SmackDown Five-Point Preview: Oct. 5, 2012

Which champion will reign supreme?

World Heavyweight Champion Sheamus appears on "Miz TV": SmackDown, Sept. 28, 2012

World Heavyweight Champion Sheamus appears on "Miz TV" from SmackDown on September 28, 2012.

One week ago on SmackDown, World Heavyweight Champion Sheamus was the special guest on Intercontinental Champion The Miz’s “Miz TV” — an appearance that ended with an absolute melee between The Great White, The Awesome One and Mr. Money in the Bank, Dolph Ziggler — not to mention the destruction of the talk show set for the second time in as many weeks.

In a showdown seven days in the making, Sheamus and Miz will square off in a fierce Champion vs. Champion Match. Can The Celtic Warrior redeem his shocking loss to WWE Champion CM Punk on the series premiere of “WWE Main Event” by silencing the outspoken master of the mic?

It’s worth mentioning that not only is the crafty Intercontinental Champion absolutely incensed over the treatment he received on his own show at the hands of The Great White, but the highly decorated Superstar also did not become that way by just rolling over in the big matches. So, at the end of the night, whether the final blow is the Brogue Kick or the Skull-Crushing Finale may just come down to who is good and who is awesome.

Will Sheamus’ jokey attitude give him the last laugh?

Sheamus - Big Show World Championship Debate: Raw, Oct. 1, 2012

Sheamus and Big Show almost come to blows during the World Championship Debate on Raw.

Speaking of Sheamus, the first-ever Irish-born World Heavyweight Champion has been poking a pretty large stick at Big Show as of late, ever since The World’s Largest Athlete became the No. 1 contender to the World Title in a match against Randy Orton one week ago. 

While getting a few laughs at a giant’s expense might not appear to be the safest course of action on the surface, it remains to be seen whether such actions will ultimately work in The Great White’s favor. Could the motives for his particular brand of humor be strategic — a sort of psychological warfare to throw the former World Title off his game? And if that’s the case, will he be able to successfully get inside the gigantic head of The World’s Largest Athlete, enough to defeat him in their first one-on-one matchup?

In any event, in the wake Big Show walking out of the World Heavyweight Championship Debate on Raw, it will be interesting to see tonight if the time for talk is now done.

Could CM Punk be on his way to SmackDown?

Team Hell No vs. CM Punk & Dolph Ziggler: Raw, Oct. 1, 2012

WWE Tag Team Champions Team Hell No face the duo of WWE Champion CM Punk & "Mr. Money in the Bank" Dolph Ziggler while RAW General Manager AJ Lee acts as special guest referee.

Monday on Raw, CM Punk hit a major road block in his continued search for the respect he feels he is entitled to as WWE Champion. Not only did a cold war confrontation with the ultra-intense Ryback prevent him from taking the “J.R.” out of J.R. Appreciation Night, but also his tag team partner, Dolph Ziggler, abandoned him in the main event, leaving The Second City Saint to fall to WWE Tag Team Champions Team Hell No.

On Wednesday, Punk vindicated himself the Irish way, overcoming World Heavyweight Champion Sheamus on the series premiere of the “WWE Main Event.” Now that he has overcome The Celtic Warrior, would he dare venture back into The Great White’s backyard in search of retribution of those who wronged him on WWE’s flagship show?

Ryback is indeed scheduled for action tonight and Ziggler seems to be making regular appearances on the blue brand. And considering that there’s only about a 100 miles from Raw in Oklahoma City to SmackDown in Tulsa, Okla., that might not be all that far to call out who embarrassed you on national television.

Who will advance in the WWE Tag Team Title No. 1 Contenders’ Tournament?

Rey Mysterio & Sin Cara vs. Primo & Epico - WWE Tag Team Title No. 1 Contenders' Tournament Match: Raw, Oct. 1, 2012

Rey Mysterio & Sin Cara face Primo & Epico in a WWE Tag Team Title No. 1 Contenders' Tournament Match while The Prime Time Players watch from the entrance ramp.

Team Rhodes Scholars, Rey Mysterio & Sin Cara and Zack Ryder & Santino Marella have all advanced in the whirlwind tag team tournament to determine who will face WWE Tag Team Champions Team Hell No, Kane & Daniel Bryan, for the illustrious titles at WWE Hell in a Cell. Rhodes & Sandow will take on Ryder & Marella in the semifinals. But, who will be the fourth and final team to move to the next step and face the lucha libre specialists?

Certainly, the former WWE Tag Team Champion, Kofi Kingston & R-Truth, present a true challenge as they look to get their titles back. On the other hand, the up-and-coming The Prime Time Players have more than proven their mettle as tag team specialists in recent months and may have the ability to work as a team more than anyone in the contest.  

Who attacked Kaitlyn?

Booker T announces WWE Tag Team Title No. 1 Contenders' Tournament and reverses Beth Phoenix's suspension: SmackDown, Sept. 28, 2012

SmackDown General Manager Booker T talks to Theodore Long about the WWE Tag Team Championship No. 1 Contenders' Tournament and reverses Eve's suspension of Beth Phoenix.

Since Kaitlyn was attacked at Night of Champions last month, both questions and accusations have been running wild as to who assaulted the then–No. 1 contender to the Divas Champion — a controversy that grows by leaps and bounds by the week. Was it Eve, who gained the Night of Champions match in which she won the Divas Title as a result of the mysterious assault? Was it a blond Diva, as the security footage now seems to suggest? Or, was it someone who hasn’t even been considered yet?

One thing is for certain, every week without definite answers lends to more and more turmoil. Eve and former Divas Champion Layla have traded strong words, the Divas Division appears to be up-in-arms and cracks are even beginning to form in SmackDown General Manager Booker T’s administration over the issue. In the midst of the investigation, what will happen when Layla takes on Alicia Fox tonight?   

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