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2017 is drawing to a close and so is the long list of WWE Pay-Per-Views. This year featured the most number of Pay-Per-Views since 2011, due to the comeback of the brand split. In general, the Pay-Per-Views have been decent, partly due to the more exposure given to the superstars, who were earlier overshadowed in the pre-brand split era.
Clash of Champions is a Smackdown Live branded Pay-Per-View and while 2016 was Smackdowns year, the blue brand has taken a setback this year due to a long list of factors. Clash of Champions will be one final opportunity for the blue brand to shine and do better than its counterpart.
We look at five out-of-nowhere moments that could happen at the final Pay-Per-View of the year.
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#5: Elation?
Rusev, one of the most heavily underutilized superstars on the roster, found a new lease of life after an unusual pairing with Aiden English. Rusev and his Rusev Day gimmick have found massive support from the WWE Universe. Rusev and English have stood out as the yearly odd couple of WWE.
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Rusev and Aiden English have pinned the Usos and the New Day in the past two weeks, and this is a great sign for the team being termed as the "Rusev Day". Both of the superstars are decent performers in the ring and are charismatic personalities.
A fatal-four way for the tag team championships is set for CoC, and if Rusev Day win the tag titles, celebration is due!
#4: Reincarnation of Dolph Ziggler
Dolph Ziggler took part in a WWE Championship match last December, but his stock has fallen miserably ever since then. He was stuck in a feud with Crews and Kalisto at the beginning of 2017 which did not do any good for anyone. Ziggler has been used as a glorified enhancement talent for the NXT call-ups throughout the year.
He was surprisingly put into the US Championship match at Clash of Champions, and many believe this decision has been made so that Corbin or Roode don't take the pin during the match. However, Ziggler has made it clear that he isn't happy with his current status in WWE and that could lead WWE to put the title on him for a short run in the mid-card.
Ziggler is one of the best in-ring workers in the company but has been stuck with a stale gimmick now for a while. His heel run has been massively disappointing, but a title run can make him relevant again, hopefully.
#3: Daniel Bryan turns heel and forms a stable
Both Daniel Bryan and Shane McMahon are authority figures on Smackdown Live, and both of them are currently baby-faces. There has been tension between both of these authoritative forces, and it will culminate at Clash of Champions.
Daniel Bryan has endorsed the potential of Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn ever since McMahon got angry with the former RoH superstars. He has backed both of them and prevented them from being fired from Smackdown Live. Recently, whilst on commentary, Bryan said he knew how much hard work Owens and Zayn have put into the indies to make it to the WWE.
Bryan could betray Shane McMahon and turn heel on Sunday, leading to a formation of a stable with his former indie friends, Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn. With the Undisputed Era already in full force, could another RoH stable take shape in WWE?
#2: The Viper rises again
Randy Orton's run in the late 2000s, as corny heel along with Legacy, was one of the best heel runs in WWE in a long time. Orton is a natural heel, with his personality suited to play a dominating heel character. His face run since 2016 has been disappointing and is in a desperate need of a change.
Randy Orton has hinted at a possible heel turn by attacking Shinsuke Nakamura previously. Ever since Wrestlemania, the Smackdown Live roster has been in a desperate need of a top heel. Styles turned face, while Miz and Wyatt left for RAW. Jinder Mahal failed terribly in the top heel spot and WWE should put the Legend Killer, Randy Orton in that spot once again.
An RKO out of nowhere by Orton will be the perfect out-of-nowhere moment at Clash of Champions!
#1: India Number One: Once Again?
WWE put the prestigious WWE Championship on Jinder Mahal, and this experiment was met with overwhelming negative reactions. His match-up against Brock Lesnar received a lukewarm response in the build-up to Survivor Series, which led WWE to fast-track AJ Styles as the WWE Champion.
There have been rumors of Jinder Mahal recruiting new superstars as his lackeys in place of the Singh Brothers, with Jeet Rama and Kishan Raftaar being named as the potential replacements. Both of these Indian wrestlers have performed on NXT shows for quite some time now, and could be heading up to join Jinder Mahal.
A rejuvenated Jinder Mahal, with a new pair of enforcers, could be an interesting development on Smackdown Live. Could he still be the prime contender for the top heel spot on Smackdown Live?
