Countdown to Clash of Champions 2020

You know the women’s roster is thin and running out of opponents when they bring Lana back and Vega is now part of the title picture. She was a decent manager when she wasn’t stealing the spotlight from her talent with her elevator shoes and zany outfits. Vega gets destroyed. The End. Winner: Asuka

Asuka -1250. Zelina Vega +525. Winner: Asuka

This is an interesting match because most are not sure what to expect from Vega because while with WWE she hasn’t been given that many opportunities to wrestle (outside of WWE is another story).  Vega will put up a spirited challenge but Asuka should retain.  However, don’t be surprised if this rivalry continues.

As a general rule, I can’t stand championship matches on the pre-show. I suppose that’s hard to avoid on a Clash of Champions show, but it doesn’t mean I like this idea any less. The fact that it should be a cakewalk for Asuka doesn’t help pump me up, either. Winner: Asuka

 No way that Asuka loses here, but hopefully it will be a good match. Winner: Asuka

They wouldn’t bounce it back to Apollo would they? My fear is that Apollo, who really stepped up during his reign, will be shuffled to obscurity once he is not in the title picture any longer. Perhaps it is time to switch up the rosters and send him to Smackdown where he has room to grow and compete? Winner: Bobby Lashley

Bobby Lashley – 905. Apollo Crews +500. Winner: Bobby Lashley

Bobby Lashley is too early in his current US Title run to lose at Clash of Champions.  Look for Lashley to retain and for this program to continue to Survivor Series at least.

Another match that seems to be pushing the limits of an expiration date on a feud. To have Crews come up short would be a real knock against him and stymie the great momentum he’s had in parts of 2020. That being said, it would be odd to bounce the U.S. Title back and forth over the course of a few weeks. I’ll go with the long-term ascension of Crews here. Winner: Apollo Crews

I’m going to call Retribution coming down and messing up the match. Partly because they’ve got some beef with the Hurt Business, and partly because I want something, anything exciting to happen at this seemingly everyone-retains pay-per-view. Result: Dollar Store Dark Order ruins the match

Without a doubt this will be the match of show. Jeff Hardy is on a decent, deserving ride. He also needs to redeem himself for that “contested” win. Winner: Jeff Hardy

Jeff Hardy -125. AJ Styles +300. Sami Zayn +150. Winner: Jeff Hardy

While it would be nice to see Zayn regain the IC Title it is more likely WWE management will instead bypass him and either allow Hardy to retain or for Styles to be crowned the new IC Champion.  Still this should be an entertaining bout and will likely have Hardy taking an insane dive off the ladder which may cost him the bout.

Tough to vote against this one as the expected match of the night. Great combination of personalities and styles here, and a true underdog heel if ever there was one in Zayn. I have a feeling they’re going to hit the reset button to the beginning of the pandemic and put the belt back on Sami. Winner: Sami Zayn

Sami Zayn is going to win, and they’re going to stop saying that he didn’t do anything while he was gone, because if he doesn’t, and they don’t, I don’t know what I’m going to do with myself. Winner: Sami Zayn

The WWE’s tag team division is about as interesting as listening to Tom Phillips on commentary because they are just teaming up people they have no idea what to do with. Who wins? Who cares? Winners: Lucha House Party in an upset?

Cesaro & Nakamura – 325 Lucha House Party +215 Winners: Cesaro & Nakamura

Cesaro & Nakamura should retain the SmackDown Tag Team Titles in fairly convincing fashion.

Can’t say I’m really stoked to see the umpteenth variation of this match after weeks of battles on SmackDown. Plus, and I’m really sensing a trend for the show here, I don’t think the titles are the most important part of this match. Instead, we are being prepped to see if Lucha House Party can keep on going together, or if Lucha Dad is going to come home, turn on the lights, say “Party’s over!” and send everyone home. Winners: Cesaro & Nakamura

Please, please, end this rivalry here with a Cesaro and Nakamura victory. I don’t care if Lucha House Party breaks up or not, but I’m so tired of these guys fighting. Winners: Cesaro and Nakamura

Oh, boy. The Riott Squad has reunited. My body is tingling with excitement. Can we get some real competition, please? Someone? Anyone? Winners: Nia Jax & Shayna Baszler 

Shayna Bazler & Nia Jax -300 The Riott Squad +200 Winners: Shayna Bazler & Nia Jax

The Riot Squad have never really been given the opportunity on the main roster to get some wins and momentum which is a shame.  Unfortunately it doesn’t look likely that this match will be where that changes as Jax and Baszler just seem too dominant to lose at Clash of the Champions.

