WWE Vengeance 2011: Predicting the Winners of Each Match at the Next PPV

Vengeance 2011 on Sunday will answer many a question in WWE fans' minds and surely create plenty of new ones as well.

Will John Cena win the title back and creep ever closer to Ric Flair's record?  Will Big Show end Mark Henry's Reign?  Will Cody Rhodes take the next step to superstardom?

As with every WWE pay-per-view, there are some bouts on the card that might be classics, some that might be stinkers and more than a few talented superstars left off the thing entirely.

Please tell me WWE is concocting a way to get Daniel Bryan and Wade Barrett involved as well. 

Along with every prediction, I've provided a previous match that might be similar to what the ones at Vengeance 2011 will look like and a guess at what rating the match will earn.    

I've included matches that will be announced on the Smackdown that will air on 10/21.

Air Boom vs. Dolph Ziggler and Jack Swagger for the WWE Tag Team Championship

*Spoiler Alert

(This Friday's edition of Smackdown adds two matches to the card.  Christian will go up against Sheamus and Dolph Ziggler will defend his United States title against Zack Ryder.)

Where does that leave the Tag Team Championship bout?  Will Ziggler wrestle twice?

If this match does still happen, Ziggler easily has enough endurance to pull off two matches in a night.

WWE has the tendency to overvalue the entertainment side of titles changing hands.  They'll surely be tempted to create easy bad blood between the teams by having them trade the belts back and forth.

Either way, Evan Bourne and Kofi Kingston get another chance to show off their aerial skills, while Ziggler will certainly do his part to make this match fantastic.

This is likely to be fast-paced and well-timed, and a possible show stealer.  Fans can only hope that they'll make this match the length it deserves to be. 

While I'd prefer to see a sustained reign by Kingston and Bourne, I think WWE will choose to go the other way.  What they'll do about Ziggler holding both the United States title and the tag belts remains to be seen.

He might be allowed to hold both briefly, and Air Boom is likely to take their gold right back anyway.     

Prediction: Ziggler hits the zigzag on Bourne after a distraction by Vickie Guerrero.

Comparable Match: Demolition vs. Hart Foundation SummerSlam 1988

Probable Rating: 3 and 1/2 stars

Christian vs. Sheamus

The feud between these men hasn't changed or escalated much since their match at Hell in a Cell.  The storyline anger between them isn't all that strong either.

Both Christian and Sheamus are capable of giving us an entertaining match.  Christian's speed contrasts well against Sheamus' strength.   

We'll likely see a match like we saw at the last pay-per-view.  WWE seems to be preparing for another push for Sheamus while I think the booking team doesn't fully appreciate what Christian brings to the table.

This match likely delivers the same result as the last one. 

Prediction: Sheamus wins with a Celtic Cross.

Comparable Match: Christian vs. Sheamus Hell in a Cell 2011

Probable Rating: 3 stars

Dolph Ziggler vs. Zack Ryder for United States Championship

Deserved or not, the adoration for Long Island Iced Z is growing.  WWE will eventually put a title on him other than the made-up Internet Championship at some point.

The question is, is now the time?

Had this not been a last minute addition to the card, I think it'd be more of a possibility. 

It's too early to have Ryder hold the U.S. title, but having him do well against Ziggler increases his legitimacy. 

Ziggler is great at selling and should help make Ryder look better than he is.  This should be a fast-paced match with a good number of two counts but probably won't go on for very long.

Prediction: Dolph retains after a few close calls.

Comparable Match: Dolph Ziggler vs. Kofi Kingston Night of Champions 2010

Probable Rating: 3 and 1/2 stars

Beth Phoenix vs. Eve Torres for the WWE Divas Championship

Lately it seems like the Divas division has shrunk to four—Natalya, Kelly Kelly, Eve and Beth Phoenix.  Two of the four go at it again while the others squeal on the outside.

Eve is far more talented than Kelly Kelly, but that's not saying much.

