WWE SmackDown: Spoiler-Free Preview for Jan. 31

Christian makes his return on the Jan. 31 edition of WWE SmackDown, one that will shape the Elimination Chamber card, offer career-changing victories and a chance for rivals to let their rage fly.

Following a Royal Rumble that had Daniel Bryan fans incensed, and an episode of Raw that did well in soothing them, SmackDown heads to Toledo, Ohio. Two qualifying matches for the last two spots in the WWE title Elimination Chamber match highlight the show.

Midcards, tag teams and Bryan himself are also in action.

Should you want to know what matches are on the docket for Friday's SmackDown without having the results spoiled, the following preview suits that need. We begin with a battle of Superstars with dance-centered gimmicks.

Xavier Woods vs. Fandango

After sitting at the announce table to watch Fandango's last few matches with R-Truth, Woods gets another chance to rumble with the dancer himself. 

Woods has yet to compile many wins since coming from NXT. He looks to add to the win column against a man who recently challenged for the Intercontinental Championship. A victory would create some needed momentum for the newcomer, while a loss is more evidence of his low position on the card.

For Fandango to win, he only needs to do what he did on the Jan. 20 episode of Raw when he finished off Woods with just a handful of moves.

Fans will be curious to see if this feud is going anywhere or if it will take on the directionless quality of the 3MB vs. Los Matadores series of matches last year.

The Prime Time Players have been sliding out of the limelight since Night of Champions 2013. Things shift quickly in the tag team division, though.

An impressive win here could be the salve to the wound that is their lack of momentum and airtime. The climb back to title contention begins with knocking off teams like Axel and Ryback.

Jack Swagger vs. Christian (Qualifying Match)

It's been since Sept. 9, when The Shield dumped him on the entrance ramp, that we've seen Christian. He returns to action with a major opportunity awaiting him should he defeat Swagger.

Swagger's no easy out, though. Last year, the Oklahoma native won the Elimination Chamber match for the right to face Alberto Del Rio at WrestleMania. He will lean on his power advantage to make Christian's return a heartbreaking one.

It's been a long while since Swagger has had a significant win in singles action. Should Cesaro win his qualifying match, that creates a potential scenario where both members of The Real Americans enter the Chamber on Feb. 23.

Damien Sandow vs. Kofi Kingston

Kingston looks to restart the streak he had going after knocking off Orton on Jan. 13. He was one of the bigger non-Batista stories of the Royal Rumble. Does the momentum from his big spots that night translate to a win here?

He'll have to face an increasingly angry Sandow to get that victory.

Sandow had even more reason to be irate after being eliminated early at the Rumble. Is he destined to be midcard fodder or does he destroy Kingston here and move up to something bigger?

With Elimination Chamber nearing, matches like these often provide hints of what the lower half of the pay-per-view card will look like. Should a dominant winner emerge here, there's a possibility of making one's way onto the event.

Road Dogg vs. Cody Rhodes

The feud over the tag team titles continues with each team's youngest member facing off.

Road Dogg and Billy Gunn shocked the Rhodes brothers at the Royal Rumble, ending their title reign to kick off the pay-per-view. The New Age Outlaws escaped in the rematch thanks to an angry, chair-wielding Brock Lesnar.

With Triple H announcing that those two teams will meet for the championships in a steel cage on next Monday's Raw, this bout serves as a chance at momentum before that one. Can Rhodes put a hurting on Road Dogg that affects that title match? Can the Attitude Era vet rob his foe of confidence?

WWE's history of "50/50 booking" suggests that the Superstar who loses this contest will be on the winning team come Monday.

The Shield vs. Sheamus, Rey Mysterio and Daniel Bryan

Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose will surely be fuming as they enter this six-man bout. The Shield had to watch as Bryan, Cena and Sheamus grabbed up three spots in the WWE title Elimination Chamber match.

Credit: WWE.com

There is nothing the trio can do to reverse that, but it can leave Bryan and Sheamus in need of medical attention. Mysterio may end up being a victim of the proverbial "wrong place, wrong time" scenario. He was not involved in that match on Monday's Raw and is only looking for a win to add to his resume.

WWE has mostly asked Mysterio to participate in tag matches, seemingly to have him work a lighter schedule and remain healthy longer.

SmackDown has routinely ended with six-man tag likes this one, consistently resulting in compelling action. The Shield attempt to add to their growing collection of impressive TV matches as the company adds clarity to what the Elimination Chamber pay-per-view looks like.