WWE SmackDown: Spoiler-Free Preview for July 2

Familiar foes will meet on the first WWE SmackDown of June. Ryback, Bray Wyatt and Roman Reigns all face off with rivals they have locked horns with several times in the past. 

As WWE continues to inch toward Battleground on July 19, Ryback and company seek momentum ahead of the pay-per-view. 

Monday's Raw saw Wyatt go on the attack and The Big Guy watch as his would-be prey scampered out of the ring. Does success keep coming for both men on Thursday's SmackDown? Does WWE succeed in elevating the animosity in all of Battleground's key feuds?

On Tuesday night, fans inside the Giant Center in Hershey, Pennsylvania, saw those questions get answered.

The pre-taped show won't air on Syfy until Thursday at 8 p.m. ET. Spoilers are easy to find, but for those who want to avoid them, the following results-free preview takes a look at all the matches on tap.

Dean Ambrose vs. Bray Wyatt

Old rivals meet once again. When these two collided in a short feud early this year, Wyatt came out on top, stuffing Ambrose into an ambulance to bring that story to a close.

Wyatt is now looking to warm up for a showdown with Ambrose's buddy, Reigns. The Lunatic Fringe, meanwhile, does not have a match set up for Battleground. 

Is he just a steppingstone here, or does he get more involved in the Reigns-Wyatt rivalry somehow?

Regardless of whether this advances anything for The Lunatic Fringe, it promises to be a good bit of action. Ambrose and Wyatt have good chemistry together, as both men usually treat TV matches as if they were the marquee bouts of a pay-per-view. 

R-Truth vs. Adam Rose

The little-used Rose gets an opportunity at momentum.

After ditching the Rosebuds, the party animal's character has grown darker. He's taken to kissing Rosa Mendes backstage and has had few other contributions to WWE programming lately. A win over R-Truth isn't career-changing, but it would be a step up for someone who is so used to the sidelines.

R-Truth will be favored in his matchup as he sits higher on the WWE hierarchy than Rose.

Whether or not he dons a towel as a cape and carries around a plunger as a scepter will be an indication of whether his rivalry with King Barrett is still ongoing, or if WWE has just dropped the angle. If it's still on, the rapping wrestler will look to one-up his enemy. On Monday's Raw, Barrett knocked off Jack Swagger.

It's R-Truth's turn to get a win unless Rosa and Rose can team up for an upset.

Ryback vs. Mark Henry

One powerhouse serves as preparation for another as Ryback slugs it out with Henry before eventually colliding with Big Show at Battleground.

The Big Guy has piled up the wins since taking home the vacant WWE Intercontinental Championship. WWE hasn't yet subjected him to the usual string of non-title losses that usually beset midcard champs. He has a chance to continue that roll against the man who beat him at WrestleMania 29. 

Credit: WWE.com

The Miz got more involved in the three-man feud over the IC belt on Monday's Raw thanks to a showdown with Ryback.

There's a chance that he, Big Show or both challengers make their presence felt here with some interference or a post-match beatdown. That's Henry's best hope for a win. WWE has treated him recently as a glorified enhancement talent.

Brie Bella vs. Naomi

This match offers another chapter in the "Bellas versus everyone else" story. Paige has been vocal about her issues with the twin sisters. She hasn't gained any supporters but instead watched as Naomi and Tamina Snuka have butted heads with Nikki and Brie. 

The angle features an odd heel-against-heel dynamic that doesn't seem to be leading anywhere at the moment.

With Alicia Fox at their side, the Bellas have dominated their meetings with Naomi and Snuka. The most athletic wrestler in the women's division looks to change that pattern on Thursday's SmackDown.

The chance for things to grow chaotic with Nikki, Fox and Snuka sure to be hanging around is high.

The Ascension vs. The Prime Time Players

For Viktor and Konnor, their SmackDown assignment is an opportunity to make a statement against the tag champs or a means for them to taste defeat again.

The Ascension have been the tag division's pushovers for the most part. Should they win in this non-title contest, though, they will immediately climb into the discussion for title contention.

Credit: WWE.com

While Titus O'Neil and Darren Young have been booked strong as of late, the fact that The New Day may offer a distraction or a cheap shot or two should they come to ringside increases The Ascension's chances of doing the unexpected.

Roman Reigns vs. Seth Rollins

If given adequate time, this is potentially a pay-per-view-quality matchup on SmackDown, something we haven't seen often in recent years.

While Reigns' main focus in on Wyatt, he has been tangling with Rollins a lot as of late as well. Most recently, he and Ambrose lost to Kane and Rollins on Monday's Raw thanks in large part to The Eater of Worlds laying him out on the floor.

Can Reigns get through this battle without that monster pouncing again? Will Rollins have to depend on his cronies to get the win here?

With a clash against Brock Lesnar lined up for Rollins, WWE should focus on showcasing how dangerous he is. Taking out his old ally in convincing fashion would be a big step in doing just that.

Like SmackDown's opener, this should be a treat to watch regardless of who comes out on top. Those two bouts are the highlights of an otherwise unappetizing card.