8 HUGE WWE Night Of Champions 2023 Predictions You Need To Know
Upsets, the madness of a "triple main event" and the return of the WWE's Next Big Thing?
That WWE promoted the first ever Saudi Arabia Night Of Champions as having a “triple main event” speaks volumes about their continued commitment to the Vision 2030 project. The company evidently wanted to make the card feel as important as any other domestic B-Show, but the strap-line’s not entirely hyperbolic.
Houses in the United States are still red hot with Cody Rhodes on top, and his ongoing programme with Brock Lesnar has gone a long way to diverting attention from the devastating WrestleMania 39. Backlash’s booking wasn’t perfect - Rhodes running away positioned him as lucky rather than heroic - but their programme’s remained heated thanks to the ability of both to elevate middling material.
Cody failing to win the belts and split them up organically resulted in Triple H ham-fistedly unveiling the WWE World Heavyweight Championship, ending with Seth Rollins taking on AJ Styles. The former seemingly knows the prize is beneath him and the latter has virtually said as much, but there aren’t two men better at faking it until they’re making it than the 'Drip God’ and the 'Phenomenal One’.
Headlining will be a Roman Reigns persona uniquely placed to wield even more power over his Bloodline, but risking mutiny and implosion if and when he fails. As we were forced to remember at the ‘Show Of Shows’, nothing matters more.
The card won’t be without significant action and consequence. The sportswashing wouldn’t be successful if it wasn’t. But WWE have graciously extended similar heft to the undercard too…
8. Gunther (c) Vs. Mustafa Ali
Gunther is making a case for being called the greatest Intercontinental Champion of all time.
It’s not about numbers (though, incidentally, the Honky Tonk Man’s 454-day record will be creeping up soon enough and expect the ‘Ring General’s matches to be hotter than ever when it does), but the incredible quality of his work since securing the title in 2022 has surpassed even then the wildest expectations that might have once rest on his broad shoulders.
There’s a 2018 NXT quality to this particular offering. Gunther and Mustafa Ali haven’t been given the most engaging story on television, but as far as “it’ll be alright on the night” bangers go, there are few contests as captivating across Raw or SmackDown. The inevitability of Ali’s loss notwithstanding, this should be yet another failed giant-killing ripper, and one only need to look at 50% of Gunther’s victories in the last year alone to see how well that’ll play out.
The already-exhausted Positive-Ali looked shelved on the go-home Raw when the challenger was completely emasculated by a passing Brock Lesnar. A physical onslaught from the on-fire Intercontinental Champion might finish the character off once and for all, free Ali up for pastures new and setting the wheels in motion for the Imperium leader’s enticing summer series with Matt Riddle.
The safest shout on the show, but the immense quality is just as foregone a conclusion.
Winner - Gunther