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WWE presents Clash of Champions on Sunday, live from Charlotte, North Carolina. Here's our takes on what will happen at the show
WWE Universal Champion Seth Rollins vs. Braun Strowman.
Dave: This will be set up, most probably, by what happens in their Tag Title match. This is a pretty eh PPV and coronating Braun here, especially with the solid job that they have been doing in elevating Seth (by getting away from Becky) since Paul Heyman took over Raw. I think they keep the belt where it is.
Mike: They've already made it clear what the finish here will be - THE FIELD will show up! I expect a non-finish to set up Bray vs. someone at Hell in A Cell.
Richard: This match should build on what happens in the tag title match. Is one of the two weakened from the tag match so someone has a slight advantage going into this match? Will they finally pull the trigger on giving Braun the title or is it just going to be another edition of 'so close, but no' for Braun? I think they have gone past the time for Braun to be seen as a viable champion, so that probably means that he wins on Sunday night.
WWE Champion Kofi Kingston vs. Randy Orton.
Dave: They have killed Kofi's momentum since his Title win. He needs to beat Orton and get some gravitas from that, then move on to another challenger. With that said, would I be shocked to see Kofi win and then get destroyed by Brock Lesnar, setting up a big first night when Smackdown goes to FOX? Not in the slightest.
Mike: Kofi laid out Orton on the PPV go-home show Smackdown, so by usual WWE logic, that means Orton is winning the title. However, I just don't see it here. I think Kofi wins.
Richard: I don't think this is the last time we see these two across the ring from each other on a WWE pay per view in 2019. I liked the way they focused on the 2009 MSG angle between these two and that they finally gave Kofi the upper hand because Orton didn't have Dash and Scott with him. The last match ended in disqualification and I can see the same happen again so we get Kofi/Orton III in Hell in a Cell, so we don't get a DQ a third time.
Roman Reigns vs. Erick Rowan in a No Disqualification Match.
Dave: If they are serious about making Rowan a single, they have him win here. If they aren't, Roman goes over.
Mike: I am with Dave. Unless this is all an angle to set up Daniel Bryan vs. Roman Reigns, Rowan should get the win to set up a rematch. I think the No DQ deal lends itself to some interference. Wouldn't it be nice if WWE remembered Luke Harper worked for them and had him get involved to help Rowan?
Richard: I think this week's interaction on Smackdown and it did make me more interested in this match. Adding the No DQ stipulation to the match, it allows them to get creative with what they can do. I could see Rowan getting the win since they don't have to consider putting Roman into the title picture if they continue with Orton and Kofi for another month. To build upon Rowan's 'I am not a follower' promo from Tuesday, he should win the match. Let's hope that they can convince the casual fan to accept Rowan as a top guy.
WWE Raw Women's Champion Becky Lynch vs. Sasha Banks
Dave: Becky has lost some steam and could really use some booking to get it back. I think they need to have a war here and have Sasha get herself DQ'd to continue it on. I don't like the idea of Sasha coming back and quickly getting the win, especially after such a short interaction with Becky.
Mike: I really wonder if we'll see Bayley and Flair get involved here and do a big no contest brawl to set up future rematches. I just don't see Lynch losing on a lower-end show and it makes zero sense to have Banks lose this quickly.
Richard: If we didn't have the double duty storyline, I could see either this or the Smackdown Women's Title match being the main event of the show. They have been able to inject some life into Becky's feuds and will give her someone on her level to face in the ring. I could see Sasha winning the title to see how Becky reacts and also, to set up what I will discuss in the Smackdown Women's Title match discussion.
WWE Smackdown Women's Champion Bayley vs. Charlotte
Dave: Bayley needs a big, solid win. Beating Charlotte would give her that. I have her find a way to outlast The Queen and retain her Title. With her heelish nature now, that should be easy to book.
Mike: My gut is Bayley beats Flair after Banks interferes.
Richard: I have enjoyed Bayley's movement toward the dark side, but I don't think we have seen the full extent of a turn if it is going to happen. I could see Bayley going to whatever depths to try to retain the title since it could set up a very interesting situation for Hell in a Cell. If they are going to do two cell matches at the pay per view, I think one should be Orton and Kofi. The other should be Charlotte and Becky versus Sasha and Bayley (they could even through the women's tag champs in there to add to the carnage). I think Bayley should retain because people expect to see Charlotte win in her 'home town'.
WWE United States Champion AJ Styles vs. Cedric Alexander.
