WWE SmackDown: Spoiler-Free Preview for June 18

On June 18, WWE SmackDown is set to provide a glimpse of what direction several Superstars are headed.

After Money in the Bank, Dean Ambrose, Dolph Ziggler and Neville are without a clear rivalry to dive into. Ambrose is likely to step aside as others begin to challenge for the WWE title. Ziggler and Neville lost out on the Money in the Bank briefcase, and now they must find a new prize to pursue.

Those wrestlers were all in action at the First Niagara Center in Buffalo, New York, as WWE taped SmackDown on Tuesday night. Their bouts offer possible hints about what's next for them.

Thursday's SmackDown is also a chance for men and women without championships to stand in the spotlight. The show will not feature any in-ring action from Seth Rollins, John Cena, Nikki Bella, The Prime Time Players or Ryback. Kevin Owens is the only titleholder stepping between the ropes on SmackDown.

Before the show airs on Thursday at 8 p.m ET on Syfy, the Internet will be flush with spoilers. For those who have managed to avoid them thus far, the following is a results-free look at all the matches lined up for the night.

Dean Ambrose vs. Kane and Sheamus

Ambrose told Kane on Monday's Raw that he would never stop hunting the WWE title. That promise aside, the expectation is that he slides out of the championship picture for the time being. 

Brock Lesnar returned, and The Authority immediately named him the No. 1 contender.

The fact that Ambrose will be mixing it up with Kane and Sheamus on Thursday's SmackDown points to him continuing to tangle with The Authority even if he strays from the Rollins rivalry for the time being. And Sheamus working with Kane here suggests that The Celtic Warrior is forming a bond with the corporate faction that runs WWE.

Credit: WWE.com

Fans will be keeping an eye out for how Kane and Sheamus interact to see whether this is a temporary partnership or if The Authority will be officially welcoming the current Mr. Money in the Bank into the fold.

Brie Bella vs. Paige

Although she has garnered no allies yet, Paige continues to push back against the Bella sisters' dominance over the women's division. She's been frustrated with Nikki and Brie bringing back their "twin magic" routine and losing out on the Divas title as a result.

On Monday's Raw, no other woman would join her when she tried to form a group to take the Bellas down.

Does that change here? Does someone from the locker room come out to help Paige?

Otherwise, there's a good chance that Brie and Nikki switch places at one point and use the unfair advantage to knock off their rival. 

Bo Dallas vs. Dolph Ziggler

A rare appearance for Dallas pits him as the underdog. WWE has had little to over Dallas other than a recent short series against Neville.

Ziggler will be heavily favored here despite not exactly piling up wins as of late.

The Showoff is clearly headed for a feud with Rusev after plucking Lana from him. There's a love triangle story in the works, but WWE can't throw in the wrestling part of the drama yet thanks to The Bulgarian Brute's fractured foot.

What does Ziggler do in the meantime? Does he use Dallas as a warm-up for something bigger, or is this the start of a stopgap rivalry?

Neville vs. Xavier Woods

After missing out on the Money in the Bank briefcase, it appears that Neville is being thrust into a feud between tag teams.

On Monday's Raw, he teamed up with The Prime Time Players to take on The New Day. That felt like a one-off, but this pairing suggests otherwise. 

This promises to be solid from an entertainment standpoint, but most fans will be more interested in what this means for Neville. Should Darren Young and Titus O'Neil get involved or even just stand in his corner, it suggests that the high-flyer will be headed toward becoming an honorary member of The Prime Time Players.

There's not a good reason for that storyline-wise, but WWE could just want a three-man team to go up against Woods and The New Day on a regular basis.

Kevin Owens vs. Cesaro

On paper, this looks tremendous. It's an intriguing matchup between two stellar performers. 

Since Tyson Kidd's injury, WWE has done little with Cesaro. His fanbase has to fear that he's just been thrown in here like fish into an orca's mouth. Will he be an easy test for a man who has been acquiring victories at an impressive pace?

Owens is clearly headed for a third bout with Cena at some point, one WWE may opt to save for SummerSlam. If that's the case, WWE is likely to sell Owens' attack and have Cena stay offscreen for significant time.

That leaves Owens free to bash other foes. He has looked excellent against a variety of opponents since coming to the main roster. Going up against an excellent worker like Cesaro should be no different.

Kane and Sheamus vs. Dean Ambrose and Roman Reigns

SmackDown offers a double dose of Kane, Sheamus and Ambrose. That's not exactly a draw for some fans, especially those tired of seeing Kane get so much airtime at this late stage of his career.

Ambrose and Reigns' partnership has been a fun part of WWE programming as of late, a buddy movie unfolding in the squared circle. 

The fact that they are facing these two either suggests a longer story involving them and The Authority is underway, or perhaps just that WWE is unsure of what to do with Ambrose. Reigns, meanwhile, has a date at Battleground with Bray Wyatt.

The Eater of Worlds' history makes it a safe bet that he will ambush Reigns at some point. It may come during this contest, after the bell rings or in the coming days, but it's certainly coming. In the meantime, Reigns will look to take down a pair of bruisers with his brother at his side.

Thursday's SmackDown offers a mix of matches that range from tempting (Owens vs. Cesaro) to unappealing (another Handicap match featuring Kane). There's enough here, though, to spark a lot of fans' curiosity as the long road to Battleground begins.