Grading Hype Level for Each Announced Match on WWE Clash of Champions 2017
Sunday night's WWE Clash of Champions may lack a spark of intrigue or excitement as the company brings its pay-per-view calendar to a close, but most of that can be attributed to disappointing pre-show hype and storytelling.
The blue brand's creative team has put together a card of talented Superstars that will probably exceed expectations but deserves criticism for the lack of emphasis placed on generating genuine excitement.
Not every match has failed to captivate audiences, but those are the exceptions to the rule.
Which matches have benefited from quality storytelling and thus considerable hype, and which have failed miserably?
Find out with this recap of the storyline efforts and anticipation levels ahead of Sunday's WWE Network presentation from TD Garden in Boston.
Kickoff Show Match: Zack Ryder vs. Mojo Rawley
1 of 7
For months, losses piled up for The Hype Bros and their frustration became apparent. Almost on weekly basis, Mojo Rawley and Zack Ryder would let their professional struggles affect them to the point they walked away from each other or voiced their dismay following another defeat in YouTube exclusive videos.
After months of bickering, Rawley finally plunged the proverbial knife in his partner's back, betraying the former intercontinental and United States champion and crediting his victory in the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal for his renewed confidence and decision to split the team up.
Unfortunately, the match with months of build and one of the most easily understandable stories behind it has been relegated to a Kickoff Show and will get started just as the big afternoon game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and New England Patriots is nearing its end.
It's a bummer for Ryder and Rawley, who have done a fantastic job of carrying over the on-screen disdain to their personal social media accounts.
Grade: B-
Breezango vs. The Bludgeon Brothers
2 of 7
Breezango's immensely entertaining Fashion Files segments have hinted at a match with The Bludgeon Brothers before, particularly with the mystery involving B2, but there has been little in the way of progression or outright rivalry between the two teams.
Perhaps that is the reason the inclusion of this particular match on the main card of Sunday's Clash of Champions pay-per-view is so curious when Ryder vs. Rawley is relegated to the Kickoff Show.
Luke Harper and Erick Rowan will overcome all jokes, one-liners and humorous pop culture references Tyler Breeze and Fandango will throw at them in what is the biggest foregone conclusion match of the night.
Grade: C-
United States Championship Match: Bobby Roode vs. Dolph Ziggler vs. Baron Corbin
3 of 7
Bobby Roode and Dolph Ziggler have been at each other's throats for months, trading wins and not really advancing up or down the card in any measurable way. One can only assume it was lazy booking that led them to Sunday's show and a date with United States champion Baron Corbin.
The Lone Wolf has been impressive since winning the title, even defeating then-intercontinental champion The Miz at Survivor Series.
The hype for this match has been diminished significantly by the lackluster creative that has gone into it.
Ziggler and Roode taking turns on getting over on Corbin and each other does nothing to make fans anymore excited to see their match. If anything, the repetition of the segments only hurts their desire to see the Superstars work together.
And that is the greatest shame.
All three Superstars can go between bells, and the likelihood the quality of the match exceeds expectations is high. If only they had more anticipation surrounding the bout and a creative effort that did not, to be blunt, suck.
Grade: C-
Lumberjack Match for the SmackDown Women's Championship: Charlotte vs. Natalya
4 of 7
Charlotte and Natalya have wrestled each other countless times over the last three years, and the one silver lining in that is the fact that fans trust their work, know they can deliver an extraordinary match and are excited to see what the performers have in store for them.
Still, the hype for this does not appear nearly as high as it should be.
The arrival of The Riott Squad has led to an injection of fresh faces in the SmackDown women's division and created a number of stories surrounding the title bout that will play out when the likes of Ruby Riott, Liv Morgan, Sarah Logan and Naomi surround the squared circle for Sunday's match.
The storytelling has been solid.
Now it will be up to the workers themselves to convince the fans to invest in what they do Sunday night.
Grade: B-
Fatal 4-Way Match for the SmackDown Tag Team Championships
5 of 7
When it comes to The Usos and The New Day, the hype should realistically be off the proverbial charts.
The two teams stole many a show in 2017 with their frenetically paced, increasingly intense and violent matches. Their work single-handedly saved a SmackDown tag team division that was in a rebuilding phase.
Now with the arrival of Shelton Benjamin and Chad Gable as well as the upstart heel tandem of Rusev and Aiden English, the division is stocked enough to provide the show with a Fatal 4-Way match.
The emergence of Rusev and English is the biggest story here and the most interesting element of the pre-match hype. Entertaining and exciting, their union has made for some incredibly fun television, including the creation of Rusev Day.
While they may not actually win the match, and any hype that exists for this match outside of New Day vs. Usos can be attributed to the work of the NXT exports.
Grade: B-
Randy Orton and Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn
6 of 7
By far, the most anticipated match on the Clash of Champions card is the tag team match pitting Randy Orton and Shinsuke Nakamura against Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens.
SmackDown commissioner Shane McMahon's interactions with Zayn and Owens and his determination to rid them from WWE forever have drawn the ire of SmackDown general manager Daniel Bryan, who knows all too well what it means to be an indie wrestler on the wrong end of a vengeful McMahon clan.
Bryan has become so sympathetic to Owens and Zayn's cause that commentator Byron Saxton openly questioned whether or not the heels have the GM in their back pocket, per Cageside Seats' Kyle Decker.
With him and McMahon both serving as guest referees Sunday night, and the rivalry between the wrestlers themselves intensifying with every passing week, the program provides fans with a multilayered match that figures to captivate audiences Sunday night and provide the hottest atmosphere.
Grade: A
WWE Championship Match: AJ Styles vs. Jinder Mahal
7 of 7
On November 7, AJ Styles defeated Jinder Mahal to capture the WWE Championship.
Since then, The Phenomenal One has found himself interacting more with The Singh Brothers than Mahal himself, though he did endure a sneak attack on the December 12 episode of SmackDown Live that allowed The Maharaja to stand tall just days before his anticipated rematch.
The problem with the rivalry, to this point, has been the lack of emphasis.
Despite the program being for the WWE Championship, it has taken a backseat to the Shane McMahon rivalry with Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn.
Crowd heat, anticipation and excitement are missing. Yes, the chemistry between them will lead to a strong match that will likely win the crowd in Boston over, but as it stands leading into the show, WWE Creative has done a poor job of generating hype for the bout.
Grade: C
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