wrestling / Columns

Greg DeMarco’s Bold Predictions: WWE Night of Champions 2014

September 21, 2014 | Posted by Greg De Marco

WWE Night of Champions emanates from the Bridgestone Arena in beautiful Nashville, Tennessee! And that’s not a TNA joke—Nashville kicks all kinds of ass. I almost went to work at Vanderbilt once. Seriously…

…but I digress!

Night of Champions was originally fashioned as an all-title match event, but now that the company features five championships on the main roster, that’s not exactly possible. I mean, you could defend the Money In The Bank Briefcase, which makes six, and give the matches more time…

…but I digress!

So anyway, precisely what is going to happen at WWE Night of Champions on Sunday? Well, for that question you should check out our 411Mania Roundtable Preview!

Because contained below are bold predictions for the event. Not likely to happen, these are indeed B.O.L.D.: Bull-Headed, Outlandish, Lascivious, and Deplorable. But if one hits, I can promise you’ll never hear the end of it!

And in that light, let’s take a look back to my BOLD SummerSlam predictions:

• Brock Goes SMASH on Cena, Putting The Face of WWE On The Shelf

• Bray Wyatt Adds A Little Zayn-iness To His Family

• Nikki Bella Is “Breast for Business” (heel turn)

• Eva Marie Costs Paige And AJ Lee The Divas Title

• Randy Orton Versus Roman Reigns Won’t Suck

• Seth Rollins…CASHES IN!

I’m gonna give myself #1 even if it was just one week. Call it a half-point. I nailed #3, and while #5 is subjective I gotta give it to myself. 2.5 out of 6? I’ll take it!

Now we turn our attention to the 2014 edition of WWE Night of Champions—let’s have some fun…

John Cena Comes Closer, Brock Goes SMASH on Cena, And It Still Ain’t Over

It’s been reported that Vince McMahon wants John Cena to remain strong, even at the expense of Bray Wyatt and The Wyatt Family. So Vince isn’t going to let Cena get another 15-minute ass whoopin’ at the hands of The Beast Incarnate.

But the result remains the same: Eat. Sleep. Conquer. John Cena.

Repeat?

Yes, this ain’t over yet.

Brock Lesnar will eventually overcome John Cena, potentially via submission (something Cena never does). Cena will take the requisite one week off of Raw, only to return and issue one final challenge—beat Brock Lesnar at (and in) Hell In A Cell or not challenge Brock’s reign again.

I know it’s idealistic of me, but I really want Hell In A Cell matches to mean something. And Cena’s final shot at redemption, inside the Devil’s Playhouse, is a match mean something. Even if it is the same result in the end.

Mark Henry vs. Rusev Predicts The Future

Mark Henry vs. Rusev just might be more important than we think. I mean, the WWE obviously thinks so—it main evented the go home Raw before the PPV!

(I know, I know, Monday Night Football, yadda yadda yadda. I’m kidding, yo.)

I know I predicted a John Cena vs. Brock Lesnar final rematch at Hell In A Cell, but what happens after? I truly believe that the end result of the Mark Henry vs. Rusev showdown predicts the WWE’s post-Hell In A Cell future.

If Mark Henry wins he’ll be the next man up to challenge for Brock Lesnar’s WWE World Heavyweight Championship. I know we’ve all read the Big Show rumors, but this match is the one that I want to see. Since his return, Brock Lesnar has faced John Cena, Triple H and CM Punk and The Undertaker. While ‘Taker is the biggest, Lesnar can still toss him around in unimpressive fashion. Mark Henry? That’s an impressive opponent for Brock Lesnar to throw around, and a fresh match-up for the champ as well.

If Rusev wins he’ll the next foil for the face of the WWE, John Cena. Cena, in the eyes of the WWE, can end Rusev’s undefeated streak and still keep the Bulgarian Brute strong. Plus, he can make childish jokes at Lana—you know Vince McMahon is dying to see that!

Keep this in mind: because I’ve predicted that Cena-Lesnar IV takes place at Hell In A Cell, this match could have an indecisive finish, with the decisive end coming at HIAC—then these feuds can take place. Also, both feuds I’ve listed above could happen, even if one man wins. Say Rusev wins, Henry could win a battle royal on Raw to get a shot at Lesnar. Heyman can set it up very easily with a promo, and we all know the WWE loves to set-up title situations with battle royals!

The New Generation Shows Up A Night Early

Another hot area of discussion falls around the Twitter tease of a New Generation hitting Raw this Monday. The only talents (that I know of) to follow-up on these postings are Cesaro and a pre-injury Roman Reigns. However, with the recent RAW and Main Event appearances of NXT Champion Adrian Neville, Sami Zayn, Tyler Breeze and former NXT Tag Team Champions The Ascension, along with WWE.com’s NXT Five article that adds Kevin Steen, Fergal Devitt and Hideo (KENTA) Itami into the mix, much speculation is pointed towards some or all of them showing up in some form.