Phoenix is a good worker and a believable champion.  It seems logical to have her keep the title a little while longer at least. 

Giving the title to Eve at this point wouldn't do much for anybody. 

WWE doesn't trust its women to do anything other than shimmy around sexily, so will likely make this a five-minute rush job.  Expect some high-pitched screaming and some post-match catfighting. 

Prediction: Phoenix wins while 80% of the audience at home is grabbing something from the fridge.    

Comparable Match: Every Divas match we see on Raw and SmackDown. 

Probable Rating: 1 and 1/2 stars

Cody Rhodes vs. Randy Orton

If WWE doesn't get antsy about Orton not holding a title for longer than a week, this might develop into an excellent feud and a means in which Rhodes can hurl himself into the spotlight.

Their recent buildup hasn’t really had time to develop, but they also have their Legacy history to fuel their hatred. 

This could be the best match of the night.  Picture multiple counters and reversals out of the RKO and Cross Rhodes, a lot of kicks to the head and a vicious battle.                      

Not having the Intercontinental Championship on the line opens the door for Orton to win but for Rhodes to keep the title.  But Orton winning already halts the dramatic thrust of the feud.  Rhodes winning underhandedly keeps them at each other’s throats.

Prediction: Rhodes wins after cracking Orton in the face with his mask.

Comparable Match: Jake Roberts vs. Randy Savage Saturday Night's Main Event 1986

Probable Rating: 4 stars

Triple H and CM Punk vs. the Miz and R-Truth

Four talented guys with some escalating bad blood could make for a great match.  In all probability though, WWE will overbook this and let the story get in the way of the wrestling.   

It's been bewildering how they've managed to let CM Punk’s summer momentum fade out.

While maybe not the best possible scenario for him, the match certainly has potential.  Triple H will likely scrap the grappling side of things for a lot of punches and stomps.  The Miz and Truth will provide the role of the cowardly heels.  

This will probably go back and forth allowing everyone their chance to shine, and then John Laurinaitis will walk down the aisle and suck all the energy out of the building.

Prediction: Laurinaitis screws Triple H.  The Awesome Truth wins.  The Game goes into a frenzy and tries to attack Laurinaitis.  Security has to hold him back. 

Comparable Match: CM Punk vs. Triple H No DQ Match Night of Champions 2011

Probable Rating: 3 and 1/2 stars

Mark Henry vs. Big Show for the World Heavyweight Championship

You will see no arm drags in this battle of big men.  I don't know if pitting two men with such a similar skill set and similar limitations in a big match is the best idea. 

Their feud hasn't had much build up either. 

It's hard to imagine this one going on very long.  Big Show will probably do some damage early, fueled by his anger.  Eventually though, it's likely that Mark Henry will come out on top.

He's being billed as an indestructible beast.  For Big Show to stop him now would be a mistake.  I don't think WWE will let Henry keep the belt for long, but Big Show isn't the man to take it.    

Prediction: Henry wins a brutal slugfest with the World's Strongest Slam.

Comparable Match: Sheamus vs. Mark Henry SummerSlam 2011

Probable Rating: 2 stars

Alberto Del Rio vs. John Cena for the WWE Championship (Last Man Standing Match)

Let's hope that the WWE would not be silly enough to have the WWE Championship change hands at five consecutive pay-per-views.  They really need to let Del Rio hold it for a minute or two.  A Cena win demolishes all credibility Del Rio has as champ.

That being said, a clean Del Rio win is unlikely in the age of Super Cena.

Del Rio will have to tie Cena down with rope and pile a few cars on him or something, but he'll likely retain for the sake of not having the title change hands again.

The Last Man Standing stipulation will only serve as a fog to try and hide the mediocre wrestling we'll likely witness.  These aren't the best two guys to utilize the elements of a Last Man Standing match.

Prediction: Del Rio wins with major interference by Ricardo Rodriguez.

Comparable Match: Great Khali vs. Undertaker (Last Man Standing) SmackDown 2006

Probable Rating: 3 stars