At the SmackDown exclusive PPV Clash of Champions, Jinder Mahal will be given the chance to win back the WWE Championship of AJ Styles at the TD Garden in Boston from 1am on Sunday night. With Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn vs. Randy Orton & Shinsuke Nakamura decide the fate of the Canadians with Shane McMahon and Daniel Bryan. SPOX looks ahead to the last WWE-PPV 2017.
Kneisel: In principle, I was happy about the separation of the hype bros. The team had no perspective, the little entertainment value from NXT times was never noticeable in SD at any time. Moreover, Mojo’s turn was not badly done and would theoretically be a chance for him to become a little relevant. Basically, theoretically…. and then you put them both in the kickoff! This is reminiscent of half-hearted team splits like those of Cryme Tyme 2010, when Shad and JTG faced each other in Extreme Rules in a gruesome Strap Match and then vanished into insignificance. I’m afraid for Mojo and Zack, they’ll be no different. This feud would have had considerable midcard potential, especially since Ryder still has his fans. Once again: Chance gives away WWE, too bad! Mojo Rawley, of course, wins. Can they somehow come out of this strengthened?
AbraKagawa: Not really. Failed chances and Zack Ryder belong together like the HSV and 16th place. On the other hand, what did you expect? These are the hype bros. I find your anecdote with Cryme Tyme very fitting, but they were still halfway in focus at the time of their split (as long as my memory doesn’t play a trick on me here). The best separation doesn’t help beyond a place in the kick-off show. And Mojo’s turn was all, just not bad, as you mentioned before. But it was just the hype bros. I’ll give Ryder a maximum of five minutes before Mojo Rawley has plastered it and I could even imagine a very quick squash match.
AbraKagawa: Shall I be honest? The best story of the year. Stop laughing, I’m serious. Deputy Dango and Tyler Breeze were highlights for months and almost to the end you couldn’t be sure that Harper and Rowan were behind the attacks and the brutal murder of Tully…. Oh, wait a minute, that was Arn Anderson! But the rest is probably from the former Wyatt family. So now the Fashion Police is facing its biggest task so far. Normally it should be clear that the Bludgeon Brothers win. But different things give me a little hope. Apparently, the Bludgeon Brothers had already been abandoned. The merchandise of our favorite cops sells well. Harper and Rowan wouldn’t be the first monster-heels to get distracted by Face-Schabernack so much that they end up losing and then there’s the Ascension. I’m sure you’ll soon take away my hope, but I don’t have the heart to bet on Breezango’s victory. Fashion Files forever!
Kneisel: As a fan of both teams – even if the new gimmick and above all… the outfits of the Bludgeon Brothers are for my taste beyond good & evil – I would be pleased about success of all involved ones. Realistically, however, I doubt that one of the two teams will tear anything in the future. How pleased I was when Luke Harper played against Wyatt’s at the beginning of the year and then appeared as Face with a new, clean look – the enthusiasm had disappeared quickly. Merch sales still give hope to our favorite cops, but in the feud against the Usos they had the chance to establish the two as a serious day team at a time when they were absolutely over the top. Unfortunately they didn’t use them and I assume that they will have the fate you had foreseen for Ryder on Sunday night: they will be squashed by the Bludgeon Brothers.
Page 1: Zack Ryder vs. Mojo Rawley – Breezango vs. The Bludgeon Brothers
Page 2: Baron Corbin vs. Bobby Roode vs. Dolph Ziggler – Randy Orton & Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn
Page 3: The Usos vs. The New Day vs. Shelton Benjamin & Chad Gable vs. Rusev & Aiden English – Charlotte Flair vs. Natalya
Page 4: WWE Champion AJ Styles vs. Jinder Mahal – forecast