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WWE Backlash 2016 will be a SmackDown brand-exclusive pay-per-view event on September 11, 2016 at the Richmond Coliseum in Richmond, VA. Follow along here for spoilers and information on the event's card, lineup of matches and news regarding the pay-per-view.

Here are my predictions for the 2016 WWE Backlash PPV. Check back for Backlash 2016 results and review coverage here.

SmackDown's WWE Backlash 2016 Spoilers

WWE World Championship Match: Dean Ambrose (c) vs. AJ Styles

I'm very intrigued, but also very concerned. I thought AJ Styles would be wrapped up with either John Cena or Randy Orton and Bray Wyatt would be in his place wrestling Dolph Ziggler and Dean Ambrose in a triple threat. When the option to make this a triple threat with Ziggler and Styles came up, that seemed like the route they would go, but Ziggler was then pushed aside. Bray Wyatt is now feuding with Randy Orton, which I think is a mistake (more on that below) and I have no idea what they'll do with Ziggler, and Cena's taking the first SmackDown event off, AND I think this is too early to do Styles vs. Ambrose.

This is either a panic response in the hopes that they'll put the most interesting thing out there and beg people to watch, or WWE has a few tricks up their sleeves. I'm inclined to believe the former, as we have suspensions and injuries and people leaving the company and more. Just don't mess this up, WWE. I don't want to see Ambrose win here, a rematch at No Mercy, a rematch at Survivor Series, a rematch after that and for the title change to happen at the wrong time or for anything weird to happen. I don't have a lot of faith that I'm going to enjoy WWE programming over the next few months, and oddly enough, a match as good as this one is one of the reasons that makes me think that, because I feel like they're jumping the gun and will run out of options.

As far as this match itself, I think I'll enjoy it a ton. It's what happens afterward that I'm scared of.

PREDICTION: Dean Ambrose wins.


SmackDown Women's Championship Six-Pack Challenge Match: Natalya vs. Naomi vs. Becky Lynch vs. Nikki Bella vs. Carmella vs. Alexa Bliss

It would've pissed people off so much if Eva Marie were to win this, and I almost wanted them to do that just for the look on everyone's faces despite how risky it would be, but with her being suspended, that's no longer on the table unless it happens after her suspension is up. If a match takes place at Backlash and she's not available, then this definitely needs to be given to Becky Lynch, Natalya, Alexa Bliss or Naomi, but I'd narrow it down to Lynch or Bliss as the other two don't have as much steam behind them. I love a lot about Carmella, but she's not ready, either. The standout of the bunch is definitely Becky Lynch, so she's my pick.

PREDICTION: Becky Lynch wins.


SmackDown Tag Team Championship Tournament Semi-Finals: The Usos vs. The Hype Bros

I've had to adjust this paragraph so often over the past week, but here we go again. I now like the way they're doing this, as opposed to being against it. The Usos will defeat The Hype Bros and then spoil the party for Heath Slater and Rhyno, which will make them look very strong to offset their quick loss to American Alpha. My previous pick to win the tournament post-SummerSlam is now restored, as heel Usos makes sense.

PREDICTION: The Usos win.

SmackDown Tag Team Championship Match: Heath Slater & Rhyno vs. TBD

As mentioned in the section above, I expect The Usos to take down The Hype Bros and then also ruin everything for Heath Slater and Rhyno, making them quite over as heels by taking all of the potential babyfaces out of the equation. Perhaps Slater and Rhyno pull off the win and then drop the title the next night to The Usos or something like that, but I would have to aim more for The Usos getting the victory.

PREDICTION: The Usos win the titles.


Bray Wyatt vs. Randy Orton

I maintain that Orton should have started a feud with Styles and Wyatt should have been in a triple threat match with Ambrose and Ziggler instead of going this route, but hey, that's just what I would prefer, not what is actually happening. The problem with this is that Wyatt needs wins, as he always loses, and Orton needs a win following his embarrassment from Lesnar. This is a lose/lose. Neither man gets much by beating the other one, as they don't have the same credibility they should have, and neither man gains anything at all by losing.

PREDICTION: Randy Orton wins.


WWE Intercontinental Championship Match: The Miz (c) vs. Dolph Ziggler

Well, Apollo Crews was sure pushed aside, wasn't he? His feud with The Miz didn't even really get started and then he lost his match at SummerSlam, only to fade into the background quickly. Damn. Now, Dolph Ziggler and The Miz are clearly locked into a feud not only for the title, but for KFC pride.

PREDICTION: The Miz retains through some sort of bullshittery.


Baron Corbin vs. Kalisto

This feud appears to be continuing. Yay? Nobody cares, at all.

PREDICTION: Baron Corbin should win, which means Kalisto does.