WWE Smackville: full card preview and predictions

Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Finn Balor – Intercontinental Championship

For the past couple of weeks, Finn Balor has had his hands full with Bray Wyatt while the new Intercontinental Champion Shinsuke Nakamura has been fielding offers from potential challengers like Ali. Before they can move on to their respective blossoming feuds and storylines, both men must revisit their past rivalry one last time in a rematch from the Extreme Rules Kickoff Show, where Nakamura defeated Balor for the title.

Nakamura is currently 2-0 against Finn Balor. Technically, he’s 3-0 if we count their NXT match from 2015, but let’s face it, nobody counts NXT. No one on the main roster at least, so let’s just say that Naka has a win over Finn (Hey! That rhymes!) from the Jul. 9 episode of SmackDown Live and then on Extreme Rules shortly afterwards. Tonight, Finn looks to finally get a win over Naka and do so by getting his title back, but don’t expect it to happen.

Since the title is still fresh around Naka’s waist and since his run has been solid so far, as far as consistently appearing on weekly television and racking up wins is concerned, it is unlikely that he will lose the title. If anything, expect Bray Wyatt’s Fiend to show up to cost Finn the title. It’s rare that WWE produces such a big spectacle of an angle for a simple house show, but they might make an exception since it’s televised. Plus, two clean losses to Nakamura before facing The Fiend at SummerSlam isn’t a good look for Balor.

Prediction: Naka retains