WWE SmackDown Live Preview: August 08, 2017

After Raw wrapped up a rollicking go-home show on Monday before SummerSlam, it's time for the denizens of the Blue brand to deliver in the lead up to the summer's biggest event.

Also follow: WWE SmackDown Results, August 15 2017, Live Updates and commentary

One man who will most certainly be feeling the pressure is WWE Champion Jinder Mahal, who -- coming off the loss to Randy Orton -- faces 16-time World Champion John Cena at the most inopportune moment possible.

Shinsuke Nakamura, meanwhile, has been unnaturally quiet having secured a WWE Title shot at SummerSlam. Will the Artist grace us with his magnetic presence before the pay-per-view swings around?

And what will be the fallout after an unfortunate melee between Shane O'Mac, AJ Styles and Kevin Owens last week?

Running through all these points and more, here is our preview of this week's episode of SmackDown Live!

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#1 Triple Threat?

A shocking development?

After AJ Styles inadvertently attacked Shane McMahon last week, will the SmackDown Live commissioner still be able to call the US Title match between the "Phenomenal One" and Kevin Owens down the middle?

Shane's bad blood with Kevin Owens has already been well documented and he has a checkered history with AJ Styles as well.

Was last week's unfortunate scuffle the final straw that broke the camel's back? Will Shane McMahon decide that all his restraint isn't worth it and throw away his referee stripes to lace up his wrestling boots once again?

Will the US Title match at WWE SummerSlam remain a single's encounter between AJ Styles and Kevin Owens or does Shane McMahon have a last-minute curveball in store for us all?

#2 Queen of Harts vs Irish Lass Kicker

Who will prevail in this high profile clash?

Natalya earned the right to face Naomi for the SmackDown Live Women's Championship at WWE SummerSlam but has to overcome a formidable opponent in Becky Lynch on Tuesday before she can even begin to think about the pay-per-view.

Becky Lynch hasn't had much success of late, after becoming the first ever Women's Champion on the Blue brand, and will be looking at a match against the number one contender as the perfect opportunity to show that she still belongs in the upper echelons of the division.

Will the Irish Lass Kicker begin her ascent back up the ranks and into Title contention at the expense of Natalya or will the Queen of Harts prove that she deserves the number one contendership with a marquee victory over Becky Lynch?

#3 Painting a violent picture?

Will the Artist show up on SmackDown Live this week?

Ever since Shinsuke Nakamura booked himself into the WWE Championship match at SummerSlam with a momentous victory over John Cena, we haven't seen much of him.

Is he readying himself for the biggest match of his life in private? Or is he choosing to hold off confronting Jinder Mahal so that he doesn't risk getting outmanned by the WWE Champion and his sidekicks before the big day?

Either way, everyone will be eager to hear from "The Artist" on this week's episode of SmackDown Live. Will he paint one last violent picture on Tuesday, before he stands opposite Jinder Mahal at WWE SummerSlam?

#4 Don't poke the Bulgarian in the eye!

The Bulgarian Brute will be looking for revenge

After losing face (and the Flag match) to John Cena, Rusev has been licking his wounds like the dangerous, cornered animal that he is.

And eating Randy Orton's RKO out of nowhere certainly didn't improve his mood either.

The 13-time World Champion that he is, Randy Orton can certainly count himself among the best of the best... but has he also bitten off more than he can chew by poking the Bulgarian bear in the eye?

Rusev will be looking for swift and painful revenge this week on SmackDown Live and if possible, to even maim Randy Orton just days before their dance at SummerSlam.

Will the Bulgarian Brute get his pound of flesh? Or will The Viper, like always, prove to be too much to handle?

#5 The odds are stacked!

John Cena has Jinder Mahal to worry about... but will that be all?

John Cena dealt with his loss to Shinsuke Nakamura like the champion that he is, classy as ever and even more determined to right his mistakes.

Such a driven and refocussed John Cena surely spells disaster for WWE Champion Jinder Mahal, when the two square off on SmackDown Live this week.

But will Baron Corbin allow the match to proceed as planned?

Corbin has a nasty habit of sticking his nose into matters that don't concern him and may view a match between Cena and Mahal as the perfect opportunity to make a statement by again taking out the Face that Runs the Place.

Although John Cena is about as formidable as they come, it does seem like he is caught between a rock and a hard place this time around.

Will the Leader of the Cenation come out swinging like we expect him to? Or will the odds prove too insurmountable, even for him?

To find out, make sure you tune in to this week's episode of SmackDown Live!