WWE Night of Champions: A PPV That Should Not Fail!

"It all starts here"

Following up from my last article a few weeks ago about why WWE's next PPV, Night of Champions simply must deliver, (read it here http://bleacherreport.com/articles/438466-night-of-champions-why-it-simply-must-deliver) I've been evaluating the last few weeks of WWE's programming since SummerSlam, and the 900th episode aside, it's been very watchable.

And from looking at the matches already booked on the card, this is probably the most optimistic I've been about a WWE PPV, post-Wrestlemania. I already feel that the chances of seeing a poor PPV match are slim.

I'll tell you why I feel this, first let's look back to the PPV's post-Wrestlemania and on each card there are two definite matches which you can pick out as poor, and in fairness, matches that you'd expect to be poor. Extreme Rules: Well we had an Extreme Makeover Match for the Women's Title, oh dear, and a Strap Match between JTG and Shad Gaspard who have probably had about one hour's TV time combined since then!

Over the Limit, well going into that we were hardly relishing Big Show v Swagger for the Heavyweight Title, not to mention no emotion Eve Torres versus Maryse for the Divas Title. Two more matches that we thought would be a let down and sure enough were.

Shall I continue? Fatal 4 Way, well yet again the Divas Match and granted the six person tag match was impromptu but still, it should have been for the Tag Titles instead. At Money in the Bank we had the displeasure of seeing TWO Divas matches, sorry girls but it wasn't great.

Finally, SummerSlam, we had a horrific three on one Handicap Match and a poor Divas Title Match.

But enough ranting, I'll tell you why it will be different this time. Well, at last the Women's and Divas Titles are being unified and this time we have two solid workers going head to head in Melina and McCool, oh and if it is indeed Layla who competes I'd still be more than confident because she has vastly improved, in fact one of the few shining lights to have come from the Divas division in 2010 in my opinion.

There's reason for this rivalry, LayCool have been deliberately insulting, loud and annoying for months now and nobody's been able to stop them.

Although as a fan it's been tough to invest in at times just because of the lack of quality, there's a reason to dislike them. Melina's a popular girl she is well liked by young and old and I believe this is indeed a match that will get some sort of reaction from the crowd.

I'd be surprised if this is a Divas Match graded lower than one and a half stars by the critics. If it scores two stars it's a success.

The only thing that could make this match fail is the Lumberjill's. Things could become messy quickly and easily and it could spoil what has the potential to be the Divas Match of the Year 2010.

Next, onto two title matches that have NOT been announced. The Tag Division, like the Women's has suffered this year and after an explosive start as Tag Champs, The Hart Dynasty have faded into thin air it seems over the summer.

No matter who they face I believe that The Hart Dynasty will lose their titles at NOC, I'd quite like to see Rhodes & McIntyre challenge for them. The only worrying thing about this one, at it is a big reason is that whoever The Hart Dynasty face, they have no history against, unless it's The Uso's.

Why I still feel confident though is because The Hart Dynasty have proved to be entertaining in their reign as champions despite the short amount of time being allocated and their match will deliver because they will surely get more time, with only six title matches on the card. If Skip Sheffield hadn't been injured I would have said for him and another Nexus member to go for the titles but that now seems unlikely.

The IC Title is a sure bet.

It's a reliable match no matter who Ziggler faces.

Ziggler has proved that he can put on a good match with many wrestlers on the PPV stage; Rey Mysterio, John Morrison and Kofi Kingston have had a front row seat to prove it.

Again, there's a little bit of guess work to be done as to who is opponent will be. We pray it's not Kofi Kingston again. Perhaps Matt Hardy maybe? Christian? Or even an outside shout at someone like Kaval or MVP? Either one of those four would put on an entertaining match, I'm not saying a five star match but you can almost, almost guarantee that the IC Title match will be a solid three star affair minimum.

The US Title match is a potential showstealer and a great opportunity for us to value the US Title again. Daniel Bryan should win this match in my opinion just because Miz doesn't need the title.

This is a hot feud that has carried on for a long time, songs of praise have been sung about both wrestlers many times recently and I believe while The Miz's in-ring skills are overrated, they are decent and Bryan is superb.

These two can bulk up the undercard and set up for a couple awesome main events.

Kane v Undertaker.

Many don't want to see this feud again but tough, it's going to happen so why not enjoy it. Kane has been ten out of ten for me during his spell as champion. His mic. talk and his sheer presence have made me feel he is as good as Undertaker.

These two are still mobile in the ring, they aren't "past it" yet. I don't expect this to be a classic but the build-up so far has been really interesting and I expect these two, knowing each other's work so well, to put on a very good match.

Kane needs to win it though.

The "enter number of participants here" Pack Challenge for the WWE Title could go either way. First off, will there be a Sixth member? If so, who? Will Jericho worm his way back in? Will it stay as five men? That's anyone's guess.

But I am confident this match will live up to the hype. It features the four men who were in the Fatal 4 Way Match at Fatal 4 Way and until the end of that match, it was really really good.

This time creative have given themselves another bite at the cherry. I expect this match to start off with a bang and then slow up as we prepare for a 20 minute plus match. I expect it to be as every bit as good as the first 15 minutes as the Fatal 4 Way Match but then the finish to be much much better.

I think we can rule out Edge as certainly not winning it. Sheamus? Mehh, it would do his credibility the world of good if he did win but I can't see it happening.

Barrett, I believe would make an awesome champion, Nexus would be even stronger but his credibility is up for scrutiny.

Orton would be perfectly suited but is his success on Raw setting us up for Cena to be champion? I for one sincerely hope not. Not because I hate Cena but I hate creative for what they do with him as champ.

Either way I'm going to grade the matches as I expect them to be before they've even started.

Women's & Divas Title Match: **
Tag Title Match: **1/2
IC Title Match: ***
US Title Match: ***1/2
World Title Match: ****
WWE Title Match: ****

Sure those grades wouldn't reflect an outstanding PPV, but it would reflect a solid undercard followed up by two very good main events. Surely that's a better PPV than the yo-yo PPV that was SummerSlam, right?

We shall see, but it all starts here because with the quickfire PPV's following NOC, it has to start off with a bang.