizing up Alexa for her forearm, when Carmella will come back into the ring, hit some sort of big move on her- which will allow Bliss to go up for the Sparkle Splash and take Nikki out of the equation.

5. Alexa Bliss eliminated by Becky Lynch
You may be wondering why Becky hasn't got an elimination prior to this, and it's for the simple reason that Becky is the perfect underdog. She'll have taken a lot of offence in this match, and just generally be selling a lot. But she'll eventually get the Disarm-Her on Bliss and make her tap to become the new Champion.

This is the ideal scenario to me. You've got the Nikki/Carmella feud- which at this stage looks to be the most viable option for a secondary Women's feud and then you've got Becky as Champion and finally getting the Title. To me, most Babyfaces work better chasing than being chased- but I think just with the way Becky's been booked since she was called up her being chased would work really well.
Winner: Becky Lynch

AJ Styles v Dean Ambrose- WWE Title
I really hope I'm right with this prediction, because in my opinion the WWE and Smackdown needs AJ Styles as Champion. If for no other reason than the fact AJ Styles is literally the best wrestler Smackdown, and in my opinion WWE has at this moment in time. The simple fact of the matter is that both in a wrestling and character sense, AJ is miles ahead of Ambrose at the moment. Especially coming off the back of beating Cena clean, AJ should take the Title and run with it in my opinion until Cena comes back from filming- and then we can get what I thought the first feud would've been for the Smackdown World Title before Ambrose retained and brought the WWE Title over to Smackdown in AJ/Cena. As much as some may not want to admit it, the AJ/Cena feud is far from over and chances are Cena gets his win back when he returns.

I do like Ambrose, but the simple fact is that AJ's better in every conceivable way- and as such should be Champion. It really is that simple to me.
Winner: AJ Styles

I'm actually really looking forward to tonight. I've already said this a few times, but I'm expecting/hoping for a really good show tonight- and crucially some big angles to really get some buzz going with Smackdown as we head into a run of weeks where Smackdown has an actual chance of beating RAW in the ratings between the NFL and a Presidential Debate. Either way, depending on how well booked and how clusterfucky the women's match gets (because it could) I can't see a bad match on the announced card- and there's some proper potential in a few of them.

Thanks for reading as always, hopefully you'll be tagging along on Twitter tonight, and then come back for the Backlash Review tomorrow where hopefully I'll be full of praise and ushering in the new phenomenal era of Smackdown. Thanks again for reading, and once again remember- in a way we're all Heath's Kids.