With WWE Night of Champions this Sunday, PWP Nation’s Eron Ramadanov lays out the best and worst outcomes for each match.
WWE Night of Champions is right around the corner, which means it’s time for everyone under the sun to give their predictions for each match at this September pay-per-view. But I’m going to change it up a bit.
Instead of giving my picks or previewing the card, I’m going to lay out the best and worst possible outcomes for every single contest this Sunday. I’d also have to agree with my friend and co-worker Oliver Norgrove, that this card is stacked with exciting, fresh and interesting storylines and matches, and you’d have to be looney to NOT have at least one thing to look forward.
Listen, I get it. You don’t want to admit that you’re excited, so I’ll just take that rolling of eyes that you’re doing at the computer screen as a “yes”, that you are indeed interested in WWE Night of Champions. For a September pay-per-view, coming off WWE SummerSlam, this show has several reasons to watch and be invested in what’s going to happen.
Speaking of what’s going to happen (DAYMN, that was a smooth transition), let’s get into the best and worst outcomes for each match at WWE Night of Champions:
Neville & Lucha Dragons vs. Stardust & The Ascension
BEST: Stardust & The Ascension get a legitimate and definitive win; Stardust looks strong.
WORST: Stardust gets pinned; Neville & Lucha Dragons win.
Usually the WWE books these pre-shows/kickoff shows as fun, light matches that will at least some kind of rise out of the fans in attendance. With that being said, this shouldn’t be one of those times. The reason I believe that Stardust, Konnor and Viktor should win here is for two reasons. Firstly, with Stardust coming off a loss at SummerSlam, he shouldn’t lose for two straight pay-per-views. Secondly, as rumors have it, The Ascension and Stardust might actually turn into a legitimate stable, whereas Neville and the Lucha Dragons will move onto bigger and better things in the near future. The best thing here is give the heels a definitive and legitimate victory over the babyfaces.
WWE Tag Team Championship Match: The New Day (c) vs. The Dudley Boyz
BEST: This leads to move interaction between these two teams.
WORST: The Prime Time Players get involved.
Regardless of the winner, I just want to see more of the New Day and Dudley Boyz. I honestly don’t have an investment in this match, because I love both teams so much. I still can’t believe how far the New Day have come since their debut, but that’s a different topic for a different article. The Dudley Boyz will win the tag team titles before their run in WWE is over, but the question when and from who? As long as the New Day and Dudleys are involved with each other for an extended period of time, I’ll be a happy camper.
On the other hand, I’ll be VERY upset if the Prime Time Players get involved in this match on Sunday and if they are continued to be forced into this feud going forward. Can we please stop pretending like the Prime Time Players are a fun, interesting or even decent tag team? Please, I’m begging you. I’ve had enough of this bland and boring team, which is made up of an average wrestler in Darren Young and a far below average wrestler in Titus O’Neil. Sorry to be so harsh, but it’s the truth.
Dolph Ziggler vs. Rusev (w/Summer Rae)
BEST: Double turn.
WORST: No contest finish.
This entire feud has been hard to watch. Sure, there has been some shining moments from everyone involved, especially Rusev, but I expected so much more from everyone in this feud. I don’t think you can find a bigger fan of Rusev, than I am. I think the guy is fantastic, and has everyone you want in a top heel. But he also has everything you can in a top babyface. As crazy as it may sound, I think we’ll see Rusev spend a large amount of his career as a fan favorite. Why? Because he’s so damn good. Today’s wrestling fans respect performers that are good, especially when they can entertain you, while performing at a high level in the ring.
As for Ziggler, he’s a NATURAL heel. He just is. I mean, for someone who wears an absurd amount of denim… how do you not hate him? I’ll admit that I’ve grown tired of the Dolph Ziggler routine. He has done nothing to change or evolve his career since his run with Vickie Guerrero on SmackDown. Look at Ziggler from then and take a look at him now… it’s the same character! Nothing has changed! I’d like to use a phrase that Ziggler uses quite often. “I’m OVER IT!” (“IT” is referring to Ziggler, just so we’re clear). A double turn makes sense here. Have Summer Rae turn on Rusev, and pair her up with Ziggler. Ziggler and Rae beatdown and embarrass Rusev for weeks and weeks, until Lana finally returns and reunites with her first love; this way you now have both Rusev and Lana as a babyface couple against a newly formed villain couple in Summer Rae & Dolph Ziggler. Flashbacks of Miss Elizabeth and Randy Savage are flooding into my brain.
Dean Ambrose, Roman Reigns & ??? vs. The Wyatt Family
BEST: Mystery partner is someone meaningful and important; leads to furthering of story.
WORST: Baron Corbin…
Let’s be honest. In a few months, we’re not going to remember this match to save our lives. But, we will remember who will be lined up as the mystery partner for Dean Ambrose and Roman Reigns. As much as some of you might hate it, this feud will continue and it will go into the winter; bank on it. So in the grand scheme of this feud, this match doesn’t matter. What matters is who the partner will be and who is going to join the fight against Wyatt and his family. Names have been thrown out there like Erick Rowan, Kane, Randy Orton and even as big as The Rock. I think any of those names would be okay, but all I ask for is that it makes sense. Kane makes sense, Rowan makes sense, Orton makes sense, Rock makes sense…. but there is one name that is completely out of the blue, that makes ZERO sense.
Baron…. Corbin….
