Night of Champions preview
Predictions for tonight’s WWE pay-per-view:
Six-pack elimination challenge for WWE title: Champion Sheamus vs. Wade Barrett vs. John Cena vs. Edge vs. Chris Jericho vs. Randy Orton): Because of the elimination format, this figures to be the best match on the show. Orton has been on such a roll as of late that a victory by him is almost too obvious. I’m guessing that Orton’s inevitable title win is delayed a bit longer and Sheamus somehow walks out tonight still the champion.
World heavyweight champion Kane vs. The Undertaker in a no-holds-barred match: The Undertaker will put up a valiant effort but Kane will just be too much for “The Dead Man” in his current weakened state, setting up a rematch at next month’s Hell in a Cell pay-per-view.
U.S. champion The Miz vs. Daniel Bryan: I expect The Miz to win due to outside interference by Alex Riley.
Intercontinental champion Dolph Ziggler vs. Kofi Kingston: The stipulation is that Ziggler will lose the title if he gets disqualified or counted out. Look for a title change here.
The Big Show vs. CM Punk: This is the only match on the show that isn’t for a championship. I’d love to see Punk get the win, but I just don’t think it’s going to happen.
WWE Divas champion Melina vs. Michelle McCool in a Lumberjill match to unify the women’s titles: Yes, we have a title unification match in which one of the competitors isn’t even a champion. What is this, TNA? Layla, the officially recognized WWE women’s champion, is the wild card here. Will Layla cost McCool the match because she is angry about being duped out of a spot in the bout by her BFF on Smackdown Friday, or will Layla forgive McCool and help her win? I’m guessing it’s the former and Layla goes babyface.
WWE tag team champions The Hart Dynasty vs. opponents to be determined: I’m guessing that Drew McIntyre and Cody Rhodes, who beat THD in a non-title match on Smackdown Friday, will get the shot. A three-way match that also involves John Morrison and R-Truth is a possibility as well.
Comments
If Punk loses, someone on creative must really hate him. He lost a 3-on-1 handicap match at SummerSlam, and has been getting knocked out week in and week out since then. Booking 101 dictates that he has to win it this time...
RESPONSE FROM KE: I agree. He should win this time. But will he?
Posted by: Anonymous | September 19, 2010 1:33 PM
U.S. champion The Miz vs. Daniel Bryan: I expect The Miz to win due to outside interference by Alex Riley.
Really? I was thinking Michael Cole. Either way i really doubt a clean victory for the miz.
Posted by: David | September 19, 2010 2:31 PM
My hunch is that they are really going to build Orton up before giving him a babyface run. I still think that Shemus is going to be saved for HHH so that they can get the title back on him without having to go through Cena or Orton.
Agree about Kane and the Undertaker. Kane needs to get a win here to really build some anticipation for a rematch.
The Big Show feud has been a disaster for Punk. He came into it as one of the hottest characters in wrestling, and he leaves (assuming this is finally the end) a chump. It hasn't really done anything for the Big Show either, since he's just dominated a guy he should dominate. I do think there's a way to do a Punk/Show feud; have the master manipulator get inside the Big Show's head to negate the physical advantage. But they didn't do that, so it's been a dud.
Posted by: Ken Raining | September 19, 2010 3:22 PM
I could see Wade Barrett winning the WWE Title tonight. Nexus needs some life injected into the story line and apparently the Nexus is Vince McMahon's creative baby. Plus, it wouldn't seem outrageous for Barrett to win if the rest of Nexus interferes.
Posted by: TheCoz | September 19, 2010 4:21 PM
I think tonight could be the night Miz cashes in on MITB after he loses to Bryan.
And Cole will somehow be involved and be revealed as the actual GM.
Also do you consider NOC to be a "major" PPV along with the other 4
Posted by: eee | September 19, 2010 4:29 PM
Since there has been no tag team match announced and big show vs cm punk is non title do you think wwe will do a twist and throw them into the tag team match and also add mc intyre and rhodes
Posted by: DDA | September 19, 2010 4:56 PM
I have to agree with Ken: the CM Punk - Big Show feud has done nothing for either man. Especially Punk. The Straight Edge Society has been buried, Serena future endeavoured and Punk made to look weak in the face of the Giant.
Week in and week out, Punk is the best thing happening on Smackdown. He's the best promo in wrestling, let alone WWE. And he doesn't need a Championship to get himself over and stay over.
I'd love to see Punk go over. Especially now as he's been touted as the 'most dangerous man on Smackdown', you'd think he'd have something up his sleeve to defeat Show. But I just can't see that happening. Especially since he's in his hometown of Chicago. And we all know what happens when WWE "superstars" are in their hometowns. . .
Posted by: Barry | September 19, 2010 4:59 PM
I'm predicting that Riley's interference will end up costing Miz the title.
Miz stays strong. Riley gets noticed. Danielson gets the title.
Everyone wins.
Posted by: Jack Windham | September 19, 2010 6:23 PM
I see a Kofi Kingston heel turn looming on the horizon. I could see him being disqualified in tonight, starting the gradual turn, the explanation being his growing anger over his inability to get the best of Ziggler.
As popular as Kingston is, he has really stalled after his program with Orton ended. This could give him a shot in the arm. I also remember him talking recently about a potential switch (perhaps in an interview with you, Kevin?).
Posted by: Michael in Virginia | September 19, 2010 6:24 PM
eee—Not only is "Night of Champions" not one of the Big 4, but I would argue that the Big 4 itself has been reduced to the Big 3. "Survivor Series" hasn't been treated as a big, old-school PPV in several years. Reportedly WWE was even considering dumping the name last year. I don't think it qualifies anymore.
Posted by: Stephen | September 19, 2010 7:46 PM
Now that the Divas/women's belts are unified is that not an excuse to prepare to get rid of a number of athletic actresses as the bulk of the action will now shift over to SmackDown ... and why need so many Divas ... or am I wrong? What do you think Kevin? Thanks.
Posted by: John | September 20, 2010 5:31 AM
The Viper = 7 Time Champion!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: chris | September 20, 2010 8:40 AM
Kevin,
What do you think of the following Result/Storyline...
I see McCool winning the Unification Match. Thus resulting in Layla continuing the Co-Champions Reign, only to have McCool say that SHE is the "Real Champ". Layla gets pi**ed for being pushed aside and starts saying that McCool was never technically the Women's Champ and thus stating a Layla (babyface) vs. McCool (heel) line?
RESPONSE FROM KE: Sounds abiut right to me.
Posted by: Rumpke | September 20, 2010 10:58 AM