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| Edited By: Pranav Joshi |Source: DNA webdesk |Updated: Sep 29, 2017, 05:19 PM IST
WWE's next Pay Per View event Night of Champions is scheduled for September 21, just 10 days away. Eight matches have already been set on the card, and more may be added in the coming week. However, the booked matches cover all the major feuds we have seen on television since and before Summerslam. Here are the predictions for each bout:
1) Sheamus v/s Cesaro for the US Title: Sheamus is the US champion, but this feud has not received as much attention as it should. Cesaro was once booked very strongly, winning the Andre The Giant Battle Royal at Wrestlemania, but has since fallen off the radar. Expect Sheamus to retain the title, though Cesaro will put up a good fight.
2) Dolph Ziggler v/s The Miz for the Intercontinental Title: The Miz is one of the least interesting characters in the WWE as of now. A fresh heel turn has done him some good, but Dolph Ziggler has just won the title at Summerslam and is unlikely to drop it at Night of Champions, especially if WWE are serious about his title reign. Miz for his part has won and lost the IC title any number of times, so another reign cannot be ruled out.
3) Rusev v/s Mark Henry: Jack Swagger has been bumped off the Night of Champions card and his momentary push seems over. So much for being a one-trick over face. He was clearly used to put Rusev over during their US v/s Russia feud. Rusev is still undefeated and it is unlikely that Mark Henry will end that streak, given that WWE are high on Rusev. Either Rusev will beat Mark Henry by pinfall or via a disqualification/countout.
4) The Usos v/s Gold and Stardust for the Tag Team titles: Gold and Stardust made a surprising heel turn a few weeks ago on RAW, attacking the Usos after failing to beat them for the Tag titles. The team was not getting stale so it is unclear why the heel turn was decided upon, but it seems that the Tag Titles might just fall to Gold and Stardust at Night of Champions.
5) Paige v/s AJ Lee v/s Nikki Bella for the Divas Title: Paige is the heel champion, and has had beef with AJ Lee since before Summerslam in a feud which has blown cold in recent weeks. Nikki Bella has been inserted into this match after turning heel against her sister Brie at Summerslam, to aid Stephanie McMahon. This match is slightly tough to call given the presence of two heels and one Stephanie McMahon who is almost certain to interfere, but expect Paige to retain the title after lots of interference.
6) Chris Jericho v/s Randy Orton: Randy Orton very randomly attacked Chris Jericho backstage last week on RAW, just to release the beast within, so to speak. Chris Jericho's run with WWE is about to end as he will be going off to work with his band Fozzy again. So Randy Orton is likely to earn a victory and not much momentum from this match. This is just like a marquee match of no real consequence. Bray Wyatt's interference cannot be ruled out, but his feud with Jericho is said to be over following their steel cage match on RAW.
7) Roman Reigns v/s Seth Rollins: This match will likely go second-to-last on the card, or before the Divas match followed by the WWE World Title match. WWE is clearly pushing both Reigns and Rollins hard. Reigns beat Orton cleanly at Summerslam and Rollins defeated Dean Ambrose. Rollins later beat up Ambrose and used his finisher on Ambrose after placing his head on cinder blocks, putting him out of action (in reality, Ambrose is out filming a movie). Rollins is the Money in the Bank briefcase holder, but he has also been on a hot streak of late. However, Ambrose is advertised for the RAW following Night of Champions, which means he may show up at the PPV and cost Rollins the match against Reigns.
8) John Cena v/s Brock Lesnar: Despite Brock Lesnar no-showing two consecutive RAWs due to his fixed dates, this feud carries interest because of the superstardom of John Cena, the ease with which Brock Lesnar squashed him at Summerslam, and WWE's commitment to keep pushing Cena as the top babyface. We cannot expect a prolonged squash match like we saw at Summerslam, but Brock Lesnar is likely to keep the title after some interference. Who causes the interference might be interesting, but it could simply be Paul Heyman. Or, it could be the next guy Cena will feud with. Either way, WWE has plans to book Lesnar as the champion going into Wrestlemania 31, so don't expect him to lose at Night of Champions.
A word on Bray Wyatt: After a match with John Cena at Wrestlemania 30, Bray Wyatt had a somewhat lukewarm feud with Chris Jericho. Though he came out tops in that feud, his gimmick and delivery seem to be getting a bit stale. Now, Wyatt has not yet been booked for a match at Night of Champions and has just finished his feud with Jericho. There are rumours that Wyatt may be inserted into the Intercontinental Title scene, so that might happen either on RAW the coming Monday or during the Miz-Ziggler match at Night of Champions.