Yes, me likey.

I do not think we get the major kick off of whatever it is until Raw, but why not give a little tease that entices us to tune in to Monday’s Raw? Here are some ways to pull it off:

Charlotte Goes All Kharma On Us And Attacks All The Divas – The NXT Women’s Champion might not be 100% ready to be called up, but she’s a Flair and that’s enough for Vince. Thankfully she is talented and has the Diva look. She could get involved in the Divas Three Way (you’re welcome) and have an impact on the ending.

Stardust Turns on Goldust – Either during or after their WWE Tag Team Championship match against The Usos, Stardust finally turns on his brother Goldust, toweling off his face and cutting a promo as Cody Rhodes. That promo? It teases him as the man leading the New Generation.

Nexus Style Attack On Seth Rollins – Rollins is without an opponent now that Roman Reigns is out? There’s an obvious solution that I will get to. But what about another solution—the NXT Five. Have the Five attack Rollins, making a statement against one of the three men from NXT who once made a statement of their own when The Shield made their debut.

NXT Superstar(s) Hel Cesaro Defeat Sheamus – Cesaro tweeted about the New Generation, so it could make sense for him to be part of this generation, and for him to get some help from his generation friends to defeat Sheamus and regain the United States Championship.

And before you bring it up, I know Sting also posted about “9.22.14.” And of course I remember what happened the last time Sting tweeted about a date. But the WWE knows that, too. It could be a red herring.

Damien Sandow Is Done Being The Miz’s Stunt Double

Many believe that Damien Sandow is completely wasted in his role next to The Miz.

No—not that kind of wasted. His talents are being wasted! Sandow has been Miz’s stunt double for several weeks now, and despite the role not holding much significance in Sandow’s career, he’s been damn funny doing it. And you know what? He also looks like he’s having a blast.

But it’s time for him to move on. Now this isn’t a face turn for Sandow, even if it elicits a face pop. He’ll simply refuse to help Miz, and explain his actions on Raw before defeating Zack Ryder in a squash match. But for the former Money In The Bank Briefcase holder, he can move on from turning this dose of chicken shit into chicken salad and do something a little more productive.

The Return Of Dean Ambrose Leads To Another “Title Change”

The return of Dean Ambrose appears to be too much of a given to make it a BOLD Prediction, especially with the injury to Roman Reigns. And as you likely know, I’m of the belief that the Money In The Bank Briefcase is more valuable than any WWE title not labeled the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.

I’ve written before that the NXT Championship should be defended at Night of Champions. And while I’m still right about that (right?), I also think a fun stipulation to add to the Money In The Bank Briefcase is that it must be defended at Night of Champions if the holder has not yet cashed it in.

But in this case, it’s Seth Rollins who cuts a promo about holding the briefcase and how it puts the whole world in his hands. Okay, he won’t use those words as it’ll piss off the Bray Wyatt fans. But he will speak of the power the briefcase gives him.

Enter Dean Ambrose. Ambrose will attack him from the crowd, then goad Rollins into defending the briefcase on the card. And he’ll win it.

That doesn’t mean he remains the holder forever. I could see him losing it back at WWE: TLC, in a ladder match to his former Shield mate. But since neither man is likely cashing in on Brock Lesnar anytime soon (although Ambrose would make a more likely candidate than Rollins), it lets the WWE use the briefcase as a storytelling device.

What are your BOLD Predictions?

Share them in the comments below!

Greg DeMarco is a wrestling fan of over 30 years and has also worked on the independent circuit as a promoter, announcer, character and booker. Greg a weekly contributor at 411Mania.com, applying his opinionated style to the world of pro wrestling on Sundays and Thursdays.

He began writing for 411Mania in October 2010 and has been pissing readers off ever since!

Greg’s latest series of must read articles at 411Mania.com:

• Could Desperation Solve WWE’s Oversaturation and Creative Problem?

• NXT TakeOver II: The Future Is Now?

• Oversaturation and Lack Of Creativity: There Is Too Much WWE On My TV!

• The Crystal Ball: Looking Ahead to WWE WrestleMania 31

• Squandering A Mega Star: The WWE Blew It With Ryback

• What If Brock Lesnar Never Left WWE?

• Who Is The Best Manager: Bobby Heenan or Paul Heyman?

• Bold Predictions for WWE SummerSlam 2014

• I Just Don’t Understand Why The WWE Won’t Push Zack Ryder!

• The Undertaker, Sting, and Hulk Hogan: One More Match