Tomorrow night features WWE’s final Pay-Per-View of the year, Clash of Champions. The SmackDown-exclusive show follows a theme where every championship must be defended, so there is no way this could be a Raw Pay-Per-View. The title matches only make up for half of the card and there is a lot to see tomorrow night, so let’s take a look at what is happening on the show.
Zack Ryder vs. Mojo Rawley
Ever since the brand extension in 2016, The Hype Bros were a consistent part of SmackDown Live’s tag team division. Unfortunately, they never found any success. Most recently, they had two consecutive quick losses to the Bludgeon Brothers, with the second one being the final straw for Mojo Rawley. While Zack Ryder was being interviewed in the ring, Rawley attacked him from behind and said that the Hype Bros were dead.
Both men were more successful outside of teaming up with each other. Rawley won a series of battle royals before winning the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal, thanks to the help of New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski. Ryder has held numerous championships, with the most recent being the Intercontinental Championship he won at WrestleMania 32.
Prediction:
Good things never happen to Zack Ryder. Winner: Mojo Rawley
Breezango vs. The Bludgeon Brothers
For months, Tyler Breeze and Fandango put on hilarious sketches in the form of the Fashion Files, a cop show parody that turned into the case of 2B. The case was to find out who attacked them, destroyed their office, and killed their stuffed horse. The segments provided great entertainment, a new side of the Ascension that gave them new life, and the culprit: The Bludgeon Brothers.
Without a doubt, Breezango is a talented tag team. Breeze is the only person to face Jushin “Thunder” Liger in a WWE ring while Fandango defeated Chris Jericho in his WWE debut, at WrestleMania nonetheless. However, Harper and Rowan of the Bludgeon Brothers have just been decimating everyone in their path.
Prediction:
The former Wyatt Family members are on their way to being the Usos’ toughest challengers and Breezango is merely a stepping stone. Winners: The Bludgeon Brothers
Baron Corbin (c) vs. Dolph Ziggler vs. Bobby Roode – WWE United States Championship
No one knows why this match is happening. Bobby Roode wanted to face Baron Corbin and since Roode never earned it, Corbin declined and walked away. All of a sudden, WWE then announced that Roode and Dolph Ziggler would challenge Corbin for the title. Ziggler hadn’t been on WWE television since losing his series to Roode and his random resurgence was never explained.
Prediction:
Corbin will retain while Ziggler takes the pin to protect Roode. Winner, and STILL United States Champion: Baron Corbin
Sami Zayn & Kevin Owens vs. Shinsuke Nakamura & Randy Orton – Special Guest Referees (Shane McMahon & Daniel Bryan)
While this match does not have the prestige of the WWE Championship, this is certainly the biggest story heading into Clash of Champions. For the latter half of 2017, Shane McMahon and Kevin Owens have had a very personal and very heated rivalry that has seen the recent addition of Sami Zayn. McMahon lost to Owens at Hell in a Cell, so he has decided to spend weeks torturing them through competition.
This time, he is taking it one step further. Shane O’Mac is making himself the special guest referee and if Owens and Zayn lose, they will be fired from all of WWE. General Manager Daniel Bryan decided to make himself a second special guest referee to make sure that there is no funny business, considering that two very talented wrestlers’ jobs are on the line.
Prediction:
There is no way WWE would actually fire Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn, so there is guaranteed to be a way that Daniel Bryan gets involved and prevents that from happening. Winners: Sami Zayn & Kevin Owens
The Usos (c) vs. Chad Gable & Shelton Benjamin vs. Rusev & Aiden English vs. The New Day – SmackDown Tag Team Championships (Fatal Four-Way Match)
After the Usos closed the latest chapter of their series with the New Day, the #1 Contender’s spot was an open free-for-all. Chad Gable and Shelton Benjamin won and lost that spot very quickly, while The New Day is just in this match because of their legacy. Rusev and Aiden English are the most unusual entrants in this match, but they have defeated both the New Day and the Usos over the past two weeks.
Prediction:
The Usos just play hot potato with the titles for months, so there is no reason for that to continue here. Winners, and STILL SmackDown Tag Team Champions: The Usos
Charlotte Flair (c) vs. Natalya – SmackDown Women’s Championship (Lumberjack Match)
With Ric Flair going through medical issues earlier this year, Charlotte Flair had a newfound motivation to find success. She pushed harder than anyone else and almost immediately found herself winning the SmackDown Women’s Championship. Now that Survivor Series is out of the way, Natalya can finally have her rematch.
Prediction:
I will say this every Pay-Per-View until it actually happens: This is Carmella’s time to cash in her Money in the Bank briefcase. Winner, and NEW SmackDown Women’s Champion: Carmella
AJ Styles (c) vs. Jinder Mahal – WWE Championship
Jinder Mahal arguably had the most interesting 2017 of any WWE Superstar. In his first run with the company, he was at the bottom of the barrel in 3MB. After losing the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal because of Gronk, Mahal got the rockets strapped to him and he was pushed to the moon. Mahal defeated Randy Orton for the WWE Championship and held the title until right before Survivor Series, where he lost it to AJ Styles. Now, the Modern Day Maharaja has his contractually obligated rematch.
Prediction:
Mahal could easily win and have this program go to the Royal Rumble, but it is too close to WrestleMania season for that to happen. Styles retains here while Mahal focuses on earning his next opportunity at the Rumble, and Styles can finally start working towards a match with Shinsuke Nakamura. Winner, and STILL WWE Champion: AJ Styles