Listen, my hatred for Baron Corbin is actually getting smaller, but it’s still pretty high. If you don’t know, I don’t like Corbin, the performer, not the person because I don’t know him, obviously. As a wrestler, he’s garbage; simple as that. His microphone skills are pretty lack-luster (that’s putting it nicely), and he has yet to really show any legitimate improvement. I’m not saying he’ll never get better, but right now he’s not ready for the main roster. That road is a long one. Corbin is not ready, nor does it make sense for him to be revealed as their partner. Disagree with me? Oh well…
WWE Divas Championship Match: Nikki Bella (c) vs. Charlotte
BEST: Charlotte wins clean, followed by big celebration.
WORST: Nikki Bella retains.
There has been so much talk about Nikki Bella‘s title reign on this site, that I’m going to be as brief as possible with this. If you want more insight and opinions on this, go to the home page; it’s littered with content on her title reign.
For me, Charlotte winning at WWE Night of Champions cleanly makes the most sense and should happen. This past Monday on RAW, we saw a glimpse into the future, as Charlotte appeared to have won her first Divas Championship. If that wasn’t enough, she celebrated with his Team PCB members and her father, who knows a thing or two about gold. I get why they did what they did on RAW. As much as you may hate it, it makes sense. But you will get your moment; Charlotte will walk out a champion this Sunday.
Before I move on, I did want to mention that after Charlotte’s victory against Nikki Bella, I can very well see Paige getting jealous and either turning on Charlotte at WWE Night of Champions or the night after on RAW. Either way, I think a Paige vs. Charlotte feud is coming, as the Bellas begin to take a backseat for the time being, and possibly forever.
WWE Intercontinental Championship Match: Ryback (c) vs. Kevin Owens
BEST: Kevin Owens wins; while making Ryback look strong.
WORST: Double countout-type finish.
Tell me this match doesn’t have double count-out written all over it. Personally, I’m a huge Kevin Owens fan. He’s easily my favorite talent on the WWE roster, and I’ll admit that I’m a little biased when it comes to wanting Owens to win the IC title. At the same time, I really like and enjoy Ryback. I think he’s gotten better and better and has gone good things with and for that title, but Owens needs it more.
After losing his feud with John Cena, Owens needs something that he can hold up and say, “See! I told you so!” That thing is the Intercontinental Championship. Owens’ whole persona is that he is a prize figher… well, the IC title is a prize. Makes all the sense in the world, no? I did say that an no-finish here would be disappointing and that it would be the “worst” outcome. Maybe that’s not true. If they do go that route and if it means that Owens will just win it at a later date, because they want to extend this feud longer, I guess I’m okay with that.
WWE United States Championship Match: Seth Rollins (c) vs. John Cena
BEST: John Cena wins back the US Title.
WORST: Seth Rollins loses clean.
See, for me, I understand partly why WWE decided to give Seth Rollins both the US and WWE Titles, but in the grand scheme of things, it didn’t really do anything for him. It didn’t elevate him above anyone because he’s already at the top. For John Cena, I think he needs the US Title more than Rollins, as CRAZY as that is to say, it’s true. What does John Cena do after this if not defend that United States Championship? So in saying that, I’m all for John Cena getting this title back, but WWE has to be smart about it.
You can’t… I repeat… CAN’T have Seth Rollins lose CLEAN to John Cena, especially before the WWE Title match. I don’t know how they’ll do it. Maybe they’ll have Sheamus, Triple H or Stephanie McMahon accidentally cost Rollins the title, or something along those lines, but I don’t think Rollins can afford to lose clean here.
It’s possible that Rollins walks out with the US title and it would be a big statement for Rollins’ legacy to beat both John Cena and Sting in the same night, but I don’t see that happening.
WWE World Heavyweight Championship Match: Seth Rollins (c) vs. Sting
BEST: Seth Rollins retains and beats Sting clean.
WORST: No finish.
Ugh… I swear if we get two inconclusive finishes in a back-to-back main event matches at a pay-per-view, I’m going to blow my lid. I honestly think the best thing to do here is have Rollins beat Sting clean. Imagine if Rollins beats both Sting and Cena in the same night! That would be a huge stamp of approval by WWE brass. On the other side of things, I can see why some fans would want to see Sting win the WWE Championship, due to the fact that he’s never held it before. That makes total sense, but I don’t think it should be done at the expense of Seth Rollins’ title reign, which is approaching a year.
Of course, WWE continues to tease tension between the Authority, mainly Triple H, and Seth Rollins. There’s no question that we’ll see that match when the time is right, but I don’t think it’s now. Also, the final component to this puzzle is the idea of Sheamus stealing the WWE World Heavyweight Championship from Sting or Seth Rollins after the match. Listen, I think it makes sense, due to the interaction between Sheamus and Rollins the last two weeks, I can see it happening.
I could also see Triple H aligning himself with a real-life friend in Sheamus, as the Celtic Warrior could be the replacement for Rollins. Finally, I could easily see Sheamus cashing-in on Rollins, after Seth has gone through two grueling matches, and winning, which would then turn Rollins babyface by default because the fans feel sorry for him, which would lead to a Triple H/Seth Rollins feud earlier than expected.
There are so many possibilities here. The bottom line here is that whatever happens at WWE Night of Champions, Seth Rollins has to look better coming out of this night than going in. Simple as that.
Thanks for reading, everyone! Hope you enjoyed the article and have fun watching WWE Night of Champions! I sure will.
