WWE SmackDown: Potential Spoilers, Rumors, News and Preview for Dec. 20

Old wounds will open and new contenders will be crowned on the Dec. 20 episode of WWE SmackDown.

Dean Ambrose will take on Luke Harper, revisiting their 2015 personal war. And as those two slug it out, the rest of The Wyatt Family is sure to be nearby.

Detroit's Joe Louis Arena will also host a battle to decide the new No. 1 contenders for the SmackDown Tag Team Championship. The blue brand's whodunit will continue, and a taste of Hollywood beyond The Miz is on the way.

Tuesday's SmackDown is a holdover show of sorts.

John Cena will return next week. AJ Styles is still nursing a bad ankle and won't be back until he faces Dolph Ziggler on the post-Christmas episode, as announced on last Tuesday's SmackDown.

What can WWE cook up before then? What's ahead for Ambrose, Harper and the tag team title picture? Backstage news, the SmackDown preview on WWE.com and injury updates help provide some answers.

Read on for a look at what to expect when SmackDown airs on Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET on the USA Network.

Special Guest

SmackDown will again welcome a celebrity into its midst.

Actor Ryan Phillippe is set to join the blue brand on Tuesday. WWE announced his guest appearance on Twitter:

"

NEXT WEEK: @Shooter_USA star @RyanPhillippe comes to #SDLive on @USA_Network. https://t.co/x4KPveXdcO pic.twitter.com/gAlHBQ5YK9

— WWE (@WWE) December 16, 2016"

Phillippe is the star of USA Network's Shooter, so count on whatever segments he is in to feature plugs for the show.

He has experience to lean on when entering the strange world of wrestling. The actor co-hosted Raw six years ago.

News, Potential Spoilers

It's possible both the women's and tag team divisions get a boost on Tuesday.

According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter (h/t Nick Hausman of Wrestle Zone), Naomi and Jey Uso were scheduled to return to ring action this weekend. Both had been dealing with ankle injuries.

Zack Ryder, on the other hand, is a long way from coming back.

As noted on WWE.com, Ryder suffered a knee injury last week. He has undergone surgery and will be out for at least the rest of the year.

Ryder revealed his recovery timetable on Twitter:

And fans will be on the lookout for a Superstar returning to either Raw or SmackDown in the coming weeks. Former women's champ Mickie James is reportedly on her way back to the company. 

Ryan Satin of Pro Wrestling Sheet reported earlier this month that "James was recently offered a new contract to once again compete on WWE's main roster."

It may make more sense to wait until 2017 is underway to add another name to the women's division, though.

SmackDown Streaks

SmackDown's female Superstars have had a hard time keeping Becky Lynch down for a three-count.

Aside from her loss to Alexa Bliss at December's TLC pay-per-view in a tables match, The Irish Lass Kicker has not been familiar with the taste of defeat. Last Tuesday, she defeated Bliss by count-out to continue her recent roll on Tuesday nights.

Per CageMatch.net, Lynch has won four SmackDown singles matches in a row.

WWE has done well to make both her and Bliss look strong, which has elevated their title feud. The company should keep them separate from each other for now so they can both gain more momentum by beating up the rest of the division.

Natalya is likely to play the stepping-stone role to one of those women. The former Divas champ has been steadily dropping bouts.

After falling to Carmella last week, Natalya is now on a four-match losing streak on SmackDown, per CageMatch.net. Her last victory on the blue brand came back in September. 

WWE has an opportunity to draw some drama from this situation. Natalya starting to unravel as her losing streak grows longer and as she starts to believe the New Era is passing her by could be a compelling tale.

Michigan Melees

Ryder's injury will rearrange the tag team title scene. The Hype Bros had earned the right to face The Wyatt Family for the gold after Ryder won a No. 1 contenders' Battle Royal last week.

Their opportunity will now have to wait until Ryder's knee is healed. Until then, three teams will send a representative to fight for them to decide The Wyatt Family's next foes.

The SmackDown preview on WWE.com noted: "Due to the injury that Zack Ryder suffered in the No. 1 Contenders’ Battle Royal that he won one week ago, the final three Superstars that he was in the ring against—Heath Slater, Tyler Breeze and Konnor—will compete tonight in a Wild Card Triple Threat Match."

A Breeze victory would result in a strange, fascinating matchup of The Wyatt Family vs. Breezango. WWE could have some fun heading in that direction, pitting predators against narcissists. 

Tuesday's SmackDown will also feature further exploration of who attacked Nikki Bella at Survivor Series. The show's preview asked: "Will we finally learn who attacked the star of both Total Divas and Total Bellas tonight on SmackDown?"

Carmella has claimed Natalya was behind the attack. Natalya has steadfastly denied the accusations. Bella has been unsure of what to think.

It's unlikely WWE wraps up the investigation on Tuesday, but it has to give fans more to sink their teeth into. Revealing more hints of what went down at Survivor Series would help maintain interest in the story.

In the night's main event, Ambrose will find himself having to watch his back as he heads into battle. The Lunatic Fringe will take on Harper while Randy Orton and Bray Wyatt are sure to be lurking nearby.

Ambrose and Harper collided last week in a Fatal 4-Way match. And the former WWE champ has a history with Harper and Wyatt, having feuded with both men in the past.

Is The Lunatic Fringe set to reenter a war with the Wyatt clan or is this a pit stop for both Superstars? Ambrose still has unfinished business with James Ellsworth, who ruined his hopes of winning gold several times over.

There are ample elements for WWE to toy with here as SmackDown delivers one more show before Cena's return.