Will The Viper stop The Barrett Barrage on SmackDown?

As SmackDown announcer JBL has become quite fond of saying, “We fight on Friday night.” True to JBL’s word, heading into tonight’s show, the WWE Universe can expect a huge fight between Randy Orton and Wade Barrett — who have engaged in some of the most brutal showdowns in the past year.

After administering a quick and brutal beating to Brad Maddox on Monday night, WWE’s Apex Predator was attacked by The Shield, leaving an angry Viper writhing in pain. Heading into SmackDown tonight, Orton will unquestionably arrive with fire in his serpentine eyes as he looks to take out some frustration on his longtime adversary. For his part, Barrett also arrives to SmackDown with a monkey on his back after back-to-back losses on Raw and WWE Main Event. Without question, the English grappler has to gain some momentum if he hopes to reclaim the Intercontinental Title from Kofi Kingston at WWE TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs in nine days. ( MATCH PREVIEW)

An angry Viper against a ticked-off bare-knuckle brawler? Yep, there will certainly be some fighting Friday night.

Could The Shield come to this week’s SmackDown?

It’s an understatement to say The Shield has made its presence felt on Raw. This week alone, the black-clad trio of Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns coordinated three separate attacks, delivering their own brand of “justice” to everyone they felt deserved it.

What’s next for Sheamus and Big Show?

If the WWE Universe has learned anything in 2012, it’s that World Heavyweight Champion Big Show does not like former champion Sheamus. That feeling, of course, is mutual. Their continually volatile situation has grown so extreme, in fact, that sometimes it seems the two are incapable of being in the same building together.

Now, though, after Sheamus & John Cena defeated Big Show & Dolph Ziggler on Raw and with just nine days to go before they meet at WWE TLC for the World Title, the question must be asked once again: What will happen when Big Show and Sheamus occupy the same space tonight on SmackDown?

Will Damien Sandow finally find an apprentice?

After failed attempts last week on SmackDown and then once again this Monday on Raw to ascertain an apprentice, will Damien Sandow’s search finally come to a close tonight? As he’s done since debuting in WWE earlier this year, the self-professed “Intellectual Savior of the Masses” has struggled with “enlightening” members of the WWE Universe.

Sure, his approach has been nothing short of abrasive — and, dare we say, insulting — but Sandow may just have the right idea with this whole apprenticeship thing. Perhaps tonight is the night the intellectual Superstar comes one step closer to his goals by finding the perfect apprentice on SmackDown.

Can Miz make SmackDown “must-see”?

The Miz has been on a roll lately, most recently getting under the skin of WWE Champion CM Punk on Raw. After coaxing The Second City Saint into taking a lie detector test Monday, Miz seems to have turned some of the WWE Universe’s boos into cheers and laughs.

Will Miz stay on that roll tonight on SmackDown, and will the “haters” continue to love him?