WWE Backlash 2016: Booking Decisions That Must Be Made at PPV

WWE Backlash, SmackDown's first brand-exclusive pay-per-view of the New Era, will be all about making statements on Sunday. Who is left standing after Randy Orton and Bray Wyatt battle will be among the biggest outcomes of the event.

WWE is in the process of establishing the blue brand's identity. It is looking to elevate fresh faces to headlining spots.

In this period of transition, Backlash can be an emphatic indication of what's to come or a sign that the status quo is here to stay.

The PPV is poised to be a catalyst for Wyatt's rise. Devouring a future Hall of Famer like Orton would be a career-changer for The Eater of Worlds.

In addition, Backlash needs to showcase Baron Corbin, assure that the best subplot of the Tag Team Championship tournament continues and properly harness The Miz's momentum.

Baron Corbin Has to Be on the Card

When Baron Corbin flung Kane out of the ring en route to winning the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal at WrestleMania 32, it looked as if WWE was going to strap the proverbial rocket to the big man's back and do everything it could to make him a star.

After a stop-and-start feud with Dolph Ziggler, though, Corbin hasn't had much to work with. He has missed out on the last two pay-per-views, SummerSlam included.

The Lone Wolf's rivalry with Kalisto has seemingly been put on hold because of an undisclosed injury. Kalisto hasn't wrestled since early August, per CageMatch.net. 

As a result, Corbin has watched the Backlash dance card fill up without him.

If Kalisto isn't healthy, WWE has to send someone else at Corbin. He is in danger of losing all of his WrestleMania momentum.

The promising powerhouse should be among the most featured stars on the SmackDown brand moving forward. That's hard to do when his contributions to PPVs are non-existent. 

Heath Slater and Rhyno Need to Advance to the Tournament Finals

Sometimes, the oddest, most random ideas take off. That's been the case with the odd-couple duo of Heath Slater and Rhyno.

The loudmouth and the wrecking ball have quickly become one of the most intriguing teams on the SmackDown roster. Who else has a monster whose preferred art medium is Cheese-Whiz on crackers on their squad? 

As FightBoothPW tweeted, "Slater and Rhyno are a magical pairing."

And now that Slater and Rhyno have advanced to the second round of the SmackDown Tag Team Championship tournament, it's clear what has to happen next. The newly formed team has to reach the tourney finals at Backlash.

Slater's career is on the line. He and Rhyno have to win the tourney for him to earn a roster spot. That will create higher stakes and more drama to the finals.

Ending that story before the PPV would be a waste. The spotlight needs to shine on Slater and Rhyno, whether they flame out or continue their Cinderella run.

The Miz Must Retain the Intercontinental Championship

Many were calling for The Miz to drop the WWE Intercontinental Championship earlier in the year, but now the only move that makes sense is to let his reign roll on.

He is set to face Dolph Ziggler for the IC crown at Backlash. A Ziggler win would have little impact. The Showoff has already won that title four times. 

And The Miz is too hot to push aside right now.

His recent promo work, especially his verbal dismantling of Daniel Bryan last month on Talking Smack, has created plenty of buzz. He has been nailing his character.

He's never been better as a heel.

Mick Foley posted on Facebook, "The Miz has slowly, but steadily become one of the best IC champions the #WWE has seen in a long time." 

Why end that just to give Ziggler another run? The Miz's eventual fall needs to be a much more hyped moment. It needs to be the climax of a major storyline, not the end product of a thrown-together narrative. 

The Women Need Significant Time

When Nikki Bella, Becky Lynch, Naomi, Carmella, Alexa Bliss and Natalya collide over the new SmackDown Women's Championship, WWE needs to treat it like the biggest women's bout in a long while.

The Six-Pack Challenge is the sole representation of SmackDown's entire women's division at Backlash. WWE is crowning an inaugural champion. Some wrestlers with bright futures are looking to make their mark.

All that must add up to a match that isn't over in just four or five minutes.

Should WWE hurry this bout along, it will be a clear statement about how little women's wrestling matters in the New Era. That would be a mistake. There are too many talented women on the roster and too much interest from fans in women like Lynch to make this contest pay-per-view filler.

The company has to let these Superstars put on a show, kicking off the history of the new women's title with something memorable.

Bray Wyatt Must Claim Victory

Should Randy Orton take down Bray Wyatt at Backlash, it will provide further evidence that The Eater of Worlds is the monster who promises destruction and chaos, only to fall again and again.

Wyatt is one of the best all-around performers on the SmackDown roster. He's one of the most unique characters WWE has seen in years. The 29-year-old looks poised to be a cornerstone for the blue brand and the company as a whole.

A signature win is a must before that happens. But that's something Wyatt has failed to achieve.

The New Age Insiders podcast tweeted, "How bad is it I can't think of Bray Wyatt's biggest win off the top of my head...or after several minutes?" 

It shouldn't be that hard to answer that question, but it is. Wyatt's history lacks significant celebrations.

AJ Styles twice defeated John Cena. Kevin Owens won the Universal Championship. Dean Ambrose outlasted his former brethren from The Shield. It's Wyatt's turn to make waves.

A decisive victory over an established name and former world champ like Orton would be career-changing. An Orton win would have far less impact. Plus, what's the incentive of seeing the rest of this story if the hero conquers his wicked rival on the first try?