'%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,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAHAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFQABAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABgf/2gAIAQEAAAAAn4f/xAAUAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAD/9oACAECEAAAAB//xAAUAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAE/9oACAEDEAAAAEf/xAAiEAABBAAFBQAAAAAAAAAAAAACAQMEBQAGERJCExQhIkH/2gAIAQEAAT8Ap6zKhVMUJNoCOtASmS1pHuFxE119uHHEikaWQ72cxt6LuXpOmyQEYfCUdfCqmP/EABYRAQEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEAEf/aAAgBAgEBPwA0b//EABgRAAIDAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABAhEh/9oACAEDAQE/AKUksP/Z'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Clash of Champions is the final pay-per-view of 2017 and the final one before we get on to the road to Wrestlemania, and the futures of key stars on the Smackdown brand lie in the hands of what happens on Sunday. Will AJ Styles prevent Jinder Mahal from becoming a two-time WWE Champion? Will Shane McMahon and Daniel Bryan be able to coexist and co-referee the main event between Shinsuke Nakamura and Randy Orton against Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens? Here are my predictions for this Sunday's Clash of Champions.
Pre-Show: Zack Ryder vs. Mojo Rawley
The demise of the Hype Bros was less-than stellar to say the least, but it has been one of Smackdown Live's longest running storylines. It's no Shawn Michaels/Marty Jannetty breakup, but the Hype Bros saw a nearly two-year long run go up in flames earlier this month.
While I do love Zack Ryder and his career potential as a singles star, the company has never seemed to stay fully invested in what he can bring to the table. Mojo Rawley looked like a beast, pummeling Ryder and cementing his heel turn. Coming off of winning the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal at Wrestlemania 33, look for Rawley to secure the quick and painless pre-show victory against Long Island Iced-Z.
Prediction: Mojo Rawley
Pre-Show: The Fashion Police vs. The Bludgeon Brothers
Now, I could write an article alone on how entertaining The Fashion Police have been the past year, but I'll save us all the time and just say they're one of the best teams in WWE right now. It's a crime in its own that The Fashion Files have been moved to become a WWE.com exclusive, but for months we've been wondering one question: who has been attacking The Fashion Police?
We finally discovered that the initials "BB" we saw all this time turned out to be Harper and Rowan, The Bludgeon Brothers. The former members of the Wyatt Family have seen a rebirth in the past few weeks. Strapped with their hammers and clad in blood-red attire, they've been eating up enhancement talent and instilling fear into the hearts of the entire Smackdown Live tag team division.
While I love The Fashion Police, I think that The Bludgeon Brothers are on a run that simply cannot be stopped. Expect them to rise up to challenge whoever comes out of the four-way tag team match later on in the night.
Prediction: The Bludgeon Brothers
Women's Championship: Charlotte (c.) vs. Natalya (Lumberjack Match)
Lumberjack? Lumberjill? It doesn't matter considering the weird yet similar booking that the Smackdown women's division has been through compared to the Raw's division. The Riott Squad is all but a terrorizing threat to the rest of the lumberjacks in this match, and while Natalya and Charlotte are sure to put on a decent match, expect the trio to pry through the rest of the division in order to shake up the match.
Prediction: Charlotte retains with unintentional interference from the Riott Squad
Tag Team Championship: The Usos (c.) vs. Chad Gable & Shelton Benjamin vs. The New Day vs. Rusev Day
This is going to be a potential show-stealer. If it goes for enough time, each team has a chance to wow the crowd and put on a fun multi-team tag match for Smackdown's tag titles. On one hand, you have the storied rivalry between The New Day and The Usos which we could always see brought back up.
On another hand, Chad Gable and Shelton Benjamin's impact on the Smackdown tag division has been gradual but powerful. The addition of Rusev Day to me is the most intriguing part of this match, and I wouldn't be surprised if we saw Rusev and Aiden English run away with the titles on Rusev Day and become the new Smackdown Live Tag Team champions.
Predictions: Rusev Day sneaks away with the Smackdown tag titles
United States Championship: Baron Corbin (c.) vs. Bobby Roode vs. Dolph Ziggler
Smackdown's most peculiar feud has arguably come in the form of the triangle between Roode, Corbin and Ziggler. First you had Roode being greeted by Ziggler when he arrived on the scene earlier this year, and then it seemed like Roode had finally moved on to challenge Baron Corbin for his United States championship.
However, Ziggler seemed to weasel his way into this one, so I guess this is how we got a triple threat match for the title? It's a very confusing feud, and while I can eventually see Roode holding the strap, I think Corbin will steal a win from Roode and pin Ziggler to extend this feud.
Prediction: Baron Corbin retains
WWE Championship: AJ Styles (c.) vs. Jinder Mahal
In the semi-main event we have AJ Styles looking to retain against the man who has beaten up, ditched and subsequently reunited with the Singhs, Jinder Mahal. After losing a competitive bout with Triple H in India earlier this month, the 'Modern Day Maharaja' looks to regain his title and become a two-time WWE champion.
The involvement of the Singh Brothers makes this match a lot more interesting, due to the fact that they seemed to make a truce with AJ Styles, before he figured out that it was a setup for Mahal to beat him down later on that night.
I expect this match to be hard fought with a multitude of interferences by the Singh Brothers, but I think they will be the ones who end up costing Mahal his rematch, allowing Styles to retain the title going into the Royal Rumble and onward.
Prediction: AJ Styles retains
Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn vs. Randy Orton and Shinsuke Nakamura
Shane McMahon & Daniel Bryan are co-referees. If Owens & Zayn lose, they will have to leave the WWE.
In the main event, Kevin and Sami look to keep their jobs against the team of Orton and Nakamura. Originally, this match only had McMahon as the special guest referee, but Daniel Bryan inserted himself as the other ref in order to keep things fair, according to Bryan.
This match could have a lot of outcomes, many suggesting a Bryan or McMahon heel turn, but I see neither as the case. While the options are there, and there are hints that this may lead to an eventual Bryan/McMahon match down the line, I think it'll end in a double pin by both McMahon and Bryan to end the night in chaos.
Prediction: McMahon and Bryan count both pins at the same time, no winners to end the show.
Let me know in the comments below what you think will happen at Clash of Champions and feel free to tweet at me @AndrewV_THP during the event to share what you thought of the last WWE pay-per-view of the year.
