With two different shows and rosters, WWE is now producing PPV events about two to three weeks apart now. Smackdown was up first with Backlash and while it had a lackluster card, it turned out to be a great PPV, highlighted by AJ Styles winning the WWE World Championship, a feat thought impossible a year ago. Now, we have Raw up to bat this Sunday and man, I have to tell you, it's a stacked card. 8 matches with one on the pre show, this show has the potential to be something special. Of course, it could also be a horrible train wreck that couldn't possibly live up to the high expectations I'm putting forth. Regardless, let's start the predictions.
The lone pre show match (right now) will put Nia Jax up against former Divas Champion Alicia Fox. Fox will be Nia's first real test in the WWE as Nia has been fed nothing but jobbers up to this point. Fox is still a credible challenge for Nia and it will be interesting to see what type of fight she will put up against her. In the end, it's all about making Nia look as strong and dominant as possible so obviously, we'll see Nia Jax with her hand raised high. She'll probably start a feud with Paige to further her dominance before finally getting involved in the women's title picture. Nia wins.
Well, it's finally time. After almost 400 days as champions, The New Day will fall at Clash of Champions as they defend against Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson in a return match from SummerSlam. Let's all be honest, The New Day have become a bit stale. I love them together but you have to admit that. It's time for them to all go their separate ways and let them shine. Kofi needs an opportunity to become Universal Champion and could definitely put on some show stealers with Sami Zayn, Cesaro and Seth Rollins. Big E screams World Champion and Woods could be a mid card champion one day. To get this started though, they need to drop the titles to Gallows and Anderson. Gallows and Anderson can then feud with Enzo and Cass for the remaining of the year. Gallows and Anderson will win and become the Raw Tag Team Champions, meaning all the members of Bullet Club in WWE have won titles this year. Amazing.
Cesaro and Sheamus will wrap up their Best of 7 at Clash of Champions in what should be a hard hitting finale. It still hasn't been determined as to what title they are getting a shot at but it better be a Universal Title shot. If that's the plan, then 7 matches for the shot is worth it. Cesaro was down 0-3 before making a dramatic comeback. I don't think WWE would do this comeback if it didn't result in a Cesaro win. I think Cesaro gets the victory here and will face the Universal Champion on a Raw.
The Cruiserweights are back and the first title defense will take place on Sunday. The Brian Kendrick, on a career resurgence, was able to fend off Cedric Alexander, Rich Swann and Gran Metalik to get the opportunity to challenge Cruiserweight Champion TJ Perkins. Perkins, who was mysteriously absent from Raw, is on a crazy roll right now. In winning the Cruiserweight Classic, Perkins had to defeat a lot of fan favorites, people he shouldn't have defeated by WWE's standards. In the 2nd round, he tapped out Johnny Gargano, an early favorite to win the tournament based on the fact the crowd knew who he was. He then beat Swann in the quarterfinals, another favorite based on showcasing him on NXT. Then, in the most shocking moment in the tournament, Perkins tapped out Kota Ibushi, the absolute favorite to win it all. Three victories in a row he wasn't suppose to win and he didn't just win them. He's won every match by submission. This is a showcase match for Perkins. They gave him The Brian Kendrick, the most well known star apart of the division, to make Perkins look like a star and to introduce him in a big way to the casual viewing WWE audience. It should be a great mat based match but it will end like all of TJP's matches have ended, tapping out to his vicious Knee Bar, which, needs a name come Sunday. TJP wins by submission to retain the Cruiserweight Title. I hope Neville is next for him.
Sami Zayn is on PPV! After being ignored at SummerSlam despite putting on three matches of the year, Zayn is back and this time, he's facing former 6 time World Champion Chris Jericho in what should be an instant classic. There's no real point in this match other than to give both guys something to do. Jericho doesn't need the victory here but as we saw at Wrestlemania against Styles, he can sneak one in from time to time. I think this has potential to be the match of the night and it will be a great win for Sami Zayn as he continues to battle his way to an eventual Universal Title shot. Zayn wins.
Roman Reigns will challenge for a mid card title as he faces Rusev for the United States Championship, the match that should have taken place at SummerSlam. I think Rusev/Reigns is a money feud, one that could even take place with either the WWE or Universal Title in the mix. They're both big guys who can actually go in the ring and have performed very well against other big match players. Rusev is one of the best foreign heels in years and has excelled in his position in US Champ, even if he hasn't really defended it all that often. Reigns is clearly going back to the main event after this as he was able to get the cage match victory over Kevin Owens BEFORE Clash of Champions. If he's going back to the main event picture, there's no reason to do it as US Champion. Therefore, Rusev will defeat Roman Reigns in one of his biggest matches of his career. Tap out? I don't think so. Has Reigns tapped out yet? Hmmmm.... Rusev wins.
It's Wrestlemania 32 all over again! In somewhat of a return match from Wrestlemania 32, Charlotte will defend her Women's Title against Sasha Banks and Bayley in a dream women's championship encounter. These three have been rivals since NXT and it's a match that's been brewing since NXT Takeover Fatal Four Way, where Charlotte saved Bayley from a Sasha beatdown. This whole women's title picture is pretty awesome with all these NXT women involved. If Zayn/Jericho isn't the match of the night, these ladies will steal the show. I'm really looking forward to seeing what these three ladies will bring the table and how Sasha and Charlotte will top their Wrestlemania and SummerSlam matches. I think Vince sees money in a Dana Brooke/Charlotte feud for the title and their eventual break up is definitely brewing. Charlotte retaining here does a lot of good. It keeps Bayley and Sasha for the title a fresh concept, it will lead to the Brooke/Charlotte break up and it will give Nia Jax a few more opponents to run through. I already said Paige will definitely be next for Nia but I think Sasha will be right after that. As long as they keep Bayley and Sasha FAR away from each other before Wrestlemania. Charlotte retains.
The main event of the show seems more like a main event of a NXT show rather than a PPV and that's not a bad thing! That's a compliment! In his first title defense, Kevin Owens has a rough challenge in former WWE World Champion Seth Rollins. I know the term dream match has been thrown around a lot this year with Styles/Cena, Nakamura/Joe and many others happening already this year but this is a bonafide dream match for me. Two of the most talented stars on the roster get a chance to battle for Raw's top prize. Two former NXT Champions no less! This will be a great match and I hope both guys bring their A game. In the end, it won't be a clean victory for Owens as I'm sure Triple H will be lurking around somewhere, so I expect a ref bump during this match. Triple H will prove to be just enough of a distraction to give Owens the upper hand and retain his championship. I just hope they give this match the time it deserves. If Styles/Ambrose got 25 minutes, so should Owens/Rollins.
Clash of Champions has the potential to be something special but will it? We'll find out!
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