Night of Champions Preview

If you didn’t know, and by watching RAW and Smackdown, you might not know, Night of Champions will begin in a little over half-an-hour. WWE’s GO Home broadcasts of Raw and Smackdown did little to really promote the show or build up the matches.

NO, graphics and having the commentators talk about the matches and the show do not amount to good build up.

There are basically two marque matches on the show, and one of them isn’t even a title match: Brock versus Cena and Henry versus Rusev. It is those matches, and then everything else. We’ve had good strong promos and confrontations between the participants of those matches to really build them up.

What do we get for the other matches? Tag team encounters? Paige defeating Nikki on Smackdown? Rollins versus Reigns on Raw? NOT good enough WWE.

On paper is looks like an Okay card. And I mean just Okay. It is not a spectacular line up, however this could play out well. Often when the card looks awesome, the show falls flats. Maybe this one will deliver beyond expectations.

The Matches:
Divas Championship: Paige Defends against Nikki Belle and AJ Lee

Thoughts: This should be a one-on-one match between Paige and AJ Lee. Nikki Bella waters this down and ruins the Paige/AJ angle. It also sets up for Brie and Steph to get involved somehow. The buildup this past week wasn’t really that good. A Tag match on RAW, Paige pinning Nikki on Smackdown, Nikki laying out Paige and AJ with the Title.

This should have been so much stronger; instead, it is mired in the Bella’s feud and now part of Total Divas.

ACE’S PICK: Nikki Bella.
REASON: This pains me, neither Bella should be anywhere near the title. Someone will get involved, perhaps Brie will accidently cost Paige the match.
US Championship: Sheamus defends against Cesaro
Thoughts: What happened to this match? Why has it been forgotten? It was barely built up at all. It is a title match at Night of Champions, WWE!
ACE’S PICK: Sheamus.
REASON: This is a toss-up. The lack of any attention on this match, or the US Title makes it seem like a second thought championship and match. It doesn’t seem like the WWE even cares.

World Tag Team championship: The Usos defend against Gold and Stardust.
Thoughts: What happened to this feud? It started out hot, but they fizzled it out this week. A six-man tag with Sheamus and Cesar on Raw, a week Uso/Stardust match on Smackdown. Where was the violence, the thirst for vengeance by the Uso, sneak attacks by the Dusts.
This could have been the feud to ignite the Tag Team division, but somehow the cosmic dust settled and the key was lost.
ACE’S PICK: GOLD & STARDUST
REASON: I like the Usos, but I love Gold & Stardust. I think they have earned a title run, and they can bring a new level to the titles. Plus, we could use heel tag champs for faces to chase, and the Usos can win the titles back down the road.

Intercontinental Championship: Dolph Ziggler versus The Miz.
 Thoughts: I love both guys. I love the whole Miz stunt double gimmick, but this was degraded into a joke. I think this could be a good, exciting match, but I also expected it to be a comedy diversion.
ACE’S PICK: The Miz.
REASON: He’s awesome.

Chris Jericho versus Randy Orton
Thoughts: Match of the Night? Could be. Jericho’s last match in this run? Possibly. This match could go many different ways; the only real build up was Randy Orton attacking Jericho two weeks ago.
Jericho could get a sneak win, squeaking out the victory. Or we could see Orton legitimately return to the Apex Predator role and take Jericho out, sending him off on tour on his back.
ACE’S PICK: Randy Orton.
REASON: Orton is a full timer, have him look strong, and return him to the violent side. Jericho loosing, also give him fuel to return for payback.

Mark Henry versus Rusev.
Thoughts: The buildup for this match has been really good. Rusev is the invader. Henry is the home country hero seeking redemption. Henry rallies the country, Lana bashes.
ACE’S PICK: Rusev.
REASON: I want Henry to win. The Lana/Rusev angle is old. But they are high on Rusev and see an upside with him, and he is a lot younger. If you go by the old playbook, whoever has the upper hand going into the event, looses. So, Rusev wins.

World Title: Brock Lesnar defends against John Cena
Thoughts: John Cena and Paul Heyman have done a perfect job of building up this match since Summerslam. John Cena has been on fire the last three weeks, and even I, a Cena Hater, have to give him props.
Monday Night was a perfect set up for tonight.
But can Cena win?
Summerslam, I didn’t care about this match. This time I am looking forward to it.
ACE’S PICK: Brock Lesnar
REASON: Yes, I am going with Brock. Personally, I can’t stand Brock. Cena has been better without the Title, and he needs to be chasing right now.

NOTE: I didn’t cover the Reigns/Rollins match because of Reigns surgery. What will happen? Could Ambrose Return?