Choke's Night of Champions 9/16 Predictions: Sheamus stripped?
Posted by: choke Sep 16, 2012 | 1737 views | 3 comments
My predictions for tonight's PPV
Freeview: Battle Royal for the U.S. Title
Prediction: This doesn't count for Fantasy points, but is obviously still important to the game as the winner will face Cesaro tonight. Obviously look for it to be a face. Main contenders: Brodus Clay, Santino, Tyson Kidd and I'll throw in Zack Ryder as a possibility. I do think the WWE goes with the obvious storyline they set up on Smackdown and Brodus Clay will get the title shot.
Fatal 4 Way: The Miz vs. Sin Cara vs. Rey Mysterio vs. Cody Rhodes for the Intercontinental Championship
Prediction: You could probably make a case for any of these 4 to win. I give Rhodes the least chance at a title change as his last title reign is still a little too fresh on the mind to me. Sin Cara and Rey are both very popular and it's not difficult to picture either of them with a belt at this point. All that being said, I still like Miz to retain as I like his chances to keep the belt until the Marine 3 is released which is scheduled for around Wrestlemania. If he did lose tonight I think he'd gain it back quickly in a rematch. Miz retains the I/C Belt
Layla vs Kaitlyn for the WWE Divas Championship
Prediction: As I've been stating in my Fantasy Impact stories, I fully expect Layla to drop the belt (!) tonight. I think Eve will play a factor in the loss, either by Helping Kaitlyn win directly and in effect turning Kaitlyn heel, or indirectly causing Layla to lose by some sort of "unintentional" interference which will play into the storyline of the "is she or isn't she?" that they've been trying to play with her. Either way: Kaitlyn wins the WWE Divas championship
Dolph Ziggler vs Randy Orton
Prediction: A few ways to look at this one. First of all, oddly enough I feel like Orton needs the win more to get him more firmly in the mix for a World Title shot. So if Ziggler ever successfully cashes in Money in the Bank then Orton has the claim that he beat him here to gain a shot himself after the Sheamus rematch. Or if Del Rio wins tonight and the rematch Orton would probably be next in line at a title shot with a win here (if only WWE title contender scenarios were only this logical). A Ziggler win doesn't do much for him as long as he has the MITB case because everyone is simply waiting for him to cash it in, though I guess one could argue a big win like this over a top tier contender like Orton makes it seem more likely he will successfully cash it in against Sheamus vs not. Nah, going to stick with Orton here. Orton defeats Dolph Ziggler
Sheamus vs Alberto Del Rio for the World Heavyweight Championship
Prediction: It is so difficult to pick against Sheamus with how much the WWE portrays him to be a dominant force. I do think there's something to be said about Del Rio getting his seemingly 15th chance at a PPV in a row at tonight's show, along with how much time they've spent (wasted?) on this Brogue Kick banning storyline. Due to these factors I'm going against reason here and thinking that Sheamus will win the match, but then Brogue Kick someone like Rodriguez, Otunga, Ziggler with the case, or Del Rio himself (or a returning Christian, interfering Wade Barrett, returning Big Show?) and get the title stripped . Bottom line is I like the title to be up in the air as tonight's show concludes. Sheamus gets stripped of the title by using the Brogue Kick either during the match or in the aftermath
Antonio Cesaro vs the winner of the Battle Royal (Brodus?) for the US Championship
Prediction: I'm only putting this so late so the winner of the Battle Royal has some time to "rest" which they probably wont need. The crowd seems to dislike Cesaro and to me he's getting the necessary jeers for the WWE not to be concerned about him retaining, plus it's simply not been long enough for him to lose it yet. It's a pretty easy call for me to say he retains, so naturally he'll probably lose it to Alex Riley or something. Antonio Cesaro retains the US Championship no matter what.
Kofi Kingston and R-Truth vs Daniel Bryan and Kane for the WWE Tag Titles
Prediction: Simply put Kingston and Truth have no business still holding the Tag Titles, though I believe it's all due to the reaction Primetime Players have been receiving from the crowds (which is basically none). Combine that with the success that Kane and Bryan's vignettes have had and I think WWE called an audible and changed this matchup to one the fans would be more interested in. It would be a HUGE mistake for Team Friendship to lose here. Strike when the iron's hot, inject some freshness into this division and hopefully PTP vs Team Friendship can get the fans more invested in new blood like PTP that way. I can just see it now, Kane going to hug Titus and getting beat down for it. Guaranteed boos! Team Friendship wins the WWE Tag Titles
CM Punk vs John Cena for the WWE Heavyweight Championship
Prediction: As much as I'd like to see Cena win for my own personal benefit (he's on my team), I think it'd be a gross error on the WWE's part to take it off of Punk at this spot. With the addition of Heyman to his team and his continuing to lay down some of the best promos and having some of the best heelish tendencies in the sport (yes, sport!) itself, it just doesn't make sense to kill the momentum right now. November could be a different story though.... CM Punk retains the WWE Heavyweight Championship
Overall it looks like a solid show. There havent been enough surprises on WWE PPVs the last several months, so I'm hoping this changes tonight. I think the Sheamus controversy and 1 good run-in by someone like Big Show, Christian or Barrett could accomplish that.