WWE SmackDown: Spoiler-Free Preview for Aug. 23

Friday's WWE SmackDown offers a mix of old and new.

The show that fans in Bakersfield, Calif., already experienced features SummerSlam rematches and new matchups. The aftershocks of SummerSlam's stories played out in and out of the ring.

Daniel Bryan continues to get a healthy share of the spotlight with both Sheamus and John Cena out of the action. Christian and Alberto Del Rio deliver an encore of Sunday's fight. Curtis Axel battles a new foe.

What other matches can we expect for the upcoming SmackDown? Here is the lineup with the outcomes omitted.

 

Curtis Axel vs. Cody Rhodes

An intriguing pairing pits the Intercontinental champ against a man who twice beat the world-title Money in the Bank winner.

A Cody Rhodes win here could be another step to becoming Alberto Del Rio's opponent in the near future. He'll have to contend with Paul Heyman as well as Axel and possibly Damien Sandow to get that victory though.

As for Axel, going up against Rhodes should give him a shot at impressing the audience in an exciting match. A win would give him something else for him and Heyman to boast about.

Dolph Ziggler vs. Big E. Langston

Apparently this feud didn't end at SummerSlam.

Dolph Ziggler's team got the win over Big E. Langston's squad on Sunday, and the two former allies go at it once more. It'll be interesting what direction WWE takes this rivalry and if either man gets a spot at Night of Champions.

At the very least, this has the potential to be a hard-hitting, intriguing bout.

Ziggler and Langston's previous clashes have seen them bring plenty of intensity to the ring. Outside of the ring, fans will have to keep an eye on if Ziggler and Kaitlyn's relationship continues and if AJ still wants to tear Ziggler's eyes out.

Alberto Del Rio vs. Christian

One of SummerSlam's classics gets revisited.

Christian takes on Alberto Del Rio once more. Does Christian earn a win and work himself back into the title picture, or does Del Rio dispatch of him and move on to a new challenger?

These two have impressed together in recent weeks, so this should prove to be good even if their matchup isn't the freshest.

Big Show and Mark Henry vs. 3MB

WWE's team of giants are after The Shield's championships and serve as Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins' biggest threat.

It appears that Mark Henry and Big Show won't go into that impending battle without putting in some work together and trying to develop some chemistry. The narrative has been that great stars who aren't true teams have fallen to The Shield and their cohesiveness. Big Show and Henry look to learn from others' mistakes.

This two-on-three handicap match has the look of a warm-up bout.

Will The Shield let The World's Largest Athlete and The World's Strongest Man finish their thrashing of WWE's rocking bottom feeders, or is interference a given?

 

Darren Young vs. Antonio Cesaro

The Prime Time Players beat the The Real Americans on Monday's Raw. Now one half of each team goes into battle on SmackDown in singles action.

Darren Young is going to have to keep his eyes open for Antonio Cesaro's dangerous uppercuts as well as Jack Swagger and Zeb Colter trying to gain the upper hand. This match confirms that Young and Titus O'Neil have made the switch to fan favorites.

Never mind that WWE offered no explanation as to why these characters shifted, turning them is a great idea that can make full use of The Prime Time Players' fun energy. Perhaps this developing rivalry can decide who takes on the tag champs after Big Show and Henry get their shot.

Daniel Bryan vs. Wade Barrett (Cage Match)

Wade Barrett has become the unexpected benefactor of Bryan's feud with WWE authority. He has been Vince McMahon's lackey and Bryan's would-be barber.

Judging by the stipulation, things will intensify between Bryan and Barrett.

Bryan will be seething after losing the WWE title at SummerSlam and enduring humiliation from Triple H on Monday's Raw. Expect that storyline to continue and for Bryan's feud with Randy Orton to escalate.

With Barrett and Bryan in a cage, fans can also expect to have their Friday-night viewing to be marked by awesomeness.