WWE Night of Champions Odds: Breaking Down the Championship Chances

Has it really been three months since my last WWE article?

I find myself asking that question now that I'm about to start my new assignment.

But first, here comes the question of why so long when so much has happened.

When my first article was published, John Cena was the WWE Champion, and Jack Swagger was the World Heavyweight Champion.

Daniel Bryan was still a full-fledged member of The Nexus, which didn't even have a name at that time as they were still known as the "NXT Season One Rookies," and it was a day before Bryan got fired.

Bret Hart was still the GM of Raw, Kane was looking for who attacked Undertaker and put him in a vegetative state, Serena was still a member of the Straight Edge Society, R-Truth was still enjoying his cup of coffee with the US Belt.

Even gimmicks had changed. At the time I called Cody Rhodes "bland as white bread" now he's "Dashing" and it actually works. (At least in my opinion it does even though its more of a 2010 version of "Ravishing" Rick Rude.)

Ted DiBiase Jr. went from being escorted by Virgil and I.R.S. to Maryse (best visual upgrade since Triple-H went from Chyna to Stephanie McMahon) and of course, we eventually found out that it was Kane that attacked Undertaker, Swagger went back to being a mid-carder (he's not even in this pay-per-view), Mysterio took some time off, and something that we've been waiting for for years finally happened, Kane won the World Heavyweight Championship.

So why haven't I said anything about this? Well because someone decided to take their talents to South Beach and the NFL season started. I've mainly been writing about those two things, so wrestling was put on the back burner.

But in the words of a fellow Miami resident, FINALLY, THOMAS GALICIA, HAS COME BACK! TO THE WWE SECTION OF BLEACHER REPORT!

Here's how the odds break down for each match.

CM Punk vs. Big Show

Ok, I understand that this match is needed because it is a semi-main feud on Smackdown, these are two of the bigger names on Smackdown, and this storyline needs to continue.

However, its called Night of Champions because every match is for a championship, except this one. I doubt it will start the night, even though it wouldn't be too bad if it did, but it just seems out of place.

This feud should continue until Survivor Series at least because this has the makings of a good "Team Big Show" vs. "Team Straight Edge" Survivor Series match.

And it could have gone without a match on Sunday. But again, you had to fit these guys in there somehow.

Prediction: Punk wins with help from Gallows and Mercury, feud continues until Survivor Series when both will form teams and take each other on in a traditional Survivor Series match.

Intercontinental Championship: Dolph Ziggler Vs. Kofi Kingston

Dolph is coming out of this match as Intercontinental Champion.

I know if he gets disqualified, he loses the title, but Vickie is cunning and will figure out a way to cheat without anyone except the marks noticing. After all, she is a Guerrero, even if it is only by marriage.

On top of that, WWE seems to really want to give the Ziggler-man a real push. If he drops the belt back to Kofi, that really doesn't help anyone, not even Kofi.

Kofi needs to move on to bigger and better things (he's held the IC title twice and the United States title once already, about time he moves on to the main-event level), whereas Dolph needs to at least hold the IC title for another month.

I'm putting Dolph at -200 he retains the Intercontinental Championship.

Women's Co-Champions Lay-Cool Vs. Divas Champion Melina

The best part of this match is going to be Melina's entrance, which never fails to disappoint. But Melina will not be champion coming out of Night of Champions.

Lay-Cool will unify the titles, then implode and give us a great feud between a newly face Layla and Michelle McCool, teacher vs. student style.

Oh wait I forgot this is the WWE in 2010, they would never use such intelligent booking.

Melina will unify it and it will be Lay-Cool vs. Melina, but Beth Phoenix will be one of the lumberjills and she'll make her presence known by focusing on Lay-Cool when they're out of the ring.

All this will happen while the WWE Universe (crap, not again) either goes for a bathroom break, a beer break, or checks to see how Peyton vs. Eli is going.

Melina -300 she unifies the title.

United States Championship: Bryan Danielson vs. The Miz

I still refuse to call him Daniel Bryan. Maybe its me establishing my IWC cred (not that I have any) or maybe its because I think its dumb how wrestlers change names when they go to the WWE when their names are perfectly usable (i.e. Husky Harris as opposed to Wyndham Rotundo, Michael McGillicutty instead of Joe Hennig).

Here's some video from a great Bryan Danielson match against KENTA. 

His match against The Miz will be nothing like this. In fact, its going to be a squash for reasons I'll elaborate on later, all while Michael Cole just ridicules the entire thing and continues sucking up to The Miz.

Bryan Danielson (sorry, Daniel Bryan) -100 wins the United States Championship.

World Heavyweight Championship: Kane Vs. Undertaker

Has it really been six years since their last feud? Shocking, during the Attitude Era they couldn't go six months without feuding, now this is not only a feud six years in the making, but was heavily anticipated.

Kane (+300) will retain the title, but this isn't over by a long shot, I see a certain manager coming back into the fold sometime soon, and I see this feud (sans title of course) lasting well into next April.

