SuperSmackDown LIVE: The Great American Bash Five-Point Preview – July 3, 2012

Who will bring the fireworks to SuperSmackDown LIVE: The Great American Bash?

SmackDown goes live with a Great American Bash celebration this Tuesday.

SmackDown goes live with a Great American Bash celebration this Tuesday featuring the first-ever Great American Bash Battle Royal.

Every time SmackDown goes live, it comes with its share of surprises – just picture Mick Foley’s holiday celebration or the many WWE Legends who showed up for the recent SuperSmackDown LIVE: Blast from the Past. Couple this with the fact it’s The Great American Bash – appearing on Syfy for the first-time-ever – and that this particular show falls on the day before Independence Day and the fireworks are sure to fly.

Lest the WWE Universe forget that it was on that very holiday when future WWE Hall of Famers Edge and Hulk Hogan once teamed up to win the illustrious World Tag Team Titles. What could be the next monumental happening to come out of this earth-shattering television event? Who might show up to be part of it? There is already the mega announcement of The Great American Bash 20-Man Battle Royal main event – featuring a stunning list of Superstars including WWE Champion CM Punk, Daniel Bryan, John Cena, Alberto Del Rio and Big Show and World Heavyweight Champion Sheamus.

Hang on tight, WWE Universe, because SuperSmackDown LIVE is sure to be a bumpy ride.

Will Theodore Long get his retribution this week?

Theodore Long selected to be next week's Interim General Manager of Raw and SmackDown

Teddy Long revealed to his ex-girlfriend Aksana and her beau Antonio Cesaro that he would be taking the reins of both of next week's shows.

Teddy Long made it clear to his ex-girlfriend Aksana and her beau Antonio Cesaro on last Friday’s SmackDown that he holds no ill will over anything that has happened to him during the “People Power” era. ( WATCH)  But in the same breath, he placed them both into an intimidating Mixed Tag Team Match, to take place on this week’s SuperSmackDown LIVE, against The Great Khali and Divas Champion Layla. So, who are we kidding?

After losing his position as SmackDown General Manager at WrestleMania, Teddy was forced into a constant state of humiliation: wearing aprons, standing guard, fetching coffee and doing whatever “Mr. Excitement” John Laurinaitis and his entourage told him to do. Now, on this week on both Raw SuperShow and SuperSmackDown LIVE, he once again will be in control.

When tested in the past, the innovative go-getter has come through with flying colors. So, what will he have in store for the SmackDown faithful? Will he truly rise above and be the respected professional everybody knows he is? Or can the WWE Universe expect just a little bit of payback as he returns to power on the blue brand?

Who else will qualify for Money in the Bank?

SmackDown: All I Want For Christmas 20-Man Battle Royal

SmackDown: All I Want For Christmas 20-Man Battle Royal

Intercontinental Champion Christian, United States Champion Santino Marella, Tyson Kidd, Damien Sandow and Tensai have all qualified for the World Heavyweight Championship Contract Money in the Bank Ladder Match. But, Vickie Guerrero explained that there are more competitors yet to come. So who else would best complement one of the most exciting WWE specialty contests in history?

Will it be an explosive up-and comer like Ryback or Sin Cara? A battle tested warrior like former Intercontinental Champion Ezekiel Jackson? What about Hornswoggle? After all, it was only last November on another SuperSmackDown LIVE, that the pint-sized competitor won a Battle Royal by eliminating The Great White Sheamus. Perhaps he will make the impossible possible yet again.

What will come from Cody Rhodes’ protest?

Cody Rhodes claims he will go to the Board of Directors with a protest: WWE.com Exclusive, June 29, 2012

After losing a Tag Team Match with David Otunga, Cody Rhodes goes ballistic.

Soon after Cody Rhodes – teaming with David Otunga – came up on the losing side of a tag team match to decide who would qualify for the World Heavyweight Championship Contract Money in the Bank Ladder Match on last Friday’s SmackDown, Michael Cole shared some big news. He informed the WWE Universe that the second-generation Superstar was lodging a formal protest over the circumstances surrounding his defeat.

It could be argued that Rhodes does have a point. Of the four qualifying matches on the show, his was the only one that was not a singles encounter. But, what weight will the protest carry?

Teddy Long picks up the reins for this week’s Raw and SmackDown. It is well known that Rhodes was a strong supporter of John Laurinaitis when Long was having his problems with the now-former WWE executive. If the temporary GM is part of the decision process, it will be interesting to see how that plays into the ruling. Will Teddy leave personal feelings aside since the permanent GM position is still up for grabs?

Where do Dolph Ziggler and Alberto Del Rio go from here?

Sheamus vs. Dolph Ziggler vs. Alberto Del Rio: SmackDown, June 29, 2012 - Triple Threat Match World Heavyweight Title Match

World Heavyweight Champion Sheamus defends the title against both Dolph Ziggler and Alberto Del Rio in a Triple Threat Match.

Friday night on SmackDown, both Dolph Ziggler and Alberto Del Rio took World Heavyweight Champion Sheamus to the limit in the epic Triple Threat World Title Match. Although they ultimately fell to The Celtic Warrior, their incredible showing once again proved their status as elite Superstars … just without the championship gold.

Sometimes, the mark of a true competitor is not the titles they hold, but the way they react to adversity. On Monday's Raw Supershow three days later, the WWE Board of Directors was inclined to finally award Del Rio his one-on-one World Heavyweight Title Match at Money in the Bank. But, after viciously attacking Sin Cara soon after, The Mexican Aristocrat sent a painful message to The Great White that he is just getting started.

On the same show, Ziggler fell to defeat once again, this time when his Mixed Tag Team partner and manager Vickie Guerrero was pinned by AJ. Without the redemption of victory, there is no doubt that a Superstar as dangerous as The Showoff will be out to redeem himself in epic fashion on SuperSmackDown LIVE.

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