SmackDown Live has been on a roll since it called dibs on some of the best Superstars in the WWE. It’s roster is packed with awesome talent, including the current WWE World Heavyweight Champion AJ Styles.
At No Mercy 2016, AJ has to contend with his two biggest title contenders in a Triple Threat Match. AJ Styles will defend his WWE World Championship against John Cena and Dean Ambrose. Along with that major main event, the SmackDown Live Tag Team Championship, Intercontinental Championship and Women’s Championship will be up for grabs. Plus we’ll finally get to witness the matchup that unfortunately got cancelled during Backlash 2016: Randy Orton vs. Bray Wyatt.
Before WWE No Mercy 2016 officially hits the WWE Network and PPV, let’s break down our predictions for the winners of each matchup.
Nikki Bella vs. Carmella
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Predictions & Winner: Thought we’d never actually say this, but it must be said: Nikki Bella’s involved in something we care about. Carmella may not be a part of Enzo and Big Cass’ army anymore, but she’s doing fine on SmackDown Live as Nikki’s latest foil. At Backlash 2016, Carmella got the one up on the only active Bella twin by eliminating her from the Women’s Championship Match. We envision Nikki getting her revenge during this bout by soundly defeating Carmella and getting payback for that aforementioned transgression. But since this feud will now rest at a 1-1 tie, there’s definitely going to be a tie breaker match of some sort on a future episode of SD Live.
Heath Slater and Rhyno (c) vs. The Usos (Jimmy Uso and Jey Uso) (WWE SmackDown Tag Team Championship)
Predictions & Winners: Man, we’re caught in the middle of who to support here. Heath Slater and Rhyno’s rise to tag team prominence has been incredible to follow, plus we’re totally into the new heel tactics adopted by The Usos. Jimmy and Jey have begun thugging it out by rocking some new fresh gear and making a habit of tearing up their rival’ lower limbs. Slater learned about their leg-focused attack firsthand, so there’s a part of us that believes he could possibly succumb to their plan of attack once more. We know this match will be a fine competition between the two hottest teams on SmackDown Live. Slater and Rhyno are great champions who’re still in the beginning stages of their title reign, which is why we’re picking them to win this match. It’s much too early for them to drop the tag team titles yet. The Usos are not going to take this loss lightly, though; expect Jimmy and Jey to destroy Slater and Rhyno’s legs after the final bell has been rung.
Becky Lynch (c) vs. Alexa Bliss (WWE SmackDown Women’s Championship)
Predictions & Winner: Miss Bliss has gone full crazy Harley Quinn on us with her new look and persona. She’s way more fiercer than she’s been on NXT and her mean streak has taken her straight to #1 contendership status for the Women’s Championship. Becky Lynch is the lovable title holder who’s garnered a huge fanbase due to her fighting spirit efforts against the competition. When these two finally lock up, it’s going to be quite the Women’s contest. While we think Alexa Bliss will put on her finest performance to date, it won’t be good enough to claim the title she needs so badly. Becky Lynch will retain her championship, but Bliss will walk away from this match looking even better than before. Once Survivor Series 2016 rolls around, we think Eva Marie will pop up and make a play for Lynch’s title.
Randy Orton vs. Bray Wyatt
Predictions & Winner: Bray Wyatt has become a non-factor to us. The dude still doles out some incredible promos, but the fact that he loses more than he wins irks us. He truly needs a big win if the world is going to take him seriously. Sadly, we think that’s not going to be the case here. Orton cost Bray his match against Kane at Backlash 2016, which dug The Wyatt Family’s leader hole even deeper into nothingness. Bray has shouted all types of strange quotes at Orton, while Orton has used sneak attacks and some words of his own to put down the cult leader. When they finally go head-to-head at No Mercy, Bray will do everything in his power to cut off “The Viper.” But our gut instinct is telling us Randy Orton will pick up the victory here. After this win, Orton will set his sights on whoever walks away from this event as WWE World Champion.
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The Hype Bros (Mojo Rawley and Zack Ryder) and American Alpha (Chad Gable and Jason Jordan) vs. The Ascension (Konnor and Viktor) and The Vaudevillains (Aiden English and Simon Gotch) (8-Man Tag Team Match)
Predictions & Winners: Heads for the Babyface team, Tails for the Heel Squad. *flips coin* TAILS IT IS! HEELS FTW! But seriously though, The Hype Bros easily vanquished The Vaudevillians and Jason Jordan got the win for his team against one of The Usos previously on SD. The good guys have already gotten their shine, which is why we’re predicting that WWE will throw the bad guys here a bone with a deserving win.
Baron Corbin vs. Jack Swagger
Predictions & Winner: This whole rebuilding angle that’s going on for Jack Swagger is honestly too little, too late. The damage has been done and we just can’t see him getting to the professional heights he once attained. Swagger looks like he’s trying hard to fulfill his promises of becoming even better on SmackDown Live, but the man standing in his way has a lot more going for him. So with all that being said, it’s pretty easy for us to go with Baron Corbin as the winner of this grudge match.
The Miz (c) (with Maryse) vs. Dolph Ziggler (Title vs. Career Match for the WWE Intercontinental Championship; If Ziggler Loses, He Must Retire)
Predictions & Winner: The Miz has been a roll lately. He’s mastered the art of the cocky heel promo and he’s in the midst of making the Intercontinental Championship even stronger. So far he’s 2-0 against Dolph Ziggler, a Superstar who’s experiencing a career rut. Ziggler’s passionate plea for Miz to give him another shot at his IC Title was amazing to see, so now we’re super invested into this rematch. We get the feeling that this third (and we’re thinking final) meeting will be their best match yet. The near-falls that will go down here will take the crowd’s breath away and have everyone on the edge of their seat. Ziggler will once again steal the show during his match, but it won’t do him any good. The Miz will win once again and give us the heartbreaking ending no one saw coming (except us, of course). Miz continues on as IC Champion and Ziggler is outta here. Ziggler’s post-match speech is gonna be the ultimate tear-jerker.
AJ Styles (c) vs. Dean Ambrose vs. John Cena (Triple Threat Match for the WWE World Championship
Predictions & Winner: AJ Styles. Dean Ambrose. And John Cena. Three of the top individuals ruling the roost on the Blue Brand right now. AJ is still on a high after handing Cena two huge losses, plus Ambrose is feeling himself a bit after he managed to defeat Cena. Cena’s on a bit of a downturn right now, which shockingly makes him the least likely to win this main event. These three top guys will no doubt put on the the best match of the entire event. That’s an easy prediction to make. We’re gonna witness a Tower of Doom spot and some wicked cool moments where all three men tear each other apart. When it comes down to the final moment of this WWE World Championship match, AJ Styles will still remain supreme. AJ’s title reign is still fresh, so it’s still gotta keep going. And what’s next? Randy Orton vs. AJ Styles at Survivor Series 2016!
