With Raw’s first brand-exclusive pay-per-view Clash of Champions fast approaching on September 25th, WWE will be looking to implement a number of shock outcomes to keep the post-brand split product hot, as ratings have been slipping as of late due to Monday Night Football. Whether these shock outcomes are the right choice remain to be seen, but knowing WWE, they will produce some shocking moments at Clash of Champions to increase Raw ratings.
Whether that means putting over a tag team with an awful gimmick, crowning a new Women’s or a United States Champion, or even crowning a new Universal Champion, here are 7 Possible Shocks that could happen at WWE Clash of Champions.
7. The Shining Stars Beat Enzo and Cass
For the past couple of weeks on Raw, the Shining Stars have been able to get the upper hand over the Realest Guys in the Room. Beating them in tag team and singles action on the last two episodes of Raw (using underhanded tactics), Primo and Epico are as relevant as they have been in months.
They are still not over as heels at all due to their awful gimmick, but the wins have given the duo something to do instead of not appearing on TV at all. Obviously, the right decision for the bout between the two teams at Clash of Champions would be to have Enzo and Cass redeem themselves by picking up the victory, and then entering the Tag Team Championship scene.
But, sometimes WWE want to ‘shock’ the audience in matches that have an obvious winner (see AJ Styles vs Chris Jericho at Wrestlemania 32). So, they could be prone to making a dumb booking decision by having the Shining Stars beat Enzo and Cass on pay-per-view. Would it be a shock? Yes. But would it be a good shock? No. Handing the Certified G’s their second pay-per-view loss in a row is a decision they should look to avoid, but knowing WWE’s creative team, it could be possible.
6. Sheamus Wins the Best of Seven Series
Ever since Mick Foley announced that Cesaro and Sheamus would clash in a Best of Seven Series, the WWE Universe has pencilled in Cesaro as the logical winner. It makes a lot of sense, as Sheamus has already been a world champion a number of times, and seeing Cesaro beat the Irishman in the Series to clinch a championship match would be awesome.
Even when Sheamus went 3-0 up, only needing one more win to be victorious in the series, we all knew Cesaro would make the underdog comeback. But, recent rumours about Cesaro having second thoughts about renewing his contract for WWE has caused unpredictability in the Series.
Will Sheamus be victorious instead, with Cesaro heading out of the company? Will WWE punish Cesaro for not immediately renewing his contract by having him lose? Knowing Vince McMahon’s resentful nature for those who aren’t loyal, we could see a Sheamus victory at Clash of Champions.
Again, this wouldn’t be the right choice, but it may be a necessary one if Cesaro is indeed leaving WWE.
5. Charlotte Retains her Raw Women’s Championship
When Charlotte pinned Sasha Banks clean at Summerslam to win her second Women’s Championship, the WWE Universe knew once Banks was back from injury, she would return and win it back. Returning sooner than expected, Banks is set to take on Charlotte for the Women’s Championship at Clash of Champions, replacing the rumoured Bayley vs Charlotte match.
In what is sure to be another solid bout, fans everywhere will expect Banks to regain her championship. But, is it that plausible that she will? Although WWE took the title off Banks at Summerslam because of fears of her being out for an extended period of time, they still crowned a new champion.
By the time Clash of Champions is upon us, Charlotte’s second title reign will have only just surpassed the one-month mark. Although I’d love to see Sasha win the title again, Charlotte having a short reign is questionable and WWE may just extend this feud till Survivor Series, which would be a bigger and arguably better stage for Banks to recapture the championship.
We will have to wait and see, but don’t be surprised if Charlotte somehow retains at Clash of Champions.
4. Roman Reigns Wins the United States Championship
In what is sure to be another incredible match, Rusev vs Roman Reigns for the United States Championship looks set to take place at Clash of Champions. Although it hasn’t been made official yet, Rusev’s assault on Reigns after costing him a chance at the Universal Championship in Reigns’ match against Kevin Owens on Raw has all but confirmed the bout.
Arguably the perfect feud for both men right now, it wouldn’t be all that surprising if WWE pulled the trigger on Reigns winning the title at Clash of Champions. Despite this, it would still be a shock, as Rusev returning only to lose to Reigns straight away wouldn’t be ideal. After being suspended in late June, Reigns has returned in a lower position on the card, rather than in the main event every week.
This has done wonders for Reigns’ character, and although he is still booed by a significant portion of the audience, he is slowly starting to regain support due to his current mid-card position. If he were to capture the United States Championship by beating Rusev at Clash of Champions, the reaction from the WWE Universe will be intriguing, as the support from fans may come to fruition, or the rejection from the fans may become more prominent once again.
Either way, the win would be a shock, and the reaction from fans would be the deciding factor on whether it was a positive or negative decision.
3. Rusev Beats Roman Reigns Cleanly
In what is another possible outcome for the Rusev vs Roman Reigns bout at Clash of Champions for the United States Championship, a clean Rusev victory over Reigns would do wonders for the Bulgarian Brute. Although people may argue it makes Reigns look weak, his whole singles main roster run has made him one of the strongest on the roster, and a victory over Rusev for the United States Title at Survivor Series would redeem the loss.
This result would be especially useful if WWE are looking to continue this feud past this pay-per-view, as a Reigns chase for the championship would be more entertaining than Rusev trying to regain it, which we know isn’t going to happen if Reigns wins the title. In my opinion, the longer they wait to crown Reigns as U.S. Champion, the better, as getting him over as a babyface again before he wins the title is arguably more important.
Although I don’t see WWE doing this, a clean win for Rusev over Reigns would work wonders for both men, and would probably erase the ‘Super Cena’ mindset about Reigns that has become so prominent among WWE fans.
2. Triple H Costs Seth Rollins the Universal Title/ Helps Kevin Owens Retain
This is probably the most predictable shock on this list, but would still be an awesome (and an obviously shocking) moment to see. After interfering in the fatal 4-way elimination match for the Universal Championship a couple of weeks ago on Raw, Triple H has been strangely absent from Raw, not explaining his actions after attacking former Authority member Seth Rollins and helping Kevin Owens win the championship.
This absence is probably due to WWE wanting to stretch out the Rollins-Triple H storyline as long as possible, leading to a possible showdown between the two men at Wrestlemania 33. So, no Triple H at Clash of Champions wouldn’t be too much of a surprise as WWE may have HHH interfere in the second matchup between Owens and Rollins.
But, if Triple H does show up at Clash of Champions to cost Rollins the title again/ help Owens retain, it could be a sign that Triple H vs Seth Rollins is plausible for Survivor Series or the Royal Rumble. Whether we see Triple H or not at Clash of Champions depends on WWE’s plans for their match, but either way, it will still be a shock if he makes an appearance.
1. Seth Rollins Wins the Universal Title
This would definitely be the biggest shock of the night if it were to occur, and the fans would likely go crazy if Rollins were to become a three-time world champion at Clash of Champions by beating Kevin Owens. Since Triple H turned on Rollins a couple of weeks ago on Raw by helping Kevin Owens win the Universal Title, Rollins has become arguably a full-fledged babyface, with a few heel tendencies still in his character (arguing with babyface GM Mick Foley).
He has been attacking heels (Owens) and facing heels in matches on Raw (Jericho), and after Raw went off the air two weeks ago, he even saved Roman Reigns from a beatdown by Owens and Jericho. If that doesn’t prove he is a babyface, I don’t know what does.
Although it would be a poor decision to take the title off of Kevin Owens so soon after he won it, this could add a much-deserved Universal Title reign to Rollins’ resume, and could lead to Triple H causing Rollins to lose the title in a match against Owens later this year.
This means Rollins could become a three-time world champion, Owens a two-time world champion, and the Triple H- Rollins feud could be dragged closer to Wrestlemania 33. This would then leave Owens to have a longer reign the second time around, while Triple H and Rollins can keep their feud going long enough to settle it at Wrestlemania 33.
If WWE were bold enough to set those sequence of events in motion, a babyface Seth Rollins Universal Title win could be an awesome and hugely shocking moment in the main event of Clash of Champions.
Thanks for reading! Check out my other articles such as 7 Matches We Must See at Wrestlemania 33!
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