Dave: They have given Cedric some good "close but not quite enough" moments. I say go all the way here and have AJ lose the Title due to being arrogant and overconfident. Losing the US Title won't hurt him a bit but winning it will help Cedric.
Mike: This should be really good. Alexander has been booked as the underdog who got the big miracle win on Raw. The story here is whether he can pull out the win again? I say nope. He'll be better served fighting the good fight and losing, gaining more respect in the process from the fans.
Richard: I wish they didn't have to telegraph so much on Monday to get to this match, but I am looking forward to what they will do in the ring. Cedric is another home town talent and I think, just like with Charlotte, Cedric should fall short in this match. If you want to keep Styles, Gallows, and Anderson strong, AJ needs to keep the title.
WWE Intercontinental Champion Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Miz.
Dave: I have the champ retain here. Miz doesn't need the IC belt while Nakamura does.
Mike: I don't think it matters who wins here. My gut is that Nakamura retains after Sami gets him DQ'd.
Richard: It might be hard to argue which of these two has been booked worse. It seems like Miz is transitioning into the media superstar character with the wrestling being secondary and he is paired against the guy who has done almost nothing on the main roster to make me care about him. If they moved this show to Tout, I would not be complaining (other than trying to figure out how to access Tout to do the coverage). Nakamura retains.
WWE Raw Tag Team Champions Seth Rollins and Braun Strowman vs. Dolph Ziggler and Robert Roode.
Dave: With all due respect to Dolph and Roode, they shouldn't be the ones to unseat the champs. There are many more deserving and established pairs. So if they do win, it will probably be due to internal conflict between the champs and their reign will be a short one.
Mike: This HAS to end with new Champions crowned, right? What else would be the point except to have Braun and Seth at odds by the end time this ends. I say go all the way with Roode and Ziggler and leave a pissed off Rollins and Braun to brawl and be pulled apart before their title match later in the evening.
Richard: I feel safe saying that the thrown together for no reason team wins this match. The question is which of the thrown together teams will win. Do you do a title change where there is confusion that causes the loss so there is a lot of animosity in the Universal Title match to make it a little more intense for Strowman and Rollins? Do you have Roode and Ziggler not be on the same page and let their miscommunication cause Rollins and Strowman to retain. I would put this match on first so they can let Rollins and Strowman get more pissed off at each other, especially if they lose the title. I say keep the titles on Seth and Braun.
WWE Women's Tag Team Champions Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross vs. Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville.
Dave: I love Bliss and Cross as champs and their story has a lot more playing out to do. It's way too soon to pull the Titles from them. Way too soon.
Mike: Agreed with Dave. No way they have gotten all the mileage out of Nikki and Alexa. They retain.
Richard: I was shocked that Nikki beat Mandy in the singles match on Tuesday because they are going to be in this match. I am surprised that they have not split up Nikki and Alexa, but they do work well as a team. I would have them retain the titles and then, as I said above, maybe throw them into a Triple Threat Hell in a Cell Match for at least the Women's Tag Titles, if not all three women's titles.
WWE Smackdown Tag Team Champions The New Day vs. The Revival
Dave: I could see a Title change here, leading to the former champs thought to be down and out, only to even up the odds when The Revival come out during the main event. Or, the Revival gets squashed.
Mike: I disagree. The Revival weren't even on TV this week. I don't see them winning.
Richard: They can go in a number of directions with this match. With the injuries to Woods and Big E, that can be a factor that allows the Revival to win the titles. Or we could see Woods and Big E faking the severity of the injuries and that lulls the Revival into a false sense that they have the advantage and then Big E and Woods retain. I hope these four men are not involved in the WWE Championship match, unless there is a post match kerfuffle. I am going to go with new champs because I think they need at least one title change.
WWE Cruiserweight Champion Drew Gulak vs. Humberto Carrillo vs. Lince Dorado
Dave: I'd have Drew retain because I love the job he is doing and want to see him retain the belt! If he loses, he should NOT be pinned, thus having an argument to get his Title back.
Mike: I see no reason for a title change here. This will the usual story. They will work hard but be overlooked. That's a true shame.
Richard: I think Gulak retains, but by having Dorado in this match, you can have Carrillo win the title without Gulak taking the fall. That could also enhance some of the storylines on 205 Live with Carrillo, Dorado, and the rest of the Lucha House Party. Let's hope no one decides to show off their child during the match because this shouldn't be ignored by the crowd. Carrillo will be the Cruiserweight champion, but not on Sunday.
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