WWE Clash of Champions 2016: Smart Builds for Raw PPV's Top Feuds

As Cesaro looks to come back against Sheamus and Bayley chases down Charlotte ahead of WWE Clash of Champions 2016, Raw must generate animosity and momentum to maximize its feuds.

Those essential building blocks of storytelling are needed to leave the audience invested in the Cesaro-Sheamus series and the Women's Championship contest, as well as the other bouts in the works. And they will be key to enticing fans to tune in to the Sept. 25 pay-per-view. 

SmackDown has the disadvantage of a short turnaround after SummerSlam. The blue brand's first solo PPV is just two weeks away. On the other hand, Raw has nearly a month to dive into its rivalries.

A longer build will offer more chances to stir up bad blood, create pathos and produce lasting images that will have WWE fans buzzing before Clash of Champions. The following is a look at a smart way to accomplish all of that.

The New Day vs. Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson

More than anything, the Tag Team Championships feud needs a change in tone.

WWE has leaned on puns and corny humor in its presentation of Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson. The duo first dished out a series of genital jokes before moving onto a shtick involving them encouraging wrestlers to retire, complete with an acronym that spells out "old fart."

The company is failing The Club. 

DC Matthews of the New Age Insiders podcast tweeted: "Gallows/Anderson are officially Doink and Dink, in my eyes. #WrestleSilly is one thing, but just out-and-out clowns is another."

To better tell the story of Gallows and Anderson's pursuit of The New Day, WWE must showcase the heels' ferocity. They need to brutalize low-rung tag teams, attack the tag champs backstage and start getting some wins under their belts. 

The New Day can provide the comic relief. The Club can instead play brooding predators zeroed in on tag team gold.

WWE would be wise to build up Gallows and Anderson by feeding them duos like The Golden Truth. At one point, The Club should be attacking a team after the bell, bashing them against the security barricade, when The New Day charges in to save the day.

A full-tilt brawl could then break out, stirring up the animosity just before Clash of Champions.

Sheamus vs. Cesaro

Sheamus hurled Cesaro into the ring post on the final WWE Raw of August, allowing him to go up 2-0 in their best-of-seven series. That opened the door for a great comeback story.

As Hall of Famer Jim Ross put it in his blog, "The fan favorite (Cesaro) going down 2-0 puts the hero in jeopardy, which is a nice foundation to continue to build the storyline."

The storyline back injury that Cesaro suffered in his second clash with Sheamus is a powerful narrative tool for the chapters ahead. WWE should use it to show off Cesaro's toughness and Sheamus' mercilessness.

Before their next bout, Cesaro can dismiss the doctor's orders to not wrestle. He can gut out a win, but in doing so, he'll leave the ring in worse shape than before. The Celtic Warrior could then craft an unsettling image as he cracks a chair over Cesaro's injured back several times over.

That would assure him a win in their fourth match, allowing him to go up 3-1 heading into Clash of Champions.

Cesaro vs. Sheamus would then benefit from The King of Swing's desperation. He would enter the must-win contest hobbled and vulnerable. Suddenly, this matchup would have a playoff feel with great drama ready to unfold.

Bayley vs. Charlotte

Sasha Banks' injury and Paige's suspension forced WWE's hand. It has had to rush Bayley into the Women's Championship picture. The key to making the most of that situation is building up Bayley in a hurry.

Many fans are familiar with her accomplishments at NXT, but others know her as the newcomer who arrived just weeks ago. Luckily, Clash of Champions isn't until the end of September, giving WWE ample opportunity to showcase the hug-happy babyface.

A winning streak is a must for Bayley.

The audience needs to buy into her as a threat to Charlotte, and that begins with defeating the likes of Alicia Fox, Summer Rae and Dana Brooke. To further the idea of Bayley being the challenger charging toward the gold, Brooke should catch Charlotte watching clips of Bayley's biggest NXT wins.

The women's champ shouldn't issue the usual "you haven't done anything until you've done it at the WWE level" rhetoric. Instead, she should be impressed, in awe and afraid of Bayley because of her NXT wins against Banks and Nia Jax.

And in a classic heel move, Charlotte should do everything she can to avoid having to defend the title against her. Perhaps she cozies up with Raw commissioner Stephanie McMahon in order to set up hoops for Bayley to jump through.

Bayley can then earn her way into contention by winning a Triple Threat match and outdoing Charlotte in a Beat the Clock Challenge. The former NXT women's titleholder would then be armed with solid momentum just as Clash of Champions arrives.

Titus O'Neil vs. Darren Young

Titus O'Neil's rivalry with Darren Young is among the least appealing storylines ahead of Clash of Champions. Folding in the foes' history and turning up the intensity can change that.

WWE has barely mentioned the fact that Young and O'Neil were tag team partners. Focusing on that element of their past will invigorate this narrative. The company should start by compiling clips of The Prime Time Players at their peak.

After WWE airs that video package, Young should talk about how heartbroken he is that things turned out so poorly. He can talk about how much O'Neil has changed and how hard it will be to crush a man who was like a brother to him.

This would help paint Young as a sympathetic figure while also playing up O'Neil's callousness. 

And an attack on Young's manager, Hall of Famer Bob Backlund, would be the perfect catalyst for the speedy Superstar to unravel. Young should go ballistic on O'Neil—just as he did against The Miz at Battleground.

That's just the kind of heart and fire that this rivalry is missing.

WWE Universal Championship Picture

The chaotic end to the Aug. 29 edition of WWE Raw set up numerous possible pathways en route to Clash of Champions.

Triple H attacked both Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins to allow Kevin Owens to win the vacant Universal Championship. A furious Rollins had no idea why his former mentor betrayed him. Owens had no clue why The Game assisted him.

Now the fun begins.

This incident is an easy way to allow Rollins to make a beneficial shift. Feeling abandoned by the authority figures who once paved the way for his success, The Architect should turn face.

Former WWE writer Kevin Eck (link contains NSFW language) tweeted: "If Rollins plays a babyface with attitude, he'll be a bigger star than he's ever been. It was time to freshen up his character."

A tearful Rollins should tell fans that he is sorry for all the pain he's caused. He would explain that he is now focused on dethroning Owens. 

Owens, meanwhile, will have two allies at his side. His tag team partner, Chris Jericho, should protect him, serving as the first line of defense against Reigns and Rollins and whoever seeks to take down KO.

And Triple H can now be his father figure. The Game needs to offer a clear, logical explanation why he interfered and why Owens is now his new protege.

WWE can play up how close they have been backstage, showing off the many selfies they have taken together throughout Owens' run.

The company needs to let Owens run wild here. His ego should be even more massive. He should try to run Raw, pushing general manager Mick Foley around, telling jobbers to get out of the ring and booking matches he would like to see.

Rollins would then play the hero looking to knock the braggart out of his throne.