WWE Backlash 2016: Predicting Match Card, Title Winners at SmackDown PPV

WWE SmackDown heads off into its own era of exclusive pay-per-views with excitement about what lies ahead at Backlash on Sept. 11.

With a revamped Intercontinental Championship picture, one of the company's most popular stars heading into the world-title scene and two new champions to crown, there is plenty to get excited about.

In fact, all signs point to Backlash being one of WWE's most intriguing shows in quite some time.

The card isn't completely locked down, though, and there's plenty of speculation as to who the new champions will be.

So here's a preview of the show, including the potential title winners.

Match Card

Backlash will be headlined by the WWE World Championship match between Dean Ambrose and AJ Styles, with genuine unpredictability about who the victor will be.

Styles has ascended to the pinnacle of the SmackDown card after his clean victory over John Cena at SummerSlam, and he looks like a future world champion. Whether that is at this event or a forthcoming one remains to be seen.

Two new champions will also be crowned at Backlash, with a Six-Pack Challenge for the WWE SmackDown Women's Championship and the finals of the WWE SmackDown Tag Team Championships tournament.

For the women's title, Alexa Bliss will take on Becky Lynch, Carmella, Naomi, Natalya and Nikki Bella. The two favorites in that field look like Bella and Lynch, both of whom have the star power to become the inaugural champion.

As for the tag titles, there are still four teams remaining in the hunt at the time of writing, but expect American Alpha to progress past The Usos to make up one-half of the final. The other? It's tougher to call, but Heath Slater and Rhyno may get the chance to continue their pairing by getting past The Hype Bros. 

Elsewhere, Randy Orton will take on Bray Wyatt, and The Miz vs. Dolph Ziggler is slated for the Intercontinental Championship.

Title Winner: Becky Lynch (WWE SmackDown Women's Championship)

Credit: WWE.com

Picking a winner from a six-woman field is a tough task for Backlash, but there are a couple of competitors who stand out above the rest.

Nikki Bella is a good bet for victory, given how she's returned and fit straight back into WWE programming. Her feud with Carmella may dictate that she takes a backward step from the title picture at the moment, however, as it would give the whole division on SmackDown more depth.

Therefore, the favorite looks like Becky Lynch. WWE has to keep her strong with the potential for a match between her, Bayley, Sasha Banks and Charlotte in the future—a Four Horsewomen reunion.

So making Lynch the inaugural champion and having her go on a lengthy run, where she beats competitors such as Natalya and Alexa Bliss, makes sense.

She had been lost in the shuffle pre-brand split, but now she should begin to shine with a title around her waist.

Title Winner: American Alpha (WWE SmackDown Tag Team Championships)

WWE has pushed four teams into the semifinals of the tag team tournament, and they may all be able to win.

But although Heath Slater and Rhyno, The Usos and The Hype Bros have a fighting chance, American Alpha has to be considered the favorite.

Chad Gable and Jason Jordan should get past The Usos, and although Slater's storyline is enough to give him and Rhyno a decent chance, American Alpha should be the team getting the straps.

The two have made a major impact since coming up from NXT, and it looks like WWE has learned some lessons in how to push a tag team from Full Sail University after some uninspiring booking for The Ascension and The Vaudevillains.

This should be the start of something good for the duo moving forward.

Title Winner: AJ Styles (WWE World Championship)

AJ Styles will eventually get his hands on the WWE World Championship, so why not at Backlash?

Having the heel capture the belt from Dean Ambrose would not only give him a deserved push to the top of the company, but it may also give Ambrose fresh impetus.

This could be the start of a fascinating rivalry over the next few months, and on this rare occasion, having the belt pass around a couple of times could work.

It would elevate Styles, as plenty believe he's overdue a shot at a world title.

His gimmick is over, he's a top heel despite retaining plenty of popularity and this could be an incredible rivalry with Ambrose. All signs point to Styles going one step further at Backlash and not just mixing it with Ambrose, but also winning the title.