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

WWE Night of Champions is upon us, but its otherwise impressive lineup has failed to deliver from a storyline perspective.

Following a SummerSlam event that will be a contender for best pay-per-view come the year's end, the feuds leading into Night of Champions have either been repetitive, underwhelming, dreadful or a combination of all three. 

Still, this will be an event that carries high expectations from an in-ring standpoint. Another redeeming quality about this pay-per-view is that most—if not all—matches could go either way.

Divas Championship: Paige vs. AJ Lee vs. Nikki Bella

The agonizing Bella feud has somehow culminated in a Divas match on pay-per-view that does not involve Brie Bella.

WWE recently—and clumsily—merged its two Divas feuds, which now means the Divas Championship match at Night of Champions will be a Triple Threat.

Conspicuous by her absence, expect Brie Bella to get involved and prevent her sister from winning the match. Yes, this means the Bella storyline should continue well into WWE Hell in A Cell.

Why do I get the feeling that somebody in Stamford has been told to get in touch with Maury Povich's people?

Prediction: Paige wins by pinfall over Nikki Bella

United States Championship: Sheamus vs. Cesaro

Don't be fooled by the lackluster build for this match: If Sheamus and Cesaro go on early, the rest of the matches will have the unenviable task of following.

Sheamus and Cesaro have very physical styles that complement one another, and the two are a lock to have one of the best matches, if not the best, on the card.

The storyline has not done justice to the effort Sheamus and Cesaro are expected to put in. Their tension has basically been escalated by Cesaro's feigning that he's going to steal the United States Championship. Given how its value has diminished of late, should Sheamus even care? 

This seems like a placeholder feud for Cesaro should he be given another shot as a main eventer. If Cesaro loses, it's possible his next feud will be higher in profile. If he wins, the 33-year-old star will remain a midcarder with his window of opportunity to become a top star closing—if it hasn't already.

Prediction: Sheamus wins by pinfall

Mark Henry vs. Rusev

The championship at stake here is America.

Mark Henry has become the latest previously middling star to be cut-and-pasted into a feud with Rusev and reap the benefits.

Henry is the American hero of the moment, and fans continue to like seeing Rusev and Lana get their comeuppance. Henry's well-known Olympic background has given him more than enough credentials to be the latest patriotic threat to the rising monster heel.

According to a recent report by F4WOnline (h/t WrestlingInc.com), a Rusev-John Cena feud is going to happen sooner rather than later. If that's the case, Rusev needs to be kept strong. As fun as the Jack Swagger feud was, a win over Swagger won't do nearly as much for Rusev's resume as a win over Henry.

On a recent episode of Raw, Henry and Big Show agreed to put their tag team aspirations on hold so Henry could go after Rusev. This could have been a foreshadowing of yet another Big Show heel turn, which could cost Henry his match against Rusev.

Prediction: Rusev wins by submission

WWE Tag Team Championships: The Usos vs. Goldust and Stardust

The minute Stardust debuted, the countdown started as to when Stardust and Goldust would feud with The Usos.

Following a series of cryptic backstage vignettes across all WWE programming, it seems like the countdown went on a bit too long.

A heel turn by Stardust and Goldust has added some intrigue to their match with The Usos, but the lack of competition and subsequent lack of matches have harmed Stardust and Goldust.

These two teams have had good matches in the past; that shouldn't change despite Cody Rhodes' new gimmick. But the tag team division has been placed on the backburner with increased exposure for the WWE Divas on television.

Expect a good match but a familiar result.

Prediction: The Usos win by pinfall

WWE Intercontinental Championship: The Miz vs. Dolph Ziggler

The Miz has arguably had the best gimmick in 2014. His heel Hollywood persona has worked because of its subtleties, such as Miz's low-talking promos and his in-ring psychological profile as a vain celebrity who doesn't want to be hit in the face.

The addition of Damien Sandow as a stunt double has been a nice use of Sandow—who excels in midcard comedy—and other aspects such as the ringside makeup artists have furthered his character development.

Dolph Ziggler has been a perfect opponent for Miz, who is a rare talent and able to draw heat from the hardcore fans who usually feel they are above booing heels.

Ziggler and Miz have had several matches, and their recent contests have really engaged fans. Expect a solid match and possibly a title change. Ziggler pinning the Miz on Raw certainly sets it up for Miz to get his revenge.

Prediction: The Miz wins by pinfall

Randy Orton vs. Chris Jericho

The Randy Orton-Chris Jericho feud seems forced, but it's exactly what Orton may need to jump-start his career. Orton has shined in the ring despite appearing to be on autopilot, but his character is as stale as it has ever been. Even becoming the first WWE World Heavyweight champion didn't resonate with fans.

Orton's best heel work came around 2008 and 2009, when he was the psychotic villain. Now he's just an entitled, glorified henchman for The Authority.

Hopefully the budding tension between Orton and Authority leader Triple H, who still hasn't granted him his WWE World Heavyweight Championship rematch, eventually results in Orton going bonkers on the entire Authority stable, making him a top babyface for a potential match against Brock Lesnar.

For now, a win over Jericho—who is expected to leave according to PWInsider (subscription required; h/t WrestlingInc.com)—and a subsequent post-match angle that sees Orton (kayfabe) put Jericho in a hospital will give him much-needed momentum as a heel.

Winner: Randy Orton by pinfall

WWE World Heavyweight Championship: Brock Lesnar vs. John Cena

WWE has done its job creating doubt as to whether Lesnar will beat Cena at a second consecutive pay-per-view.

Cena's recent surge has almost erased the memory of his one-sided loss at SummerSlam. Cena recently got the better of Lesnar during a brawl on Raw, which further installed faith in his fanbase and made the Internet nervous.

Lesnar's current championship comes with a lot of promise for present and future WWE storylines. The momentum Lesnar has as a WWE World Heavyweight champion who conquered The Streak is unprecedented.

Does it get any more undisputed than that?

Lesnar's next loss will mean just as much, if not more, than his shocking win over Undertaker at WrestleMania and every win that has followed. A Cena win, in comparison, would seem like old hat.

Although the buildup may not has been good as it was for SummerSlam, the exchanges between Cena and Heyman have been interesting, with the two teasing a Cena heel turn (don't hold your breath).

Prediction: Brock Lesnar wins by submission as Cena passes out from the Kimura Lock. The finish likely involves outside interference.

Follow @ThisIsNasty