'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Well, we are closing in on WWE‘s next PPV, No Way Out, which will take place live this Sunday from the Izod Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey. So, it’s once again time to take a look at the card and give some predictions on the matches. I went undefeated in my predictions for the last PPV, Over the Limit, so let’s see if I can make it two shows in a row.
Pre-Show Match on WWE.com: Brodus Clay vs. David Otunga Despite Otunga attacking Clay earlier tonight on Friday Night Smackdown! and targeting (and possibly injuring) Clay’s knee, do not expect an Otunga upset here. Otunga has been less than impressive since his debut and is still very green despite being on the roster for two years now. Clay has been slightly repackaged, adding a more aggressive attitude to his matches as opposed to the normal fun-loving guy we’ve been seeing all year, and until his eventual match with Big Show, I see him staying undefeated. While Otunga may get in some offense, you should still expect this one to be over quick, with Clay pinning Otunga after a running splash.
Tuxedo Match: WWE United States Champion Santino Marella vs. Ricardo Rodriguez (non-title) I didn’t even realize this match was happening until I went to WWE’s website. Having said that, this will be nothing but a comedy affair, with Marella likely picking up the win rather quickly.
WWE Divas Championship: Layla (Champion) vs. Beth Phoenix While Layla has been on a role since returning to WWE from an injury earlier this year, chances are Phoenix is taking the title back. Rumor has it Layla may have rushed her return and is not 100%, so I’m expecting her to drop the belt here. Kharma has been training for her return, and this could lead to the long-awaited Kharma/Phoenix feud in the next couple months.
Intercontinental Championship: Christian (Champion) vs. Cody Rhodes Christian has been excellent since his return, and deserves a long title reign. At the same time, Rhodes is expecting to be moving to the main event scene, and winning the IC title belt back would delay that happening. WWE needs some fresh faces in the main event scene, and I think Rhodes is ready to take the next step. Christian should retain here.
Triple Threat Match for the WWE Championship: CM Punk (Champion) vs. Daniel Bryan vs. Kane While I don’t think Kane being added to this match was really necessary, this should still be excellent. Punk and Bryan are two of the absolute best in the world, and they’ve proven it several times over. Kane could add an interesting dynamic here, being the exact opposite of the type of wrestlers both Punk and Bryan are. Most of the focus should be placed on Punk and Bryan, but Kane can serve a role if his spots are chosen carefully. With AJ thrown into the mix, this match could see a really interesting finish. I expect Punk to retain here, although I’m not sure exactly how he gets to that spot in the end of the match. Once this match is over, Kane will be phased out, and we’ll either get another Punk/Bryan rematch at Money in the Bank, or we could even see Bryan win the MITB briefcase once again and cash in on Punk at a later date. Punk is rumored to be defending the belt against Big Show at Summerslam, so retaining the title here should be a given.
World Championship: Sheamus (Champion) vs. Dolph Ziggler This has the makings of a show-stealer. Sheamus and Ziggler had one hell of a match a few weeks back on Smackdown!, and now that the title’s on the line, it could be even better. Unfortunately, the cage stipulation that was in place for Sheamus/Alberto Del Rio appears to have been removed here, but that should not hinder this from being a potential classic. While Ziggler is outstanding and deserves to be champion, it’s not going to happen here. Ziggler is only in the match because ADR is injured, resulting in not much time to build these two up. Still, expect this to be great, with Sheamus retaining and a potential rematch at either MITB or Summerslam.
Cage Match-If Show loses, John Laurinaitis is fired; if Cena loses, he is fired: The Big Show vs. John Cena (John Laurinaitis and Vince McMahon will be ringside) I don’t have high hopes for this match. Cena and Show have faced off many times before, and the matches are usually pretty boring. While Show has beaten Cena in the past, it’s always been on episodes of RAW that no one remembers, as opposed to high-profile PPV matches (which Cena has always won). Show has been a monster since returning from getting fired last month, and it would be beyond stupid to have him lose here, especially with his rumored title match at Summerslam with Punk. At the same time, even if Cena loses, we know he’s not going anywhere. This happened once before in a match with Wade Barrett, and despite Cena being fired, he was shown on RAW more during the few weeks of his “termination” than nearly every other wrestler on the show. I hate to say it, but I’m expecting the exact same thing to happen here, with Cena eventually being “rehired” down the road. Laurinaitis isn’t going anywhere any time soon, so Show is going over in this one. Unfortunately, however, no matter who wins, it looks like we all lose.
Those are the announced matches. There’s a good chance a Ryback squash will be added as well, and we may even get appearances by Antonio Cesaro and Damien Sandow.
