8 Last-Minute Predictions For WWE Clash Of Champions 2017
A deceptively exciting show.
Clash of Champions may look less like a WWE pay-per-view than it does a SmackDown house show, but in some ways that, in itself, makes it worth watching.
The announced match-card - consisting of six full-show bouts (one of which is Breezango versus The Bludgeon Brothers) - looks so threadbare on paper that you can't help but feel the company simply must have something shocking up its sleeve.
What exactly that will be, we can't be entirely sure - although anyone who has watched wrestling for more than a couple of months will know that special guest referees - of which there are two at COC - seldom make it from bell to another without throwing a punch.
On the under-card, meanwhile, you've got the WWE Championship bout between AJ Styles and Jinder Mahal, a match that seems too bland and nondescript for things to go exactly how most of the bookmakers are expecting.
We're not saying Network newbies should cash in their free trial for this of all shows, but at the very least, there's cause to check the results on Monday morning.
8. Jinder Wins The Title Back
There's a widespread belief among wrestling fans that the Jinder Mahal "project" has now been abandoned, the evidence for which being his losing the WWE Title on the eve of Survivor Series and his New Delhi defeat to Triple H.
Throw in the fact that AJ Styles, despite some initial doubts (mainly from Vince McMahon), now seems to be one of the company's go-to guys, and a title change looks like only an outside possibility. On the eve of WrestleMania season, after all, you play safe.
On the other hand, why follow up a title change on SmackDown with a rematch, a full month later, on pay-per-view? It seems so obvious that the new champion will retain that you're almost tempted to say the writers must have something shocking in store for us.
Adding fuel to this is the possible break-up of Jinder and his Singh Brothers. If they are trying to re-brand and re-position the Modern Day Maharaja (perhaps with a new cast of back-ups), victory at Clash of Champions, and a second WWE Championship reign, could be just the ticket.