10 WWE No Mercy 2016 Predictions

This Sunday sees WWE revive the No Mercy brand for the first time in eight years. It’s the second SmackDown-only PPV to take place since the 2016 Draft, and WWE’s blue brand will be out to build on the surprising success of last month’s Backlash.

Headlined by a blockbuster AJ Styles vs. Dean Ambrose vs. John Cena main event, No Mercy brings a host of well-built grudge matches to the table. From Jack Swagger vs. Baron Corbin all the way to the WWE World Championship, each match serves a purpose, and if the show’s as strong as Backlash, fans are in for a fun night.

Each of SmackDown’s championships are on the line, and none have higher stakes than The Miz’s Intercontinental Title match with Dolph Ziggler. Dolph’s career is on the line, and there’s a very real chance this could be the last time fans see the once-beloved Show-Off in a WWE ring. The tension is through the roof, and if their recent work is anything to go by, Miz vs. Ziggler is going to deliver.

Becky Lynch will defend her Women’s Championship against Alexa Bliss, Heather Slater & Rhyno put their belts on the line against the reborn Usos, and Bray Wyatt and Randy Orton are set to finally meet one on one. It’s not a mind-blowing card, but it’s very solid, and SmackDown’s propensity to over-deliver suggests a great night of action.

Here are 10 predictions for WWE No Mercy 2016.

Jack Swagger and Baron Corbin will start the night off on the Kickoff Show, and it’s a tough one to call. The duo started their rivalry a couple of weeks ago when Swagger interrupted Corbin’s beatdown of Apollo Crews, grabbed the microphone, and announced his switch from Raw. It continued with Swagger sitting on commentary for a Corbin/Crews rematch the following week, and this week saw Corbin and Swagger finally meet in the ring.

Unfortunately, the match was a slow, plodding affair that ended with a false submission, and did little to build fans’ excitement for the rematch. Swagger took advantage of the referee’s incompetence to seal the victory, but it was a match that moved neither man forward, and leaves both floating without much purpose.

Ultimately, this match’s outcome depends on WWE’s long-term plans for Swagger. Though his SmackDown debut promo suggested bigger things were in his future, he’s a worker that most WWE fans have already lost interest in, while Corbin has always been made to look strong, even in defeat.

The most likely scenario is that Swagger picks up another victory through dusty circumstances, thus prolonging the feud and setting up another match between the two.