Sometimes, in these previews, I am forced to choose between my head and my heart. I don’t like Baszler and Jax as a team. At all. Baszler is probably my favourite singles female wrestler, and that has a lot to do with not wanting her as a tag champ. Plus, The Riott Squad has had some tough luck and deserves a go with the titles. My heart says Riott, my head, though: Winners: Jax & Baszler

The IIconics are gone, does it even matter anymore? I guess Jax and Baszler retain, they’ve been pretty dominant on their two matches together. I just miss the IIconics so much. Winners: Jax and Baszler

A total toss-up. They did have a decent match last time around so let’s hope they can do so again although neither will be or continue to be an exciting or interesting champion. Winner: Randy Orton

Drew McIntyre – 120 Randy Orton -120 Winner: Even odds

WWE management should have pulled the trigger during McIntyre and Orton’s last match and put the WWE Title on The Viper.  Will they do it at Clash of the Champions?  Probably not, but there will likely be interference during the bout to setup the Scottish Psychopath’s next challenger.

Uh-oh. With McIntyre’s clean, crafty win over Orton at SummerSlam, it seemed that the champ had closed the door on the rumour that Orton was taking the title to set up a battle for the belt with Edge down the road. I’m more inclined to believe that now; otherwise, why would Orton be in the title picture one month after losing (besides the story of Drew the proud warrior)? Winner: Randy Orton (yawn)

McIntyre is going to beat Orton, giving his title reign some real legitimacy. Hey, they did it with Kingston. It seems like Orton is around these days to help put people over, and that’s fine with me. Winner: Drew McIntyre

Bayley doesn’t need the title to push her grudge match with Banks. Although McMahon’s love of Bayley seems to be never-ending, I will go out on a limb and say Sasha costs Bayley the championship opening the door for Cross to fight Sister Abigail/Alexa Bliss. Winner: Nikki Cross

Bayley -600 Nikki Cross +350 Winner: Bayley

 Even money is that Bliss will cost Cross the victory and the title which will lead to an ongoing program between the two of them going forward.  It also seems likely that Sasha Banks will show up during this match for a bit of revenge on Bayley.

Speaking of The Fiend … aren’t we just kind of waiting through this match to see if Alexa Bliss trance-walks out to cause trouble? Or if Sasha Banks comes out and uses a Jedi Mind Trick on Bayley? My point is that this match, again, feels like an afterthought to other storylines surrounding it. Therefore, I expect no surprises. Winner: Bayley

Cross had a great point about this match being different without Banks in Bayley’s corner, but it’s probably going to be Banks that topples Bayley’s impressive reign when she eventually returns. It’s going to be a close match, but Bayley’s going to come out on top. Winner: Bayley

If this match is to prove that Reigns will even dust his own family to remain on top why has he been smiling and joking around with Jey? I don’t get it but this should have been a Smackdown match. Gimme a break with this nonsense as a main event. Winner: Roman Reigns

Roman Reigns – 3000 Jey Uso +850 Winner: Roman Reigns

An otherwise interesting storyline of Jey Uso’s emergence into singles competition and family drama is being weighed down by the sudden and awkward turn by Reigns and alliance with Heyman, not the mention the spectre of the The Fiend (and maybe even Strowman?) hanging over the proceedings. Uso will deliver a fine match, but he’s being presented as a secondary character here at best. Winner: Roman Reigns

Roman is going to win this one, but I really hope they just do the exact same storyline with Jimmy next. Winner: Roman Reigns

The WWE’s tag team division is about as interesting as listening to Cory Graves on commentary because they are just teaming up people they have no idea what to do with. Who wins? Who cares? Winners: The Street Profits

Andrade & Angel Garza -130 The Street Profits -110 Winners: The Street Profits

It has honestly gotten to the point of ridiculous when it comes to Andrade & Angel Garza’s chase of the RAW Tag Titles.  If they don’t win them at Clash of Champions the team should be split up so both wrestlers can move on to better things as singles competitors.

I suppose my only caveat here might be that if Vega, against all odds, beats Asuka for the belt on the pre-show, then maybe she brings the gold back to the Andrade and Garza as a means to inspire and re-forge their unity. Since I don’t see that happening… Winners: Street Profits

Andrade and Angel Garza won’t get any titles until they get a tag name, and that’s final. Good golly, there’s a lot of retaining going on in these predictions! Winners: Street Profits