WWE Championship 6-Pack Challenge

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FORT WORTH, TX - NOVEMBER 07: A replica of the WWE world championship belt rests on top of Kyle Busch's #18 Z-Line Designs/WWE Smackdown Toyota prior to the start of the NASCAR Nationwide Series O'Reilly Challenge at Texas Motor Speedway on November 7, 2

Now for my preview of the six-pack challenge. Since its an elimination match up, each wrestler will get his own slide.

Now maybe I should've explained this in slide number 1, but the numbers I put next to everybody's name is the odds Vegas would give each wrestler if wrestling were real and could be gambled on.

I decide the odds based on past WWE booking and other factors that might have next to nothing to do with the match (which is why Daniel Bryan is a slight favorite in his match.) 

So here we go...

Wade Barrett (+1000)

Nexus will again make their presence known in this match, but that doesn't mean that Wade Barrett will come away with the title.

In fact, I see him getting eliminated first, just as the rest of Nexus gets to the ring. He'll be forced to leave after his elimination, and Nexus will continue to cause problems the rest of the match.

Randy Orton (+500)

I can watch this video about 500 times, then continue to go for seconds. Only a complete mark would think that this is a shoot.

Alas, I miss this Orton, but from the looks of it, this Randy Orton isn't coming back soon. He's become too popular to be this type of badass in the PG era.

Now he's relegated to being a main eventer that never wins a title, dishing out RKO's to everyone in sight and making funny faces.

This match won't be any different. He'll be the last one eliminated.

Chris Jericho (+450)

Here's another video that never gets old. Now Jericho did say that if he didn't win at Night of Champions he was leaving WWE, and his contract does expire this fall.

We all know where this is headed. I see an RKO to end his WWE career, followed by him appearing on Raw the next night cutting an awesome promo where he cuts down the fans again, then he leaves.

Sheamus (+100)

I wonder how Sheamus would do as a face, if he could ever become one.

Despite the fact that this was in Ireland, I'd say he could do it.

He's now a two-time Double yew double yew E champion, but his reign will end on Sunday, FELLA!

Now he won't turn face afterwards, or anytime in the near future. He's still has to continue his feud with Triple H, whenever he comes back.

But expect another strong showing before being eliminated by Orton, thus continuing that feud.

John Cena (-300)

Noel Vasquez/Getty Images

LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 21: John Cena attends Game Two of the Western Conference Finals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Denver Nuggets at Staples Center on May 21, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Noel Vasquez

This picture is for the anti-Cena marks to talk about how much of a suck up Cena is, considering that he's supposedly a "die-hard" Celtics fan.

By the way Cena's LeBron Heat jersey is probably in the mail as we speak.

Now Cena should always be a favorite in any WWE Title match because, this is WWE and they have to push Cena.

But here comes a curveball, Cena's not even in the final two! Expect The Nexus to eliminate him after he eliminates Wade Barrett, and expect that feud to continue until Survivor Series.

Edge (+200)

Unwritten WWE rule: Anytime a Money In The Bank gets cashed in, Edge has to be present.

1. Edge cashes in against Cena at New Year's Revolution. (2006)

2. Edge Spears Cena through a table, RVD gets the pin and wins the WWE title at One Night Stand. (2006)

3. After a grueling cage match against Batista on Smackdown, Undertaker is ambushed by Mark Henry, followed by Edge coming out and winning the World Heavyweight Championship. (2007)

4. Edge comes out on Raw as World Heavyweight Champion, taunts the crowd. Then Batista assults him, followed by CM Punk emerging and cashing in the Money In The Bank, beating Edge with a quick GTS. (2008)

5. Jeff Hardy defeats Edge in a ladder match at Extreme Rules to win his first World Heavyweight Championship (his second main event title in the WWE), Punk comes in, cashes in on Jeff Hardy. (2009)

6. Edge and World Heavyweight Champion Chris Jericho are assaulting each other, then Edge spears Jericho. That's followed by Jack Swagger coming out and ambushing Edge, followed by cashing in his Money In The Bank against Jericho. (2010)

7. Edge was in the locker room when Kane cashed in his Money In The Bank against Rey Mysterio at Money In The Bank. (2010)

Ok maybe I'm stretching the last one but as you can see there's a clear link between Edge and the Money In the Bank briefcase, plus the fact that rumor has it he's going to Smackdown when it moves to SyFy next month, leading to him winning the WWE title and having his 10th World Title reign last all of 30 seconds.

The Miz (+2000)

AWESOME!

Edge makes a temporary face turn again as The Miz cashes in on him. This leads to a feud that culminates in a WWE Championship/Loser leaves Raw match between The Miz and Edge, where Edge goes to Smackdown in time for their debut on SyFy.

Whether it happens that way or not, one thing is for sure: The Miz will leave Night of Champions as WWE Champion.

Conclusion

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LAS VEGAS - SEPTEMBER 18: WWE wrestler Triple H attends the official weigh-in for boxers Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Juan Manuel Marquez at the MGM Grand Garden Arena September 18, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The two will fight at the MGM on September 19. (

At the end, every Smackdown Championship will remain the same (save for the Women's Title) while all Raw championships will change hands (twice in one case).

This will lead up to Bragging Rights and Survivor Series, where the feuds started at Night of Champions will end.

Oh yeah, and the gentleman in this picture, expect him back sooner than later.