WWE Night of Champions 2014: Match Card, Potential Spoilers, Predictions & More

To end WWE Night of Champions 2014 with gold in their hands, the challengers heading into the upcoming pay-per-view will have to overcome the bruisers, beasts and showmen.

For Cesaro, that means outlasting the rough-and-tumble Sheamus. The Miz has a superb athlete in Dolph Ziggler as his opposition. John Cena has the biggest roadblock of all: Brock Lesnar.

Backstage reports, hints from recent storylines and projected patterns point to only one of those men becoming champion on Sunday, Sept. 21. For the most part, Night of Champions will likely favor the incumbent titleholders. 

The following is a look at the approaching event, picking apart the latest rumors and predicting winners for every bout on the card. 

News and Potential Spoilers

Surprisingly, Bray Wyatt is one of the Superstars left on the sidelines for Night of Champions. That doesn't appear to be the case for Hell in a Cell, when the Eater of Worlds may be taking on the man The Miz is set to face on Sunday.

According to F4WOnline (h/t Wrestling Inc), Wyatt is set to begin a feud with Ziggler over the Intercontinental Championship. The report also notes that while Wyatt is not booked for Night of Champions, he may show up to build toward his next feud.

Credit: WWE.com

That means the current Miz-versus-Ziggler angle will be wrapping up on Sunday. It seems like a good time—their story isn't gathering any steam as of now.

Recent word also suggests that Randy Orton is set to eject Chris Jericho from the company.

PWInsider's Mike Johnson states: "Jericho is slated to finish up with WWE on Sunday 9/21 at Night of Champions." Johnson also reports that Y2J will be leaving to promote his autobiography.

An absence like that usually leads to a violent act to usher the departing star. That's how WWE handled Dean Ambrose going on hiatus, scripting a scene in which Seth Rollins smashed his head into a stack of cinder blocks.

Jericho could be getting the same treatment; Orton's punt is just the weapon to do it. 

Fans may be exchanging Jericho for Dean Ambrose, though. 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 just one night after Night of Champions. His fanbase will be crossing their fingers that he shows up 24 hours earlier.

Credit: WWE.com

For those hoping that Cena comes out of Tennessee as champion, there's reason to not get one's hopes up.

Per F4WOnline (h/t Wrestling Inc), Big Show is reportedly next in the line of challengers for Lesnar after Night of Champions. That would give Lesnar another powerhouse to beat on and continue his streak of dominance. It also points to Cena momentarily exiting the title picture.

Match Card 

• Rusev vs. Mark Henry
• Randy Orton vs. Chris Jericho
• The Usos vs. Goldust and Stardust (Tag Team Championship)
• Paige vs. AJ Lee vs. Nikki Bella (Divas Championship)
• Dolph Ziggler vs. the Miz (Intercontinental Championship)
• Sheamus vs. Cesaro (United States Championship)
• Roman Reigns vs. Seth Rollins
• Brock Lesnar vs. John Cena (WWE World Heavyweight Championship)

Quick Predictions

• Rusev over Henry.
• Orton over Jericho.
• Goldust and Stardust over the Usos.
• Paige over AJ and Nikki.
• Ziggler over the Miz.
• Cesaro over Sheamus.
• Rollins over Reigns.
• Lesnar over Cena.

Rusev Remains Unstoppable

Rusev has faced increasingly formidable foes as he has gone along—Henry isn't the last stop on that climb. 

It feels like WWE is planning something huge for the Bulgarian Brute. The fact that his and Henry's confrontation was the final segment on the go-home show could have been the company testing the waters with him as a headliner.

WWE has protected his record so far, his only losses coming by way of disqualification. His first definitive defeat is coming, but it will be against a big-name opponent.

The Viper Sends Chris Jericho Away

As mentioned above, Chris Jericho is likely on his way out for now. He's treating his latest runs like rock tours, wrestling for a few months before exiting.

Before he does, WWE can use him to bolster Orton's aura. Having him punt Jericho into oblivion, as he did four years ago, not only explains Jericho's absence, it make The Viper look more dangerous.

As familiar with each other and as experienced as both men are, it's a safe bet that this clash will be one of the night's best offerings.

The Cosmic Key Changes Hands

The Usos have defied the odds so far and stretched their title reign longer than most recent tag champs.

That has to end at some point. With Jey Uso hobbled going into this match, there's a sense that the Usos' time is up.

The division could use some turnover and benefit from the drama of the Usos looking to climb back into contention.

Jimmy and Jey hit home runs at both Money in the Bank and Battleground. They are set to do so again against a pair of opponents who they thrived against at last year's Hell in a Cell.

Paige Fends Off Challengers

It's unclear how Brie Bella is going to figure in this, but chances are, she plays a major role in the outcome.

WWE hasn't invested all this time into the rivalry between Brie and Nikki Bella to only have it serve as a subplot. Perhaps Brie stops Nikki from cheating during the match, costing her the match. That would move the story right into the sister-against-sister battle that WWE has been building toward for weeks.

Keeping Paige champ allows her angle with AJ to continue. Seeing as how there has been little narrative arc so far, it seems that their rivalry is still in the early stages.

The Showoff Outlasts the Miz

The Miz won the IC title at Battleground. Ziggler won it from him at SummerSlam. Is WWE really going to have a new champ in a third straight pay-per-view? 

That seems unlikely to say the least.

Besides, it makes more sense for a babyface to keep the title if Bray Wyatt is next in line or if Bad News Barrett can make it off the injured list in the next few months.

Cesaro Begins His Second Reign

Partly because the company doesn't seem sure what to do with Cesaro right now, he is a good bet to come out the winner against Sheamus here.

WWE kick-started the King of Swing's momentum back at WrestleMania, but he has recorded few significant wins since. Beating Sheamus and winning the U.S. title helps him get rolling again.

If he's champ and Sheamus becomes the hunter, there's suddenly an easy story to tell with Cesaro. WWE will likely be looking for that, as well as the excitement of a title change.

Rollins Rebounds

Reigns floored Rollins on Monday's Raw, wrapping up a big win with a spear.

WWE going with an identical result would be shocking. It has to diverge from that match to mix things up. Plus, consecutive clean losses isn't a good idea when trying to build up Mr. Money in the Bank as a threat.

Expect Rollins to cheat his way to victory and follow that up with an assault, perhaps with Kane's help. 

That would be the perfect way for Ambrose to return. Their feud would resume and the animosity create a real buzz heading toward Hell in a Cell.

Closer but the Same Result

Cena will be more aggressive, but it won't be enough. WWE is not going to have Lesnar knock off the Undertaker at WrestleMania and manhandle the company's top star only to have him lose the world title in his first defense.

That's like building a house and tearing it down after only living in it for a month.

Portraying Lesnar as a dominant force has to lead to something bigger than just another Cena win. When the Beast Incarnate finally falls, it will be on a bigger stage after his reign has had more time to breathe.