WWE SmackDown Preview: Daniel Bryan and Cody Rhodes Set to Defend Their Titles

Tonight is the first SmackDown of 2012, and WWE has scheduled two of the company’s top titles to be on the line.

While WWE has only scheduled two matches, there are a few other things we must consider going into the show.

Cody Rhodes vs. Booker T: Intercontinental Championship

When Booker T returned to WWE and ended up at the announcer's booth on SmackDown, no one expected him to return to the ring.

Then he started to give his opinion on how Cody Rhodes should be acting as Intercontinental champion. Rhodes took offense to Booker’s words and went on the attack.

He has thrown water at the five-time WCW champion and has also attacked him on numerous occasions during Raw, SmackDown and at the TLC: Tables, Ladders and Chairs pay-per-view before their match.

On the final Raw of 2011, Booker was able to defeat Rhodes in a non-title match, and that resulted in Rhodes agreeing to give Booker one more shot at the title.

Tonight is that title shot.

We also must factor in Rhodes’ brother Dustin, better known as Goldust, into this match.

Last week, Dustin Rhodes showed up and confronted his brother over his treatment of Booker T. It resulted in Cody attacking his older sibling.

Can Booker T defeat the cocky Cody Rhodes and win a title he has not held since 2003, or will Rhodes continue his reign as the best Intercontinental champion in years?

What Is the Status of Drew McIntyre?

Last week, Drew McIntyre returned to SmackDown, but general manager Teddy Long questioned his use on the Blue Brand and booked him in a match.

If McIntyre won, then he could stay on SmackDown, but if he lost, then Long would consider firing the Scottish superstar.

McIntyre soon found out that his opponent was former Intercontinental champion Ezekiel Jackson. When it was all said and done, Jackson won the match.

Tonight, the fans will discover the fate of Drew McIntyre.

Will Teddy Long fire him, or will the former Intercontinental and tag-team champion get another chance?

What’s Next for the Barrett Barrage?

Wade Barrett has been feuding with Randy Orton for a few months now, but on the final SmackDown of 2011, everything changed.

The Barrett Barrage ran over the Viper in a Falls Count anywhere match, when he threw him down a flight of stairs.

Barrett has taken out Orton, and if he can destroy someone like the Viper, than nobody is safe.

This past Monday on Raw, Wade Barrett vowed to win the Royal Rumble then proceeded to dismantle Santino Marella.

Who will dare get in the way of the Barrett Barrage tonight?

Daniel Bryan vs. The Big Show: World Heavyweight Championship

Until the TLC PPV, the Big Show had gone nine years without winning a World Championship in WWE.

He had captured tag-team gold multiple times as well as the ECW Championship, but the WWE and World Championships have eluded the giant for almost a decade.

At TLC, Big Show defeated Mark Henry in a chairs match to finally win the World Heavyweight Championship.

The reign only lasted for 45 seconds, though, thanks to Daniel Bryan.

Bryan won the SmackDown Money in the Bank match at the MITB PPV and had vowed to cash in his briefcase at WrestleMania 28.

After much frustration and encouragement from Big Show, he cashed in early on Mark Henry.

The decision was reversed and the briefcase was given back to him, though, after Teddy Long declared Henry was too injured to compete.

At TLC, Henry smacked Big Show with a chair, which gave Bryan the opportunity to cash in the briefcase and win the title.

Tonight, Big Show gets his rematch.

Can Daniel Bryan prove to be a worthy champion and knock off a giant, or can the Big Show finally win and hold the title for more than 45 seconds?

Tonight’s SmackDown is looking like a good one.

Will SmackDown start the year out with a bang? It sure looks like it's going to try.

Tune in tonight to see what happens!