WWE Night of Champions 2014: Predictions for Event's Biggest Stars

Brock Lesnar, Seth Rollins and Randy Orton await a shot to punish familiar foes at WWE Night of Champions 2014. 

The means to Lesnar's victory promises to be different, but the result will mirror the one at SummerSlam. For the upcoming pay-per-view's other stars, a surprise guest, a forced exit and a career highlight await.

On a night of rematches, expect Rollins to find himself on a well-worn path and for Orton to have Chris Jericho experiencing deja vu. How will John Cena approach his showdown with The Beast Incarnate? How will Roman Reigns fare?

Complete with predictions culled from backstage reports and hints WWE has planted, the following is a look ahead to Night of Champions as we take on those questions.

Seth Rollins Will Have to Contend with Dean Ambrose Again

Dean Ambrose is coming back.

After Seth Rollins smashed Ambrose's face into a stack of cinder blocks, the incendiary feud was put on pause because Ambrose had a part to play in the movie Lockdown, as reported by Variety.

Fans knew, though, that The Lunatic Fringe would be charging back, feverish with thoughts of revenge. Night of Champions is an ideal event to host that return.  

As reported by ProWrestling.net, "WWE is advertising Dean Ambrose for the Raw television event on September 22 in Memphis, Tennessee at FedEx Forum." That's one night after Night of Champions. It looks as if WWE is setting us up for his surprise re-entry into the feud with Rollins.

Ambrose could help Roman Reigns get a win against his old comrade or could run out and save Reigns from a post-match beating. Either way, the pay-per-view would be improved by a huge moment, while Ambrose and Rollins could reconvene their bad blood and lead right into Hell in a Cell.

Randy Orton Will Punt Chris Jericho out of WWE

It's time for Chris Jericho to say goodbye to the WWE fans once more. And there's no one better at issuing a violent send-off than Randy Orton.

The Viper only pulls the punt from his arsenal on special occasions, like when he wants to put a Superstar out of commission. He struck Jericho with it four years ago, leading to Y2J's exit.

Orton needs to get his kicking leg nice and stretched: It's now time for Jericho to take leave again.

According to PWInsider, Jericho is "slated to finish up with WWE on Sunday 9/21 at Night of Champions." He is then set to kick off a promotional tour for his new autobiography.

Facing Orton provides the perfect method to explain why he's leaving: an injurious blow to the head.

It would also help boost Orton and his aura of viciousness going forward. He may do so after losing or as a means to victory, but signs indicate he'll treat Jericho's head like a football.

Roman Reigns Will Have His Best Singles Match to Date

The decision to have Roman Reigns pin Seth Rollins in a one-on-one match just days before Night of Champions was perplexing. As much as that will hamper the hype for that bout, there was a major positive to take away from it: the two foes' chemistry.

Reigns doesn't have a great singles match on his resume as yet. That is set to change.

His clash with Rollins had the kind of fluidity and pacing that makes for an exciting contest. The raw, naturally gifted Superstar has found an opponent who creates sparks with him. Reigns' two recent, lengthy matches with Randy Orton dragged. Rollins seems to be more of an ideal enemy.

The Architect's speed and high-flying moves are apparently the ideal complements to Reigns' skills.

Having now worked a match with Rollins under Raw's spotlight, he can move ahead with confidence. Familiarity will help them produce something excellent at Night of Champions.

John Cena Will Emulate Brock Lesnar's Style

The story of John Cena and Brock Lesnar's latest battle has been the former's desire to prove himself after taking a whupping from the now-WWE champ.

The Beast Incarnate brawled and German-suplexed his way to victory at SummerSlam. Look for Cena to try to do the same thing to Lesnar.

He won't just want to get his title back. In fact, he's rarely mentioned the championship during the match's buildup. He has instead continually promised to kick Lesnar's ass.

In August, Cena made frequent use of the German suplex against Bray Wyatt. He was especially aggressive and not his usual fun-having self. 

During their brawl on Monday's Raw, the No. 1 contender appeared to try and clamp some sort of triangle choke but never fully applied it. That could well be a preview Cena's goal to show that he can grapple with the former UFC champ.

That would be similar to what Cena tried to accomplish in a bout against Cesaro in July in which he tried to showcase his technical wrestling skills. That was his response to The King of Swing telling him he couldn't wrestle. 

Expect a similarly defiant Cena using the title bout to prove his critics wrong.

Brock Lesnar Will Remain WWE World Heavyweight Champion

Credit: WWE.com

John Cena fans hoping for a story of redemption, of Cena overcoming the odds once more, should prepare for disappointment.

WWE is fully invested in keeping Brock Lesnar on top. Cena will fall at Night of Champions, even if he puts up more of a fight than he did at SummerSlam.

One clue to that result is that WWE is rumored to be planning Lesnar's next title defense already. According to F4WOnline (h/t Wrestling Inc) Big Show is reportedly set to take on Lesnar for the world title after Night of Champions.

Another reason to believe that The Beast Incarnate will win is that it makes little sense to have him run over Cena as he did and end Undertaker's WrestleMania streak only to lose the WWE title in just a matter of weeks. You don't build a guy up like that to make him a transitional champion.

WWE has to think big-picture here and have someone like Roman Reigns dethrone him at WrestleMania 31. This is too soon and too small of a stage to take the gold from the predator's grip.