Golden Sunday: Night of Champions Preview

The draft left more questions than answers. The supplemental draft didn't do much good for anybody involved. So instead of shaking things up, they may have just started a whole nother revolution altogether. But until that revolution shows up, here's the card as it stands for this Sunday's Night of Champions.

WWE Women's Championship

Mickie James vs. Katie Lea Burchill

The Women's Champion has been on a hot streak since winning the championship from Beth Phoenix. She managed to survive a triple threat between her, Phoenix and Melina. Yeah, James has been unstoppable...except when it comes to Katie Lea.

Since her official diva in ring debut, Paul Burchill's little sister holds two upset victories over James. Apparently that was enough to give her a shot at the Women's Championship. So on Sunday, Katie Lea has a chance to not only pick up her third straight victory over Mickie, but she also has a shot to take the gold away from the resilient champion.

WWE Intercontinental Championship

Chris Jericho vs. Mystery Opponent

Since his match at Judgment Day, Chris Jericho has been a man possessed. He also has made sure that the fans aren't the only ones to feel his wrath. After sending Shawn Michaels head through the Jeritron 5000, Y2J has had a change of attitude and is looking to show it off this Sunday.

The problem: No opponent. Being that this is Night of Champions, we are expecting to see Chris Jericho defend the Intercontinental Championship. The issue is that we have no idea who will be facing Y2J. Some believe that it will be Shawn Michaels. But don't be surprised if one of RAW's newest acquisitions decides to challenge Jericho for the IC Title.

WWE/ECW United States Championship

Matt Hardy vs. Chavo Guerrero

Matt Hardy proved to MVP at Wrestlemania that he will not die. The next month at Backlash, he showed him again by ending his reign as United States Champion. After acquiring his first singles championship since the Cruiserweight Championship, Hardy has been riding high and running wild on SmackDown! and intends on continuing that now that he's officially on ECW.

But with all championship runs, there's always someone who thinks they're better.

Thanks to his aunt's abuse of power, Chavo Guerrero now has a chance to add some more gold to La Familia. It's obvious that Chavo is still feeling steamed about not being able to defeat Kane, but it's pretty clear now that his personal bodyguard Bam Neely will have a stake in acquiring that championship. But they both have to realize one thing: Matt Hardy will not die!

WWE Divas Championship

Natalya Neidhart vs. Unnamed Opponent

A few weeks ago, SmackDown! GM Vickie Guerrero informed the Divas from SmackDown! and ECW that it was time for them to have a championship of their own. With that, she held the Golden Dreams Match later on that night involving all non-RAW Divas. In the end, Natalya got the best of Michelle McCool and Victoria to pick up the first spot in the Divas Championship.

But since then, we have heard nothing on who will face the Canadien Submission Machine at Night of Champions. Natalya knows she will be there to vie for a championship. What she doesn't know is who her opponent will be. Hopefully tonight, Vickie Guerrero takes five minutes out of screwing superstars (both figuratively and literally) to decide Natalya's opponent.

WWE Tag Team Championships

The Dirt Sheet vs. Finlay & Hornswoggle

Since winning the gold last year, The Miz and John Morrison have fought off all comers to their prestigious championships. From Kane and CM Punk to Deuce and Domino, the duo known as The Dirt Sheet have enjoyed their reign of SmackDown!'s tag team kingdom.

That is until now. After facing foes of all shapes and sizes, they now have a match this Sunday against a man who loves to fight and a pint sized man who loves to joke. Miz and Morrison faces Finlay and his son Hornswoggle. Finlay is looking for his first taste of gold since the United States Championship while his son is looking for his first taste of gold since being stripped of the Cruiserweight Championship earlier this year.

But this Sunday, all jokes will be put on the backburner. Though The Sheet aren't taking this match seriously, their opponents are. And now that all four men are on ECW, Sunday won't be the last time that they see each other.

World Tag Team Championships

Hardcore Holly & Cody Rhodes vs. Ted DiBiase & Mystery Partner

Ever since winning the gold late last year, the unlikely duo of Holly and Rhodes have also staved off all contenders. And after defeating Carlito and Santino, the tag champs looked to have clear skies ahead of them...that is until Money came into play.

