WWE No Mercy 2016: Full Card Predictions After Backlash PPV

What began as embers at Backlash promises to grow into roaring flames at WWE No Mercy 2016.

Sunday's pay-per-view laid the foundation for what's ahead for Randy Orton, Nikki Bella, Dean Ambrose and others at the upcoming SmackDown-exclusive event on Oct. 9. Each of those wrestlers emerged from Backlash hungry for revenge. The return of No Mercy will allow them to satiate themselves.

Orton didn't even make it to his match Sunday. Bray Wyatt stomped on him backstage, leaving him unable to compete. 

His quest for vengeance is sure to be a major storyline en route to No Mercy.

Bella suffered a fluke loss at Backlash, and Ambrose took a kick to the onions. The animosity born from those moments will shape No Mercy's card.

Bray Wyatt vs. Randy Orton

The most obvious bout for the No Mercy lineup is the one that was supposed to unfold at Backlash.

Bray Wyatt and Randy Orton were scheduled to collide on Sunday's PPV, but The Viper wasn't quite ready. PWInsider.com's Mike Johnson wrote before the event: "Orton has yet to be cleared by WWE to compete in the ring after the TKO finish of the SummerSlam match against Brock Lesnar. WWE had been hoping Orton would be cleared over this past week, but that did not happen."

WWE wrote Orton off by way of a Wyatt backstage attack. The Reaper of Souls instead took on Kane, eventually losing to The Big Red Machine following interference from Orton.

Orton will be seething about Wyatt's ambush. The Eater of Worlds will be angry about Orton costing him a win at Backlash. Bad blood won't be in short supply moving forward.

With four more weeks to heal, The Viper should be ready to kick off his feud with Wyatt come No Mercy.

Becky Lynch vs. Alexa Bliss (Women's Championship)

Becky Lynch was the last Superstar standing in the Six-Pack Challenge at Backlash, and her victory earned her SmackDown's new Women's Championship.

The Irish Lass Kicker moved to the top of the division. Heels are sure to come charging at her now. And Alexa Bliss is likely to lead that group.

Lynch and Natalya have already battled several times over in the past few months. To emphasize the move into the New Era, a fresh face is a good bet to step into the No. 1 contender spot instead.

Although Bliss was the first wrestler eliminated in Sunday's match, she was the only one to sit down with the pre-show panel and talk up the bout. WWE will want to showcase the rising star. 

Plus, two other potential challengers in Nikki Bella and Carmella are going to be busy feuding with each other.

Carmella vs. Nikki Bella

Tension crackled between Carmella and Nikki Bella as Backlash's Six-Pack Challenge unfolded. The two have been clashing ever since Carmella attacked the former champ in August.

The feud intensified when the two Superstars fought for the Women's Championship on Sunday. 

Carmella knocked Bella out of the match after rolling her up to score the sneak pin. Bella then blasted The Princess of Staten Island. WWE made it clear that it wants this story to continue.

Look for a number of brawls and ambushes in the weeks ahead. Carmella and Bella will be incensed with each other by the time No Mercy rolls around.

The Usos vs. American Alpha

American Alpha earned the right to challenge for the Tag Team Championships at Backlash, but The Usos stole the opportunity from the newcomers.

A savage attack after The Usos' loss to American Alpha in the semifinals left Chad Gable hobbled. SmackDown officials declared his team unable to compete as a result. 

That moment was the genesis of The Usos' heel turn. The brothers' dastardly ways have rejuvenated them and are sure to lead to their next big feud. American Alpha will be on the hunt for the former tag champs from now until No Mercy. 

Meanwhile, Gable and Jason Jordan's quest for revenge will put their title pursuits on hold for the moment, leaving the door open for another squad.

Heath Slater and Rhyno vs. Breezango (Tag Team Championships)

Heath Slater and Rhyno did the seemingly impossible and turned their impromptu pairing into a Tag Team Championship victory. Slater earned an official SmackDown contract as a result. And the two new buddies talked at Backlash about traveling to Dollywood together.

Once the confetti is all swept up from their celebration, it's unclear who will be first to challenge them.

The Usos make a lot of sense since Rhyno and Slater defeated them on Sunday's PPV to win the titles. With The Usos busy clashing with American Alpha, though, the tag team division's lack of depth is going to show itself in a major way.

Few momentum-rich heels are waiting to take on the new champs. WWE will have to build up Tyler Breeze and Fandango.

The two braggarts have shown flashes of getting a push of late. Their gimmicks would make an intriguing juxtaposition opposite Slater and Rhyno. It feels like they are on the verge of igniting a spark, too.

Breezango is poised to go from not making the Backlash card to being a three-count away from claiming gold at No Mercy.

Baron Corbin vs. Kane

Two titans' paths promise to cross soon.

Kane is fresh off a win over Bray Wyatt at Backlash. Baron Corbin defeated Apollo Crews on the pay-per-view's pre-show. Those victories will provide momentum for a clash in the works.

WWE has yet to follow up on it, but it looked as if the company was moving toward a feud between Corbin and Kane when the two men stared each other down on SmackDown a few weeks back.

Logistically, it makes a ton of sense to go in that direction. 

The Lone Wolf is in need of a rival. Meanwhile, Kane has been making sporadic appearances but with little purpose. Should Corbin meet and eventually overcome The Devil's Favorite Demon, it will not only give both men something to do, but it will also help elevate Corbin during his rookie year.

And WWE loves its meeting of big men, so a collision between these two at No Mercy is a safe bet.

AJ Styles vs. John Cena vs. Dean Ambrose (WWE World Championship)

John Cena, the household name on SmackDown's roster, was absent from the Backlash card. WWE instead decided to have the powerhouse travel with the Raw Superstars to Asia.

That won't happen at No Mercy. It's hard to imagine a healthy Cena missing two PPVs in a row.

When he gets back, he will find a new champion ruling over the brand. 

AJ Styles knocked off Dean Ambrose, thanks in large part to a low blow that floored the babyface. The Lunatic Fringe's motivations for another bout are clear, and former champions usually exercise a rematch clause not long after losing.

But Cena will worm his way into that mix, too. His name has been mentioned during the Ambrose-Styles feud often enough to suspect he might get involved.

Styles is still bragging about beating Cena at SummerSlam. He wears Cena's "Never Give Up" wristband as a badge of honor. He has usurped Cena's "The Face That Runs the Place" nickname.

All that smells like a continuation of the Cena-Styles story. Before they meet one-on-one for another instant classic, though, look for the world title scene to get crowded ahead of No Mercy.

Styles is set to face an overwhelming challenge right out of the gate.