WWE SmackDown Live Preview: October 10, 2017

Questions galore after a rambunctious Hell in a Cell pay-per-view threw up a host of unexpected developments on the Blue brand.

Where will Shinsuke Nakamura go from here after defeating the likes of Dolph Ziggler, Randy Orton and John Cena...but repeatedly failing at the final hurdle against WWE Champion Jinder Mahal?

The Usos may have emerged victorious in what was one of the most brutal and hard-hitting Hell in a Cell matches in WWE history, but no one who endures this kind of punishment emerges on the other side intact. What next for the new SmackDown Live Tag Team Champions?

And most importantly, why on earth did Sami Zayn risk his own neck and save his former best friend turned archenemy Kevin Owens at Hell in a Cell?

Covering all of the above talking points and more, here is our preview for this week's episode of SmackDown Live.

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#1 Frenemies?

Why did Sami Zayn do what he did?

Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens have been at each others' throats seemingly forever. Every time they stand opposite to one another in the ring, they bring out the most vicious version of the other person.

And not one week back, Kevin Owens brutally assaulted Sami Zayn, powerbombing him on the ring apron.

Then, why would Sami Zayn risk his own safety and pull Kevin Owens off from the announcer's table, even as Shane McMahon fell through it from the top of the cell, milliseconds later?

It's a question to which the entire WWE Universe is eager to know the answer to.

#2 Natalya prevails...but for how long?

Natalya may have retained the belt, but all she did was stoke the fire in Charlotte Flair

Natalya opted to go the dishonourable route, albeit smart one, when she repeatedly attacked Charlotte's leg with a steel chair and got herself intentionally disqualified in her Title defence at Hell in a Cell.

Considering how things were left off, one has to think that Charlotte Flair will make a beeline for Natalya to resume the hostilities when she's fit enough.

In the meantime, however, the rest of the Women's division on SmackDown Live is left to battle it out amongst themselves to see who gets the next shot at the Championship when Becky Lynch takes on Miss.MITB, Carmella.

Will the Irish Lass Kicker position herself in a favourable light for a tilt at the gold? Or will the presence of James Ellsworth cause enough of a distraction for Carmella to nick a victory?

#3 Time for fresh blood?

Is it time for a new team to rise up and challenge for the Tag Championships on the Blue brand?

There was really no winner in a match the ilk of which the Usos and the New Day put on at Hell in a Cell but for what it's worth, the twins were the ones who emerged from the demonic cell structure with their hands raised.

But how much did the brutal encounter take out of them?

Will they be able to defend their belts again on SmackDown Live if the New Day exercises its rematch clause?

Or is it time for a new tag team to book themselves in the Title picture after the belts have been exchanging hands between the Usos and the New Day for a while now?

Chad Gable and Shelton Benjamin might be just the men we're looking for.

#4 Karma?

Now that Baron Corbin is the US Champion, will he make AJ Styles' life living hell?

Although Daniel Bryan's last-minute announcement that Tye Dillinger would also be involved in the US Title match at HIAC didn't faze AJ Styles, it did come back to haunt him as the Perfect Ten eventually ate the pin to give Baron Corbin the victory.

Not one to give up the chase, AJ Styles then promised to evoke his rematch clause on SmackDown Live, during his interview on Smack Talk.

But will the Lone Wolf accede to his request and give him a shot at the belt right off the bat? Or will he have to wait his turn in line, much like how he made Corbin do?

#5 Third time the charm?

Will Nakamura dust himself off and challenge for the WWE Title again?

Shinsuke Nakamura looked unstoppable when he defeated Randy Orton and John Cena en route to challenging Jinder Mahal for the WWE Championship.

But for some reason, he's just not been able to overcome the Modern Day Maharaja, try hard as he might.

After two PPV losses on the trot and consecutive failures to capture the WWE Championship, is this it for the Artist in the Title picture?

Or can he, somehow, convince Daniel Bryan to give him one more shot at the gold? After all, they don't say 'third time lucky' for nothing, do they?