WWE No Mercy 2016: Biggest Themes Established in Build to Event

Once again, SmackDown is pulling out all the stops to ensure it remains on top of the WWE brand war with the card for WWE No Mercy 2016 on Sunday.

Backlash showed that the blue brand is on top of Raw right now, and by the look of the themes that have been established in the buildup to Sunday's show, that doesn't look like it's changing anytime soon.

From top to bottom, the card for No Mercy is fascinating.

Unlike Raw, there are matches all over the card that catch the eye and will make for interesting viewing.

With the show just a few days away, here are the biggest themes that have been established in the build to No Mercy.

The Usos Are Bound to Win the Tag Titles Sooner or Later

Credit: WWE.com

No Mercy may be a touch too early in terms of taking the SmackDown Tag Team Championships away from Heath Slater and Rhyno.

However, the impressive form of their challengers this Sunday means it is only a matter of time before there are new kings at the head of the division. 

The Usos continue to look great in everything they do, and their repackage remains one of the smartest pieces of booking this year.

Their new attitude is intensified by the way they wrestle, systematically trying to find weaknesses in their opponents and hammering away at them.

Expect them to bring the same level of aggression and energy to their match with Slater and Rhyno this Sunday.

No Mercy may come fractionally too soon for The Usos, but if they continue like this, they will be champions before the year is out.

Alexa Bliss Is a Credible Threat to Becky Lynch

Credit: WWE.com

To say there was an element of surprise when Alexa Bliss became the first challenger to Becky Lynch and the SmackDown Women's Championship would be an understatement. 

With more established and experienced names such as Naomi and Nikki Bella in the field, the fact Bliss came through to not only challenge Lynch, but also look good in doing it, has been another huge positive for SmackDown in the last few weeks.

Bliss has taken to the role of a championship contender. She is a wonderful heel and has broken out since making the step up from NXT. Whether it's cutting exceptional promos on the mic, attacking Lynch from behind or just her general all-around attitude, Bliss' character is on the up.

Her rivalry with Lynch shows no sign of slowing down, either. There may also be a significant twist this weekend if she can beat Lynch and win the title, something she looks more than capable of.

Like most things happening on SmackDown at the moment, Alexa Bliss is a real success.

The Miz Remains One of SmackDown's Biggest Assets

The fact that The Miz and Maryse dominate the promotional posters for No Mercy tells you everything you need to know about how highly WWE values its No. 1 power couple right now.

Together, they appear to be on a roll that looks unstoppable.

Whether it's Maryse working as the perfect manager at ringside, adding a stack of heat to her talent with some crafty tactics, or The Miz on the mic embarrassing each and every person he crosses, there seems to be no stopping them right now.

His promos with Dolph Ziggler in the build to the title vs. career match, which culminated in his mockumentary of Ziggler on Tuesday, have been exceptional.

There is plenty to admire about the man holding the Intercontinental Championship at the moment. There's also plenty of good things going on in general on Tuesday nights.

But right now, The Miz remains one of the show's biggest assets, and he will continue to do so after Sunday, win or lose.

The Card Is Stacked

Credit: WWE.com

At Raw's first brand-exclusive pay-per-view, the card for Clash of Champions was heavily built around Seth Rollins vs. Kevin Owens.

But once again, SmackDown has shown it is the superior show right now with a card that has been booked superbly from start to finish.

The Intercontinental Championship match is captivating, particularly with Dolph Ziggler putting his career on the line against WWE's best heel.

Nobody is quite sure what will happen with Bray Wyatt vs. Randy Orton. Alexa Bliss continues to get better and better as a top heel, and the tag division is as electrifying as ever.

Once again, for the second pay-per-view in a row, the booking team on SmackDown has created a show that is going to be unmissable.

The blue brand continues to be the one show worth tuning into on a weekly basis.