Repost: Night of Champions Predictions

Feels like a curious blend of the best and worst as WWE rolls out all the major titles, merging the women's belts in a long overdue move amidst rumors that the same plan might be in the future of the WWE and World Heavyweight titles.

Six-Pack Elimination WWE Championship match
Sheamus (c) vs Wade Barrett vs Edge vs Randy Orton vs John Cena vs Chris Jericho
The Nexus fizzled out at Summerslam, but it's still cool to see them finally pulling the trigger on Wade Barrett in the best way possible. Five other seasoned wrestlers should be able to carry the weight for any of his failings, making him a great insertion into a previously lagging WWE title hunt. His rise hasn't meant an escape from the Orton/Cena shadow, but just as numbers balance out Barrett, the effect of old hat is lessened. Orton is disturbingly close to some sort of push, but with any luck, it'll stay on Sheamus. Who knows what's going on with Chris Jericho and his on-again-off-again contract status. