WWE Clash of Champions Matches: Ranking Bouts Most Likely to Steal the Show
Credit: WWE.com
Could Chris Jericho and Sami Zayn contest the night's best bout at the event?
WWE Clash of Champions 2016 will be the premier pay-per-view presented by Raw in the new Brand Extension. Thus, there will be plenty of pressure for them to deliver an above-average event, especially on the heels of SmackDown Live's critically acclaimed Backlash special.
As it stands, Clash of Champions should be a stacked show featuring every title that is property of the flagship show being defended. Additionally, a slew of other matches will take place, and although championship gold won't be up for grabs in those bouts, every Superstar will be looking to settle a score on Sunday.
What made Backlash such a special show earlier this month was its abundance of exhilarating in-ring action. The SmackDown Women's, Intercontinental and WWE World Championship matches were all extraordinary, and the blue brand has long been considered the "wrestling show" between Raw and SmackDown Live.
It should be Team Red's top priority to shatter that stereotype on Sunday by producing an exceptional event that overshadows Backlash. That could be possible with what's on tap at Clash of Champions and the handful of matches that might steal the show.
Which bout will have the honor of being called the match of the night come Clash of Champions?
Credit: WWE.com
Cesaro vs. Sheamus
Cesaro and Sheamus have contested no fewer than a half a dozen matches against each other in recent years, but their bouts are never anything less than excellent. With their in-ring chemistry being as strong as it is, it was only logical for them to battle in a Best of Seven Series to keep both men busy through Clash of Champions.
Each of the matches they have been producing on a weekly basis since SummerSlam have had something different to offer. Although the ending outcomes have never been in doubt and it was fairly predictable it would last the full seven matches, the series has been booked well on the whole and should lead to a nice boost for whoever ultimately emerges victorious.
Their SummerSlam Kickoff clash was arguably one of the better bouts on the entire card, and Clash of Champions should be no exception. Their Raw matches have been relatively solid, but the hope has been that they have been holding out on having a barn-burner until the event.
Other than an apparent championship opportunity, there isn't much at stake in this matchup, but that's exactly what makes it a sleeper. Fans aren't expecting anything amazing going in, which is why Cesaro and Sheamus will surprise them with a match that blows everyone away.
As the Best of Seven Series comes to a head at Clash of Champions, look for the fighting foreigners to have their greatest match to date.
Credit: WWE.com
Raw Women's Champion Charlotte vs. Sasha Banks vs. Bayley
As convoluted as the Raw Women's Championship picture has been over the last month, one thing has always been for a certain: that Charlotte, Sasha Banks and/or Bayley would continue their strong streak of phenomenal pay-per-view matches at Clash of Champions.
From the WrestleMania 32 Triple Threat to the match Banks had with Charlotte where she won the title for the first time in July, 2016 has been a banner year for women's wrestling. And when you put three of the best women's wrestlers in the world together in one ring, you can be sure that they will go above and beyond in contesting a classic.
Bayley and Banks arguably had the best bout of 2015 at NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn, and Banks and Charlotte have had their fair share of stellar matches as well. Therefore, there is little doubt they will once again produce a phenomenal matchup at the pending pay-per-view.
This match might have ranked higher had it not been for the potential interference. Given there is no disqualifications, it is nearly a guarantee we will witness shenanigans of some kind from Dana Brooke on Charlotte's behalf.
Nevertheless, if this match is placed properly near the top of the card as it should be, the women might walk away with the award of having the match of the night again.
Credit: WWE.com
Sami Zayn vs. Chris Jericho
It wasn't until the Sept. 12 edition of Raw that it was announced Sami Zayn and Chris Jericho would be going one-on-one at Clash of Champions. This came after they clashed on the set of The Highlight Reel and Jericho ambushed Zayn before laying him out with the Codebreaker.
While they haven't had much time to build up their rivalry, that doesn't necessarily mean they will contest anything less than an awesome match at the event. In fact, based off what we've seen from them in the past, they have strong in-ring chemistry together and have yet to produce a match that hasn't met expectations.
Both Zayn and Jericho have been two of the biggest MVPs on the WWE roster in 2016. Zayn had a series of spectacular pay-per-view matches with Kevin Owens while Jericho ripped it up with the likes of AJ Styles and Dean Ambrose earlier in the year.
Despite being in the twilight of his career, Jericho has had some of his greatest matches in 2016 alone, and his upcoming encounter with Zayn should be no exception. Zayn never ceases to deliver when the stakes are high and he will have something to prove vs. the six-time world champion.
With no championship gold on the line, it wouldn't surprise me to see this match held earlier in the evening, but that could be the best possible place for it while the crowd is still active and engaged. Regardless of who wins this war, the fans will get their money's worth with this heated matchup.
Credit: WWE.com
WWE Universal Champion Kevin Owens vs. Seth Rollins
Since his arrival on the WWE scene in May 2015, Kevin Owens has been known for having four-to-five star matches. He's been on the opposite end of the ring from John Cena, Sami Zayn and Dean Ambrose in the last year-and-a-half and has had his hand raised after almost every affair.
But one Superstar he hadn't crossed paths with up until recently was Seth Rollins. Aside from teaming up on a few different occasions, they had never gone one-on-one before, but that changes at Clash of Champions.
This match is far more about championship gold for both men. For Owens, his premiere title defense provides him with an opportunity to show the world why Raw is in fact the Kevin Owens Show.
Meanwhile, Rollins has been on the cusp of championship gold for months now, and it is quite possible his latest title shot against Owens could be his last if he falls short. A strong showing vs. the champ will only get him so far, so he must ensure he walks away with the title in tow.
The real excitement surrounding this main event matchup is that it will mark the first time these two former Ring of Honor standouts face off in singles competition. Save for any interference from an authority figure or Triple H, it has the potential to be a Match of the Year contender.
Credit: WWE.com
WWE Cruiserweight Champion T.J. Perkins vs. Brian Kendrick
The Cruiserweight Classic on the WWE Network provided fans with some of the best wrestling of the year, as every episode had something special to offer. The 32 exceptional athletes contested classics on a near-weekly basis, culminating in an epic finale on Sept. 14 that was won by T.J. Perkins.
In addition to taking home the trophy, Perkins was crowned the inaugural WWE Cruiserweight champion. Although he didn't debut on Raw the following week, the division did, and a new No. 1 contender to his title was determined via a Fatal 4-Way match.
Cedric Alexander, Brian Kendrick, Rich Swann and Gran Metalik all fought valiantly for the right to face Perkins for the prestigious prize at Clash of Champions, but in the end, it was the seasoned veteran Kendrick who emerged victorious and punched his ticket to the pay-per-view.
Despite being the most recent match added to the event, it's bound to be the best bout of the night. Fans received a small taste of what they were capable of in the division's debut on Monday night, and you know Perkins and Kendrick are hell-bent on stealing the show on Sunday.
The cruiserweights have officially arrived on Raw, and it's time for them to make a major statement that the rest of the Raw roster better be ready to step up their game now that they're in town. If they open the event, the rest of the card will have the tough task of attempting to top it.
Graham Mirmina, aka Graham "GSM" Matthews, is a Digital Journalism major at Endicott College. Visit his website, Next Era Wrestling and "like" his official Facebook page to continue the conversation on all things wrestling.
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