Since his arrival in WWE early this month, the son of The Million Dollar Man has made it clear that come this Monday, he will be one half of the World Tag Team Champions. To say that his head games have worked to this point is an understatement. The tag champs have only snagged two victories since the announcement, and they look to grab the most important to retain the gold this Sunday. Will they pull off the unthinkable? Or will the Million Dollar guarantee be as priceless as the man who made the decree?

ECW Championship

Kane (RAW) vs. Big Show (SmackDown!) vs. Mark Henry (ECW)

The Big Red Machine has been on a roll since beating Chavo in record time at Wrestlemania to become ECW Champion. But this is arguably the biggest, most dangerous match of his reign as champion. The best part: It's a tri-branded championship match.

After taking out The Great Khali, the Big Show returned to ECW to reclaim his throne as ECW Champion. After surviving an onslaught from four other former ECW Champions at One Night Stand, the World's Largest Athlete earned his right to challenge Kane to a one on one bout at Night of Champions. Good news for him, but the bad news came in the form of a challenger who is ready to breakout.

The World's Strongest Man made it clear for the past few weeks that he deserves a shot at some gold. Since no one would give a shot, he decided to take his shot. Mark Henry intervened at a confrontation last week that he would challenge whoever is the ECW Champion after Night of Champions. Thanks to his victory over Kane this past week, Henry's opportunity to prove his worth comes a little sooner than expected.

Following the two drafts this week, Kane now calls RAW home while Mark Henry takes his Silverback demeanor to the Land of Extreme. Will ECW have its gold back? Will the Big Red Monster continue his reign? Or will the Show bring more gold to SmackDown!?

World Heavyweight Championship

Edge (SmackDown!) vs. Batista (RAW)

Edge had been a thorn in everyone's side on SmackDown! since his return at Survivor Series last year. But it's been his relationship with Vickie Guerrero that has allowed him to not only regain the World Heavyweight Championship but also banish The Undertaker from WWE. Too bad for the Rated R Superstar that there was someone else waiting for him.

Since his victory over Shawn Michaels at One Night Stand, SmackDown!'s Animal has been on a tear en route to getting a championship match with Edge. Despite attacks from La Familia and Vickie's efforts to keep him out of the World Championship picture, Batista has Edge in his crosshairs and is looking to finish the job that he started with the World Title in his possession.

After the Animal was drafted back to RAW, he now has a chance to bring the gold he took with him to SmackDown! back to the flagship. But with La Familia hellbent on keeping the gold on SmackDown!, will the Animal fulfill his quest? Or will Edge get an early wedding present? And what role will CM Punk play?

WWE Championship

Triple H (SmackDown!) vs. John Cena (RAW)

The Game has achieved greatness by defeating Randy Orton at Backlash to become a 12x World Champion. After sending Orton to the injured list with a broken collarbone, the King of Kings was looking for his next challenger. He didn't have to wait long for someone to come along.

After choking blood out of JBL's mouth at One Night Stand, John Cena came to RAW the next night for one reason: Challenge for the WWE Championship he never lost. After months of coming close, Cena defeated Jeff Hardy to earn his shot at the WWE Title. But it's amazing how one split moment can change everything. After losing in the Tri-Brand Battle Royal, RAW lost an up and comer in Kennedy as well as its WWE Champion Triple H to SmackDown!

With the stakes raised another notch, and the two gladiators looking to finish a war that started two years ago at Wrestlemania 22, will The Game prove why he is the definitive constant in the business? Or will John Cena's almost year long journey back be capped off with the return of his lost WWE Championship? But now that I think about it, what role will the RAW and SmackDown! superstars play to bring the championship back to their brand?

Night of Champions will be one for the ages. With the aftermath of the draft still being felt, who will step up and bring victory and pride for their brand? This Sunday in Dallas, all the gold will be up for grabs. It's Night of Champions, LIVE on Pay Per View.