WWE Clash of Champions 2017: Match Card, Latest Rumors, News and Buzz Before PPV

On this Sunday's WWE Clash of Champions in Boston, every SmackDown exclusive championship title will be defended. The inherent implication is that everything could change, which will thus alter what happens at next month's Royal Rumble—the official starting point to the Road to WrestleMania.

More likely, however, WWE fans should expect a fairly conventional show with minimal, if any, last-minute swerves or twists. Barring injuries, Wellness Policy violations or other unforeseen circumstances, the big plans for WrestleMania are already determined. The matches leading up to those epic confrontations are mostly about establishing the status quo so that it can be subverted at the most climactic moment.

WWE Clash of Champions (2017) Updated Match Card

• WWE champion AJ Styles vs. Jinder Mahal
• SmackDown women's champion Charlotte Flair vs. Natalya (Lumberjack match)
• SmackDown tag team champions The Usos vs. The New Day vs. Shelton Benjamin and Chad Gable vs. Rusev and Aiden English (Fatal 4-Way match)
• Randy Orton and Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn (Shane McMahon and Daniel Bryan as special guest referees)
• United States champion Baron Corbin vs. Bobby Roode vs. Dolph Ziggler (Triple Threat match)
• Breezango vs. The Bludgeon Brothers
• Zack Ryder vs. Mojo Rawley

Here are the most interesting rumors that have been circulating over the past couple of days.

Title Switches at Clash of Champions?

Credit: WWE.com

Jinder Mahal dropped the WWE Championship to AJ Styles on SmackDown in Manchester in November. It was an unexpected swerve, and it would be fair to speculate whether the swerve would swing back the other way. Would Mahal get his revenge and reclaim the title that he held for 170 days? AJ Styles fans, it seems, can relax.

Randall Ortman of Cageside Seats is reporting that, in all likelihood, none of the titles will be changing hands at Clash of Champions. The only title that might be up for grabs is the United States Championship; Baron Corbin, the current champion, is booked in a Triple Threat match against Bobby Roode and Dolph Ziggler.

Corbin has struggled as United States champion. And even though some of that is not completely his fault (he's much better off-the-cuff than with scripted lines), Roode would make a superior standard-bearer. Ziggler, meanwhile, seems like he's only there to take the pin and keep the other two men looking strong.

He Might Be Returning to WWE Soon, Brother!

Credit: WWE.com

In 2015, Hulk Hogan was fired (or resigned, depending on who you believe) from WWE under a cloud of disgrace. His sex tape lawsuit trial against Gawker came with the discovery that he had used the N-word in multiple references to black people. Hogan apologized for the remarks, but the damage was done. WWE took down his merchandise from its website, it removed his profile page from the WWE Hall of Fame and it stopped mentioning him or his accomplishments in articles and on television.

Over time, however, WWE has slowly started incorporating Hogan back into the product. Every now and then, someone will mention him (alongside other wrestlers) as a legendary performer. And from the very beginning of this scandal, Triple H has expressed an openness for Hogan to return at some point down the road, after he's made amends.

In a recent interview with Business Insider, Jim Ross stated the following: "I don't have any insider knowledge that Hulk will be back in WWE, but if he isn't in 2018, I will be shocked."

The statement seems contradictory—why would he be "shocked" if he doesn't have insider knowledge?—but it does corroborate reports from Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter (h/t Wrestling Inc) that senior WWE officials have recently discussed a possible Hogan return.

Hogan's importance to WWE's rise and continued success cannot be overstated. If WWE decides to move forward with bringing Hogan back, it'll be interesting to see how the company handles this issue with the black talent in the locker room. Would the brass consult them about the decision beforehand? Will Hogan meet with them and have a dialogue in person? Because those men and women are in the ring year-round, risking their lives for entertainment. Their comfort matters a lot more than Vince's, Jim Ross' and certainly Hogan's.

Return of the XFL

Credit: WWE.com

And lastly, it seems that Vince McMahon is toying with the idea of exploring another opportunity in sports, entertainment or both.

According to a statement issued by WWE (h/t Chris Thompson of Deadspin), McMahon is creating a separate, self-funded entity called Alpha Entertainment. And this has led to speculation that McMahon could be toying with the idea of restarting the XFL, which ran for a single season before folding. When sports journalist David Bixenspan asked WWE about the XFL directly, WWE dodged the question by saying that Alpha would be exploring options "across the sports and entertainment landscapes, including professional football."

It seems like this year would be an ideal time for an NFL competitor to strike. Between concussion controversies, abuse scandals and standing/sitting/locking elbows controversies, the NFL has had one PR disaster after another over the past two years.

Still, there is no reason to believe that the XFL's original, numerous problems wouldn't continue to hold it back from legitimacy: The quality of the football. The overall tone of (or lack of) professionalism. And of course, the constant suspicion that the games are fixed, thanks to its unchangeable association with WWE.