WWE SmackDown: Potential Spoilers, Rumors, News and Preview for July 4

Forget fireworks, WWE SmackDown will celebrate the Fourth of July with a championship match, a No. 1 Contender's Battle Royal and John Cena's return.

Lana will again challenge Naomi for the SmackDown Women's Championship as the blue brand travels to Phoenix.

Tuesday's show will also feature a Battle Royal to determine who will face Kevin Owens for the United States Championship at the PPV. Cena will return to the show after a three-month hiatus.

Those bouts and Cena's arrival will help shape the card for Battleground, the July 23 pay-per-view on the horizon. 

Who may show up as a surprise? Who could have their foot out of the WWE door? Read on for a breakdown of what's to come, complete with a look at the SmackDown preview on WWE.com, backstage news and social media updates.

Let's dig in before the holiday edition of SmackDown airs on Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET on USA Network.

News, Potential Spoilers

Rusev's return could happen at any moment.

Ryan Satin of Pro Wrestling Sheet reported in mid-June that Rusev has been cleared to compete after recovering from a shoulder injury. "Sources tell us the Bulgarian Brute met with WWE docs yesterday and was given the green light," he wrote.

However, Rusev hasn't appeared on the last two editions of SmackDown. The Battle Royal would be an easy spot to change that. 

The SmackDown tag team division may lose some depth in the coming weeks. The Colons are rumored to be on their way out. 

According to Super Luchas (h/t Paul Jordan of PWInsider Xtra), The Colons have requested their release from WWE. 

This is a report to take with a grain of salt. The major wrestling outlets haven't corroborated this story yet.

When Naomi steps into the arena on Tuesday night, she may do so with some added flash. She has been sporting a neon version of the women's title at house shows

Fan Stephan Cervantes posted this shot from her recent appearance in Odessa, Texas:

When The Usos and The New Day fire off rhymes in the ring, an expert in the field will lead the way. As noted on WWE.com, award-winning rapper and WWE fan Wale will host SmackDown's rap battle.

SmackDown Streaks

The Usos manhandled The Hype Bros on Tuesday night, crushing the babyfaces' hopes of earning a title shot.

The win came easily and quickly. The result was par for the course for Jimmy and Jey.

Per CageMatch.net, the champs have won five in a row not counting eight-man tag team matches and they are 8-3 overall on TV and PPV in 2017.

That's how you book a champion. The Usos look like legit titleholders who will be tough to take down as a result.

Becky Lynch isn't getting that kind of treatment in the least. The former SmackDown women's champ is in the midst of a slump.

Failing to win the Money in the Bank ladder match last week was her third loss in a row, per CageMatch.net. Lynch is now 1-8-1 in her last 10 matches.

WWE has her falling well out of contention at the moment.

Championships, Rap and Cena

Believe it or not, Naomi vs. Lana III is on its way.

Lana's first and second singles matches on the main roster were for the SmackDown women's title. Her third match for the blue brand will follow that same pattern.

Each of her losses has an asterisk attached. The latest came courtesy of her shoulder not fully being down on the mat when the referee counted to three.

That slipup will allow Lana to challenge Naomi for the gold once more. She'll again have to learn on the job as one of the most inexperienced Superstars in recent memory.

Owens, meanwhile, will find out by the end of the night who he will face for his title at Battleground.

After ducking AJ Styles' challenges, KO could soon be facing The Phenomenal One himself. SmackDown general manager Daniel Bryan entered Styles in a Battle Royal that will decide Owens' PPV foe.

The WWE.com SmackDown preview teased the possibility of Styles coming out on top: "Can Styles earn the chance he's been looking for, or will a new Superstar emerge from the pack to challenge the United States Champion? "

For The New Day and The Usos, the fight over championship gold will have to wait. The two teams will meet in a rap battle on Tuesday night.

Big E is ready to go:

And for the first time since before WrestleMania 33, Cena will return to the SmackDown spotlight. 

The 16-time world champ's last rival won't be around. The Miz is now a part of Raw. Cena, though, is being billed as a "free agent."

His appearance should clear up what that will mean for his future. He'll likely start walking in the direction of his Battleground opponent. A Fourth of July patriotic moment waits to unfold should Cena take down the anti-American WWE champ Jinder Mahal.

SmackDown has done well to produce quality TV minus one of its biggest stars and now the brand will be far closer to full strength, just in time to celebrate the holiday.