AJ Styles Awaits a Challenger: Latest Rumors, Preview for WWE SmackDown Dec. 26

As 2017 winds down, WWE SmackDown will look to sort out its championship pictures.

AJ Styles sits atop the blue brand with the WWE Championship in hand, waiting for a new Superstar to come after that prize. The United States Championship scene needs some attention, as well. Dolph Ziggler left the title behind one night after winning it at the Clash of Champions pay-per-view.

Who will step up to claim the No. 1 contender's spot in both cases? What feuds will emerge as 2018 approaches? 

We'll get answers to those questions as Chicago hosts Tuesday's show.

Backstage news, the SmackDown preview on WWE.com and storyline analysis help us look ahead at the latest episode. The final SmackDown of the year will then kick off at 8 p.m. ET on USA Network.

News, Rumors

Is Ronda Rousey on her way? While the former UFC champ may be signing with WWE eventually, it doesn't look as if she will join the company in time for the Royal Rumble.

Ryan Satin of Pro Wrestling Sheet reported Rousey will be in Colombia filming a movie for several weeks. The timing makes a Rumble appearance difficult. In addition, Satin noted that Rousey isn't officially on the WWE roster to this point. "We're told an actual deal hasn't been hammered out yet," he wrote.

So while no surprise SmackDown or Raw appearance is likely for Rousey at the moment, fans could see Becky Lynch charge back onto the scene. Dave Meltzer noted in the Figure Four Online daily update on Friday: "Filming of The Marine has been completed, meaning The Miz and Becky Lynch should be back on television shortly."

And former WWE champion Jinder Mahal has apparently been dealing with a torn labrum for months. In a recent YouTube video, he revealed he has been working to rehab the injury:

The issue hasn't stopped him from performing, but one has to wonder if WWE won't lighten his workload until he can recover.

SmackDown Streaks

Charlotte Flair has returned to dominance. Initially, her move to SmackDown saw her tumble record-wise. But in the past few months, WWE has booked her to be a powerful force.

The Queen has won five bouts in a row, per CageMatch.net.

That continues an ongoing roll for Flair. After Battleground PPV in July, she has gone 13-4 and won the SmackDown women's title in November.

The woman Flair beat in tag team action last Tuesday hasn't been presented as quite as unstoppable.

Ruby Riott of the Riott Squad is in the midst of a three-match losing streak, per CageMatch.net. The newcomer from NXT is now 1-2 on SmackDown and 1-3 overall on the main roster.

That's miles apart from the way WWE has booked Absolution on Raw.

Preview

Shane McMahon and Daniel Bryan will look to work together as a unified force against SmackDown's resident insurgents Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn.

As of late, tensions have grown between the brand's commissioner and general manager. They have disagreed how to handle the defiant heels. It looks more and more like WWE is building toward a battle of some sort between McMahon and Bryan.

Tuesday's SmackDown will mark the latest stage in that slow-burning storyline.

Confusion lingered after Clash of Champions when Ziggler seemed to walk out of the company. He left his United States Championship in the ring, a move that seemed to signal that he relinquished the gold.

WWE has any number of options on how to handle crowning a new titleholder if that's the case. A tournament, a Battle Royal or a Fatal 4-Way could be on the way. 

The latest episode should also add a name or two to the upcoming Royal Rumble matches. Naomi declared for the women's Royal Rumble last week. More are sure to follow.

The current pacing suggests we'll see a Superstar or two throw their hat into the ring each week.

Styles, meanwhile, needs a new rival now that Mahal is out of the way. WWE.com's SmackDown preview hinted that a fresh face will step up to him: "The Phenomenal One is waiting for someone to step up and challenge him. Will a contender emerge on SmackDown?"

The Royal Rumble has often been home to unexpected world title challengers from Scott Steiner to Ziggler. That could well be the case again in 2018 as there is not a wealth of top-level heels waiting to clash with Styles. A surprise is poised to unfold as the No. 1 contender's spot is decided.