WWE SmackDown: Potential Spoilers, Rumors, News and Preview for August 16

Tuesday's WWE SmackDown will serve as the prologue for Sunday's SummerSlam 2016, as warriors engage in tuneup bouts and stare each other down ahead of the blockbuster pay-per-view.

Dean Ambrose and Dolph Ziggler will stand in the same ring before their WWE World Championship match. John Cena will seek momentum heading into his SummerSlam showdown. Randy Orton is certain to devour prey en route to facing Brock Lesnar on Sunday.

The Frank Erwin Center in Austin, Texas, will host the go-home edition of SmackDown.

What will WWE add to the SummerSlam card? Who will show up? And which rivalries are bound to explode?

WWE.com's SmackDown preview, backstage reports and a look at current storyline arcs help answer those questions, providing an early look at what to expect when SmackDown airs at 8 p.m. ET on the USA Network.

On Tap

Before Cena takes on AJ Styles at SummerSlam, the powerhouse will face an old foe. WWE announced on the SmackDown preview that Cena will battle Alberto Del Rio on Tuesday's SmackDown. 

Cena and Del Rio have collided several times before, including when The Pride of Mexico returned to WWE and ended Cena's U.S. title reign last October.

WWE.com also noted, "The Miz will welcome WWE World Champion Dean Ambrose and his No. 1 contender Dolph Ziggler onto the set of 'Miz TV' tonight for a no-holds-barred interview."

Ziggler and Ambrose are set to compete for the WWE world title at SummerSlam. This bout is SmackDown's biggest contribution to the PPV card. Expect the build for it to get plenty of airtime on Tuesday night as WWE looks to amp up the animosity between these two.

News, Potential Spoilers

After an extended absence due to injury and filming The Marine 5, Naomi returned to action.

She wrestled in a house show in Hidalgo, Texas, over the weekend, per CageMatch.net. That doesn't guarantee a return to SmackDown, but it is likely a precursor for her return to TV.

The former Team B.A.D. member tweeted a photo of her new look:

According to F4WOnline (h/t Marc Middleton of Wrestling Inc), WWE head honcho Vince McMahon was back behind the scenes at Monday's Raw after missing a few weeks of TV tapings. 

There's no reason for him to appear on Tuesday's SmackDown, but his presence backstage should have an effect on the show overall. McMahon famously micromanages the production and even gets in the ears of the commentators.

SmackDown may welcome some familiar names at some point, but it looks like Montel Vontavious Porter won't be among them. There had previously been rumblings that WWE would bring him back, but according to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter (h/t Bill Pritchard of Wrestle Zone), talks between MVP and WWE have stopped. 

SmackDown Streaks

History says that Cena will prevail against Del Rio. As seen on his CageMatch.net profile, the babyface has won seven one-on-one matches in a row on SmackDown.

And while Del Rio has become a stepping stone for other stars, Cena remains unfamiliar with the taste of defeat. Plus, it makes little sense for Cena to stumble just before his showdown with Styles.

A Heath Slater loss, on the other hand, is one of the safest bets in the WWE world.

Fighting for a contract last week, Slater fell to Rhyno. On Monday's Raw, he fell victim to Brock Lesnar in unofficial action. 

The WWE.com preview hinted that he will continue his efforts to earn a roster spot: "Assuming there is anything left of Slater following his clash with The Beast Incarnate, will he dare try to join Team Blue once again?"

Should he get another shot on Tuesday to earn his way onto SmackDown, his opponent will be heavily favored. CageMatch.net noted that Slater is currently on a 28-match losing streak on SmackDown. His last victory at the blue brand came in the summer of 2013.

Every streak has to end eventually, though, right?

SummerSlam Last-Minute Additions?

Will SmackDown's women's division be represented at SummerSlam?

It's hard to tell at the moment with no one storyline leading the way. WWE has chosen to spread the spotlight among a number of women.

Alexa Bliss made her debut last week, knocking off Becky Lynch. Carmella earned a win against Natalya, continuing a burgeoning rivalry. And Eva Marie once again evaded actual competition. A wardrobe malfunction prevented her from taking on Lynch. 

Those results had the WWE.com SmackDown preview asking, "Will these emerging competitors face retribution at the hands of their more entrenched adversaries? Will Eva Marie finally have her spectacular debut?"

Baron Corbin and Kalisto may sneak onto the SummerSlam card.

The two have become bitter enemies in a hurry. After losing a Triple Threat match involving Apollo Crews and Kalisto, Corbin took out his frustrations on The King of Flight. He attacked the smaller man backstage.

One would expect some retribution is on the way, on SmackDown, at SummerSlam or on both nights.

Bray Wyatt has hung around the periphery of the Ziggler-Ambrose feud. The Eater of Worlds has looked to knock Ziggler out of the world title picture but has failed.

With no SummerSlam dance partner as of yet, perhaps Wyatt will choose a new enemy to focus his rage on starting Tuesday night. Otherwise, he may find himself watching the PPV rather than playing a role in it.

Orton knows exactly what's ahead of him at Sunday's marquee event: a clash with Lesnar.

The Beast Incarnate used Slater as a means to show off his destructive power on Tuesday. Orton may use a surrogate victim of his own.

The SmackDown preview asked, "So, which Superstar(s) will be the next to make a pit stop in Viperville en route to Orton's epic clash against Lesnar at the Biggest Party of the Summer?"

Fandango and Del Rio have previously fallen as The Viper rolled toward SummerSlam. An RKO is surely awaiting someone else on Tuesday's SmackDown.