Divas Champion Paige vs AJ Lee vs Nikki Bella
JT: Paige, Paige and more Paige. Yes, Nikki Bella is the centerpiece of the "more important" storyline, but her sister Brie can cost her the match here. Paige retains. Flopping the title back and forth with AJ again would make zero sense. The british beauty keeps the gold.
United States Champion Sheamus vs Cesaro
JT: Dear WWE, fuck you for your laziness when it comes to the prestige of the mid card titles. Sheamus carrying the US Belt doesn't automatically make it that much better. Having Sheamus cut a promo every now and then and making the rivalry with Cesaro feel legit might have made me more excited for this one. I'm sure they'll give us a solid match, but it won't be as epic as it could've been if somebody would stop being so damn lazy. Sheamus retains because I don't think Hunter or Vince have the balls to make him drop the gold to Cesaro.
Rusev vs Mark Henry
JT: Mark Henry crushed Randy Orton at Night of Champions 2011 and then again at Hell in a Cell(both matches for the World Title). Mark Henry is a monster. Rusev is being built to be a bigger monster. Rusev wins here, but I don't believe he'll see a World Title win in the next eighteen months. If WWE wants to make this feud really feel important, they need to make it a Henry win tonight. No, this won't kill Rusev's momentum. Make it a Henry win with Rusev destroying Henry after the match and then letting these two kill each other at Hell in a Cell inside the Cell. It'd be an easy way to book this and make people care more than they do. This America/Russia feud storyline is way overdone. Make it more about their brute strength and ability to tear each other limb from limb!
Tag Team Champions The Usos vs Stardust and Goldust
JT: I love Stardust and Goldust. They deserve to be champions. I felt the same way about Rowan and Harper. I'd be thrilled for Stardust and Goldust if they won tonight, but I just don't think WWE is going to book it that way. The semi-reality-stars from Total Divas should keep their belts if WWE's thinking is as messed up as I suspect it to be.
Intercontinental Champion Dolph Ziggler vs The Miz
JT: Despite what everyone says and despite these two being in my top ten of all performers, there's no big feel to this match or the Intercontinental Championship. They'll give us something good, but it won't go long enough to be anything near a classic. Miz wins back the gold because WWE loves to upset the Ziggler fans.
Randy Orton vs Chris Jericho
JT: Show stealer? Yup. Orton wins and we see a pure wrestling showcase here that reminds us why both these men are former World Champions.
Seth Rollins vs Roman Reigns
JT: Saw this one on Raw. Ambrose needs to hurry back. Reigns is good, but he's nowhere near the talent of Rollins in the ring. Rollins wins the rematch from Raw and sets up a third match in the near future.
WWE Champion Brock Lesnar vs John Cena
JT: Cena wins and Rollins cashes in. Brock wins and Rollins cashes in. Brock wins and leaves as champion. It will DEFINITELY be one of those three scenarios, but most likely the last of the list. Cena will put up a good fight, and this match will be more enjoyable(depending on your perspective) than what we saw at Summerslam. I think Lesnar keeps the gold.
Should be a solid show, but I'm not sure if it will(it certainly COULD) reach that feel of a classic pay per view. I'll be watching live on Sunday; you should too.
Thanks for reading!
