5 Twists that can happen at WWE Clash of Champions 2017

Smackdown Live's grand pay-per-view, Clash of Champions, is almost upon us and it features all the Titleholders on the Blue brand defending their strap.

But despite the pay-per-view being called what it is and the fact that all the belts are up for grabs, the storyline that has been stealing all the limelight is the one involving Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn.

It is pretty well known that if Shane McMahon had his way, the BFFs' position on SmackDown Live would be untenable by now.

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But the patience and enduring nature of Daniel Bryan has prevailed thus far in delaying that fate, resulting in a match for them against the team of Shinsuke Nakamura and Randy Orton at the event.

Should they lose that match, however, they're gone from all of WWE.

And insert not one but two special guest referees into the mix in Daniel Bryan and Shane McMahon, and you have all the ingredients for a perfect storm.

So many factors are in play and so much is at stake that it's almost impossible to predict what will happen to affect the outcome of the match.

Which is why that match predominates most of this article, where we discuss the possible twists at Clash of Champions.

I've managed to squeeze in a couple of slides about other matches on the cards...but realistically, if we're expecting any major twist at the pay-per-view, I think we can agree that it's going to be in the main event.

On that note, here are 5 possible twists that can happen at Clash of Champions. As always, if you feel that we've overlooked a twist that you think is likely or you just flat out want to see...hit us up in the comments below.

#1 Daniel Bryan wrestles again

Could Shane McMahon bring the fighter out of Daniel Bryan again?

While watching SmackDown Live this week, I couldn't help but wonder why Daniel Bryan was even inserting himself into the match as a second special guest referee.

The match already featured so many functioning parts that it felt like overkill to add one more. Especially under the pretext of keeping Shane McMahon in check.

I can't help but feel that the WWE is building towards a Shane McMahon - Daniel Bryan rivalry with this development. While nothing too obvious and outward so far, their relationship has betrayed an undercurrent of strain in the past couple of months.

And the whole situation could reach the boiling point if they end up at cross purposes at the pay-per-view, which is quite likely considering how Shane detests KO and Zayn while Bryan seems to nurse a soft spot for them.

Shane McMahon also seems very close to snapping all the time these days and if he does so against Daniel Bryan in the heat of the moment, the perpetrator of the Yes! Movement isn't one to take an attack lying down.

#2 KO and Zayn actually leave the WWE

Now, this would be an unlikely scenario too because who actually thinks that the WWE is going to release Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn?

On a storyline level, it could mean that they leave for a while and Stephanie McMahon then signs them up on Raw...but really, I'm actually going to be shocked if they lose to Nakamura and Orton on Sunday.

But with Shane and Daniel Bryan in the picture too, there seem to be too many factors playing a part in the outcome of the match making it impossible to predict what will actually happen.

All I can say is that if Owens and Zayn are sacked, I really wouldn't have seen it coming.

#3 The New Day split up

One of the reasons why the members of the Shield all went on to have successful singles runs before coming together again earlier this year was because NO ONE saw their split coming.

It was as sudden and shocking a split as I can even remember in WWE history and that generated a tremendous amount of traction and attention for all three members of the Shield, carrying forward into their respective singles push.

Now, if the New Day split up at Clash of Champions, it wouldn't be a dissimilar situation either.

Of course, there's no reason for them to break up now and judging by the fact that they're thick as thieves as ever, no one would see it coming too.

But the anarchy of the Fatal Fourway Tag Team Championship match could provide the perfect platform for them to finally implode after an extended period together as a stable.

And it would ensure that all three of its members go on to have a decent run as singles competitors too.

#4 Randy Orton turns on Shinsuke Nakamura

Anyone watching WWE for a while now would know that turning heel on his partner is just what Randy Orton does.

And quite frankly, he's so well suited to a heel persona that a babyface Orton often gets lost in the shuffle...as he has on SmackDown Live of late.

As for Shinsuke Nakamura, he needs a pick-up-up desperately after being booked to doom by the WWE creative team these past few months.

If rumours that he will win the Royal Rumble in 2018 and go on to challenge AJ Styles for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 34 are true, he needs to really pick up some momentum.

And having Randy Orton turn on him at Clash of Champions would be a great way to kickstart some.

#5 Jinder Mahal wins the WWE Championship

Jinder Mahal winning would truly be a bolt from the blue

A few months back and regardless of who was standing opposite him in the ring, winning was the norm for Jinder Mahal.

But how quickly the tides in the WWE change.

After losing to Triple H in India despite being gifted the WWE Championship only to covet the Indian market in the months leading up to the Live Event, I think it's safe to assume that his push is over now.

AJ Styles is very much the man who the WWE views as the face of the Blue Brand, he's incredibly over with the fans and he brings in better ratings than Mahal too.

That being said, it would be nothing short of a curveball if he were to lose the WWE Championship to Jinder Mahal at Clash of Champions.

I know Mahal has been promising anyone who would listen that he will become 2-time WWE Champion...but cutting short AJ Styles' markedly better Championship reign for that seems highly improbable, especially with the home stretch to WrestleMania just around the corner.