WWE Clash of Champions 2016: Matches Sure to Cause Controversy Among Fans

We're a little over a week away from WWE Clash of Champions 2016 on Sept. 25, and we're still waiting for the excitement to build to its boiling point.

A lot of this feels like we've been here before. The current feuds have history to them, but that also means that everyone on the card has already fought one another many times. When we can see the same matches on cable every Monday, where's the buildup?

Where's the hype?

There's one more Raw left before the pay-per-view, and the roster needs to step up the intensity and sell these fights. And WWE Creative? It needs to get out of everyone's way. Fewer "Old Day" sketches, which don't draw money, and more matches. The entire point of the brand split was to give minor Superstars a chance to shine. So let them do it.

Here are the matches at Clash of Champions that are bound to cause controversy for fans. So far, WWE has officially announced only four matches. But again, there's only one Raw left before the show, so we can make some educated guesses about the remainder of the card.

Cesaro vs. Sheamus

Randall Ortman of Cageside Seats reported a rumor that we've all seen coming a mile away: Cesaro and Sheamus are going the distance in their best-of-seven series, and the rubber match will take place at Clash of Champions.

The two of them have been putting in solid, consistent work on a week-to-week basis. The problem, however, is that the stakes are vague. What does the winner of this feud get, besides bragging rights over his opponent? A title shot? Against who and when?

The whole angle stinks of "we didn't have anything for these guys to do, so this ought to keep them busy for two months." And as for the outcome? At this point, both guys need the push. Cesaro will probably clinch the series, but if that win doesn't lead to a midcard title reign, this entire post-draft build has been a waste of time.

If The Swiss Superman somehow loses? Then he needs to be traded to SmackDown, where he can maybe repair his reputation.

Enzo Amore and Big Cass vs. The Shining Stars

Here's another feud that amounts to nothing. The most over tag team in WWE is losing on a weekly basis to a repackaged tag team with a gimmick that has flopped with the WWE Universe—a "selling timeshares" gimmick is right up there with a "tax auditing" gimmick.

But Enzo and Cass might have to stay in this dead-end feud for some time. The Raw tag roster is thin. The other two viable tag teams in the division, The New Day and The Club, are embroiled in their own feud. Other than those teams, there is no viable candidate for Enzo and Cass to feud with.

Fans are going to be upset if Enzo and Cass face The Shining Stars at Clash of Champions and lose again. A Shining Stars win might keep the angle going, but it wouldn't do either team any favors.

Sasha Banks vs. Charlotte

There is nothing wrong with this match per se. It's just that we've already seen it.

A Triple Threat match with Bayley might have been more interesting. Even a Fatal 4-Way, with Bayley and Dana Brooke joining Charlotte and Banks under elimination rules, would have added variability. But instead, we have the same one-on-one match that we've seen already with no special stipulations. This is the rubber match of their mini-feud, and this would be the perfect time to escalate things.

Charlotte also needs to be more careful with Banks' back this time around. The Boss had a scary moment at SummerSlam due to Charlotte's botch, and even though the two women have incorporated "almost ending Banks' career" into the storyline, it needs to receive the proper attention and gravity backstage that it deserves.

Seth Rollins vs. Kevin Owens

This is the most exciting match on the card. It's so exciting that it reads like a true main event to a lackluster undercard—the same way many UFC and boxing pay-per-views are booked.

If there is a controversy in this match (and never put it past WWE to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory), it will be in the finish. Kevin Owens should not lose the belt at Clash of Champions. But it's also important that Triple H keeps his interference to a minimum. If he wants to cut a promo, fine. If he wants to skulk outside the ring, that's fine, too.

But Owens is not a cowardly heel character, and he never has been. And now that he has the belt, he needs to keep it on his own merits.

Roman Reigns vs. Rusev

It sounds weird to say it, but nowadays, Roman Reigns is underrated, not overrated.

At this point, many of his haters are being more contrarian than constructively critical. The fact is that Reigns has improved significantly over the past two years. He has the presence, build and credibility factor to hold the Universal Championship.

But his detractors don't care a whit about that or acknowledge those improvements. It doesn't matter what he does at this point; they are going to boo him unmercifully, and he's not even in the main event anymore. If he loses, he sucks. If he wins, he still sucks.

Unless WWE Creative decides to turn him heel (which it shouldn't have to), is there any way for his matches not to be dragged into the muck by insufferable killjoys? How many times does Reigns have to lose to satiate the appetites of people who want him to fail? Sometimes, the fans who are smartest about the business are also the biggest marks for it.