WWE Backlash 2016: Biggest Unanswered Questions Going into Event

The WWE brand extension will face its biggest test Sunday night as SmackDown Live presents Backlash, the first show-exclusive pay-per-view of the New Era.

Headlined by WWE champion Dean Ambrose's defense against AJ Styles and co-headlined by Randy Orton's battle with Bray Wyatt, the show will feature the implementation of two new championships as well.

So many unknowns and variables have created a number of questions ahead of the show. Some involve the booking of specific Superstars, while others are centered in the championships that are up for grabs in the night's most important matches.

With so much on the line for SmackDown, and WWE as a whole, these are the most prevalent unanswered questions ahead of Sunday's WWE Network exclusive.

WWE Championship Match: Dean Ambrose vs. AJ Styles
Intercontinental Championship Match: Dolph Ziggler vs. The Miz
SmackDown Tag Team Championship Tournament Match: The Usos vs. The Hype Bros
SmackDown Tag Team Championship Tournament Finals: Winner of Usos/Hype Bros vs. Heath Slater and Rhyno
Six-Pack Challenge for the SmackDown Women's Championship: Becky Lynch vs. Nikki Bella vs. Naomi vs. Natalya vs. Carmella vs. Alexa Bliss
Randy Orton vs. Bray Wyatt

Is SmackDown Really Dean Ambrose's Show?

Credit: WWE.com

As the No. 1 draft pick of the SmackDown brand, common sense would suggest Ambrose is the franchise star of the Tuesday night show. By the time Backlash wraps up Sunday, though, his status as the top dog on the show may not be so obvious.

Styles has had one of the most impressive years of his career. He arrived in WWE and defeated future Hall of Famers Chris Jericho and John Cena, sparring Roman Reigns in two outstanding pay-per-view and emerging as the favorite to dethrone The Lunatic Fringe.

If he does, considering the momentum he has gathered for himself, one has to wonder if WWE Creative does not shift its focus from Ambrose to The Phenomenal One. It could position the Gainesville, Georgia native as, well, "the face that runs the place."

Ambrose will likely remain the top babyface, if only because the lack of anyone to battle him for that spot demands it. But fans should look for Styles to wrest the reins of SmackDown away from the unpredictable champion if he continues to deliver the level of performances he has to this point.

Will Heath Slater's Story Have a Happy Ending?

Credit: WWE.com

The One Man Band has gone from the self-proclaimed hottest free agent in sports entertainment to one step away from earning himself a SmackDown Live contract.

Slater has emerged as one of the breakout stars of the brand extension, a longtime comedy act who has seized the opportunity presented to him to become a cornerstone of the brand. Fans have responded in kind, greeting him with loud cheers and interrupting less-than entertaining bouts with chants of "we want Slater."

At Backlash, he has the opportunity to not only earn a contract but also become one-half of the first SmackDown tag team champions.

While all signs point to the conclusion of Slater's journey back to a spot on the roster, the recent heel turn of The Usos suggests they may be the favorites to walk away from the event with the titles in tow.

WWE would not have created the Slater story if there were not intentions of wrapping it up in some grand form or fashion. Expect to see him and Rhyno potentially benefit from the interference of American Alpha and leave with the new titles—the payoff to Slater's unexpected trek back to relevance.

Is Dolph Ziggler The Guy to End The Miz's Intercontinental Championship Reign?

Credit: WWE.com

In short, no.

Ziggler is an extraordinary performer. No matter how poorly he is booked, he keeps fans invested on the strength of his work between the ropes. Yet, he is a somewhat directionless Superstar at this point. He is too good for an Intercontinental Championship he has held countless times before. But he is not quite main event material, if only because of inconsistent pushes.

Miz, on the other hand, has hit his stride. After years of mediocre work, he is in the midst of his best year. From a promo standpoint to his in-ring work, the Hollywood A-Lister has been phenomenal since capturing the title in April.

Ending his reign for no valid reason would be detrimental to both performers involved and leave the title itself a prop lost in a state of repetition.