WWE Clash of Champions 2016: Most Intriguing Storylines to Track on Road to PPV

So. Did everyone enjoy the end of Raw?

We knew that WWE had to adjust its plans after Balor’s injury. But no one was expecting such a swerved finish to the Fatal 4-Way Championship match between Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, Kevin Owens and Big Cass on Monday. Triple H made a surprising return to television, delivering Pedigrees to both Reigns and Rollins and handing his NXT disciple, Kevin Owens, the WWE Universal Championship. This opens the door for so many storyline opportunities.

WWE Clash of Champions takes place on September 25, a little over a month after SummerSlam. And unlike SmackDown’s Backlash, which has the misfortune of taking place first, Raw’s exclusive PPV will benefit from the longer build.

Here are the major developing Raw storylines that should provide much intrigue over the next several weeks.

Is Bayley Getting a Title Shot?

The dilemma with Bayley on Raw is as follows: How do you please the fans who love her from NXT while introducing her to casual fans who have never watched her before? 

The solution, apparently, is to take her character development one step backward and do an abbreviated version of her storyline in NXT. Right now, Bayley is more cutesy and happy-go-lucky than we’ve seen her in over a year. From her skits with The New Day to her random hugs backstage, she's applying the goofy fangirl antics that made us love her to begin with. But they're not really becoming of a WWE women’s champion. 

Which begs the question: Is Bayley going to get a title shot against Charlotte at CoC? Because even if Bayley does, it seems unlikely that she will win, given her current character mindset. She needs to buckle down and take herself more seriously to pose a serious threat. For now though, it seems like Creative is fine with focusing on her giddiness, and that’s probably the smart decision. A slow babyface build is preferable to a quick one; the title reigns can come later.

The Jax and Strowman Monster Pushes

Both Nia Jax and Braun Strowman have been booked as unstoppable monster heels over the past month; pitting them against local jobbers was a fantastic idea. But eventually, roster talents need to start challenging them. Who will step up to the plate?

Also, how ready are either of them to wrestle a competitive match? Jax is getting there, but Strowman still looks fairly uncomfortable in the ring. It would be best for both of them to fight “carpenters”—wrestlers who are experienced, can put them over and can carry them in the ring.

There’s no sense in rushing it though. The parade of pulverized jobbers, who love “big sweaty men,” are one of the most entertaining aspects of Raw.

Will Darren Young Ever Be Great Again?

Darren Young scored an intercontinental title shot against The Miz at Battleground. But he hasn’t done much since then.

Instead, The Miz went to SmackDown, and Young was left to fight with his old tag partner, Titus O’Neil. This feud is the definition of treading water. Neither man has anything to gain from it, and the best talker involved in it is a 67-year-old man, who manages to be more charismatic than either competitor.

After all those taped promos—all the buildup for Young to be a midcard threat—it’s disappointing that he's stuck once again. Young and Bob Backlund need to move past this angle with O’Neil and tackle something bigger. Rusev and Lana would be an excellent start for a brand-new feud, and they could play up the "Russia versus USA" angle to the hilt. After all, Mr. Backlund ran for President back in 1996!

Sheamus Is Leading Cesaro 2-0

It’s refreshing that Sheamus is leading this best-of-seven angle against Cesaro; trading wins and 50/50 booking would be boring. At least this way, there’s some drama.

There’s a couple of ways that WWE can go from here. Sheamus could go up 3-0, and Cesaro can spend the next month playing the underdog and staving off defeat. Or Sheamus can slaughter Cesaro 4-1 or even 4-0, and this can lead to a rebuilding of Cesaro’s character. The former would be better than the latter.

Either way, this old-school feud has been surprisingly entertaining. It’s two massive guys working physical matches, and it keeps both of them on television until Creative has a better idea of how to use them.

The Club Needs a Win. Badly.

Predraft, Gallows and Anderson were stuck being the lackeys for AJ Styles. Since then, The New Day have peaked in popularity, and that makes CoC the perfect time to establish The Club as a viable alternative.

But for the fans to take them seriously, The Club needs some solid, signature wins. Destroying the Dudley Boyz last week was a great start. Having Bayley and The New Day defeat them in a heavily comedic match on Raw? Not the best decision.

Time will tell how WWE views The Club—as a solid comedy duo who can play "doctor," or as a serious contender for New Day’s WWE Tag Team Championship.

Where Does Kevin Owens Go from Here?

It’s going to be hard to wait seven days to see what happens next. 

Owens’s win raises so many questions. Will Big Cass continue along this new singles road (he shouldn’t), or will he go back to being a tag team partner (he should)? And what about Triple H? Based on Stephanie McMahon's and Mick Foley’s shocked expressions, we should expect to see some awkward promos next week. If Triple H continually pushes his NXT proteges to take over Raw, and he cheats to help them do so, it would set up an incredible power struggle between him and his wife. 

Kevin Owens has replaced Seth Rollins as Triple H’s go-to guy. Will Rollins be booked as a babyface? Will Reigns and Rollins find a common enemy? Will Jericho continue supporting Owens, or will #JerichOwens be driven apart by jealousy? 

And we can’t forget about Sami Zayn. It’s only a matter of time before Owens clashes again with his longtime rival. But hopefully, a little more time can pass before that happens. We’ve gotten our fill for the time being.