While the TV ratings aren't really bearing it out, Smackdown Live has absolutely crushed Raw since the brand split in July. In terms of quality of matches, character work, story lines and presentation, the blue brand has been a breath of fresh air in the wrestling world.
Look no further than The Miz and Dolph Ziggler for proof. Both had been afterthoughts on the roster for a while. Now, the former is doing the absolute best work of his life, making the Intercontinential title look vital in the process and revitalising a staid career. And the latter has used 12 years’ worth of WWE continuity to build a sympathetic figure worthy of fan adulation.
The two Ohio natives square off in a title v career match at this Sunday's Smackdown-exclusive No Mercy. It's one of the better feuds the company has done all year, so much so that it's honestly difficult to imagine how it could play out with Ziggler actually leaving the company. Uncertainty surrounding the outcome of a title feud? What a novel concept.
Only six matches are listed for the show right now, which either means they'll add a couple before show time (Curt Hawkins' return is being teased, for one) or the ones that are advertised will get plenty of time. It's an intriguing card regardless. Let's try to predict how the show will go.
AJ Styles (c) v John Cena v Dean Ambrose
Triple threat for the WWE World Championship
The best part of Smackdown has actually been the WWE Network-exclusive post-show, Talking Smack. That's the stage where The Miz and Daniel Bryan had their memorable, potentially unscripted verbal dispute that sent Miz on his current top-of-the company trajectory.
It’s also where last week, John Cena threw the gauntlet down to Dean Ambrose, simultaneously putting the former Shield member in his place while throwing ultimate shade:
Perhaps lost in the public tryst between Cena and Ambrose is the actual champion, AJ Styles, who should retain on Sunday. Expect a finish where Cena’s and Ambrose’s personal animosity grows even fiercer, costing each other the match in one way or another, while Styles moves on to feud with someone else – Randy Orton probably – over the title.
The Miz (c) v Dolph Ziggler
Title v Career: Intercontinental Championship, if Ziggler loses he must retire
This feud hit its absolute apex on Tuesday's Smackdown. The Miz showing this savage "Dolphumentary" chronicling Ziggler's career of failures would have been enough:
Brutal. But then Miz drove the point home even deeper with a segment that ended with some faces from Dolph’s embarrassing past beating him down:
BRUTAL.
In a podcast earlier this year with The National, Ziggler himself said he could leave the ring a lot sooner than people expect. Could his career really be ending, or could he be taking some time off to later return on a more part-time basis?
As hard as it is to imagine, given all the sympathy being built for Ziggler, the only way for this match to end is with The Miz keeping his nuclear heel heat – oh, and the IC title – while sending Dolph to whatever Smackdown-less future he has in store. We wish Ziggler the best in his future endeavours.
Becky Lynch (c) v Alexa Bliss
WWE Smackdown Women’s Championship
Smackdown has done yeoman's work making their Women's division matter without top names such as Charlotte or Sasha Banks, who are anchoring the division on Raw. That's mostly thanks to Becky Lynch, the first title holder on the show. Bliss, a relative newcomer, is an interesting choice for her first title challenger, but it's a smart one that allows other feuds – like Nikki Bella and Carmella – to happen away from the title. That's how you build a division.
Lynch retains clean, Bliss looks better going forward for even being in the same ring, and another challenger rises up for the next show.
Nikki Bella v Carmella
Speaking of Carmella, she's been a revelation as a heel against the super-popular Bella since the latter's return from injury a few weeks ago. This feud has been good enough to continue past No Mercy, and the best way to accomplish that is to have Carmella go over with the win by cheating.
Heath Slater and Rhyno (c) v The Usos
WWE Smackdown Tag Team Championship
This is a rematch of the final of the tag team tournament, surprisingly – pleasantly so – won by Slater and Rynho at last month's Backlash. It'll be a short reign, though. The newly-turned heel Usos would be more champions to help build the tag team division, and they're a ready-made foil for stars-in-waiting American Alpha. The Usos should win clean in the only title change of the night.
Randy Orton v Bray Wyatt
Not everything on Smackdown has been a home run. The Orton-Wyatt feud has been a dud. WWE has done little-to-nothing to make either guy look imposing, having Orton get destroyed by Brock Lesnar at Summerslam and never giving Wyatt clean wins in any of his endless parade of failed rivalries.
Orton will win here and likely move on to challenge Styles for the top title. Let’s hope they can figure out a way to salvage Wyatt afterwards the way they have with The Miz.
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