Night of Champions preview

Read on for how I'd book tonight's Night of Champions PPV.
They're in a peculiar position in the pre-show, as they've been pushing both the Usos and PTP as potential challengers. The Usos had the match with The Shield on Smackdown and they've already had something of a feud, so to me it makes sense for them to go for the Championships on this show. PTP can start the match and survive 3MB and Tons of Funk before losing to the Real Americans. Then the Usos can get the win to go to the main show. This continues the PTP/Real Americans feud and gives The Shield a title defense that already has some heat. It'd be cool if Rikishi or Jimmy Snuka (or heck, even Tamina) were on-hand to celebrate with The Usos and hype them up for their title defense. The match should feel like something we want to see and not "just another title defense".

I would do a ref bump for Ambrose vs. Ziggler where Ziggler would have won if the ref had been there to count. Instead, The Shield takes advantage of the fallen ref situation to keep the Title on Ziggler. Heels do bad things.

I see no reason to have The Shield lose the Tag Team Titles right now. It seemed like we were on the road to them defending against Show and Henry, and since Henry is cleared to compete now I say we get right back on that train. The Usos show heart, but The Shield gets the win to continue their dominance. Maybe after they win the match, Henry's music plays to signal that he's back and hasn't forgotten about The Shield.

If there's ever a part of the show where WWE needs a more lighthearted moment as a breather, they can easily have Miz go over Fandango. I know the IWC will complain, but it's good practice to "cleanse the palate" here and there in-between more serious matches and segments. Emotional rollercoaster, balance of faces and heels winning, that kind of thing. Also, they need to make up their minds on whether or not they're using Rosa Mendes. If they are, I'd have Miz celebrate with her after the match. Eventually that would lead to Miz and Rosa vs. Fandango and Summer Rae. I feel that if WWE is going to use a character, they should get something out of it. But if for some reason they don't want to use Rosa with Miz, I guess it's back to the drawing board.

We'll go with Kaitlyn interfering to get the Title off AJ in the Divas' match. Natalya gets the win to keep "Total Divas" in everyone's minds while it takes a break. We continue the faction feud for a while until it's eventually every Total Diva gunning for the Title ("why should Natalya represent us?" That kind of thing).

I'd have Axel and Heyman do everything in their power to avoid losing to Punk, but ultimately Punk pins Axel. Heyman begs for his life as Punk gets ready to attack him. Ryback saves Heyman from a beatdown (feeling that Punk is ungrateful for all of Heyman's help and that Punk is the true bully in WWE). We get Punk vs. Ryback at Battleground leading to Punk vs. BROCK LESNAR inside HIAC.

There are rumblings that RVD might be taking some time off soon, but I don't know the time frame involved. He's not going to be a full-time guy at any rate. I don't see why this can't lead to a blowoff match at HIAC. Here I'd have Ricardo attempt to use the bucket on Del Rio, leading to Del Rio using it to KO Van Dam when the ref's busy getting Ricardo out of the ring. Again, heels do bad things. I suppose he could hit RVD in the arm with it and get him to tap if they want to go that route. Regardless, Del Rio retains and we get a rematch at Battleground.

No big surprises in store for the main event. Bryan gives Orton his all and keeps coming back from seeming defeat (without looking TOO strong like kicking out of 3 RKOs or something), but Big Show is ordered to knock him out, so Orton can get the win. Show then contemplates what he did while Orton celebrates. Orton taps Show on the shoulder to indicate that Show should raise his hand, and Show "accidentally" KOs Orton, with the excuse that he thought it was Bryan. Either way, HHH tells Bryan that it wouldn't be good for business for him to get a rematch, leading to Bryan doing everything he can to try to get one. He eventually will. At Battleground, I'm thinking Bryan vs. Show with Orton as the ref, HHH as the ringside enforcer, and The Shield as lumberjacks. If they don't give the fans what's "right for business", they'll be fired.

More wresting tomorrow.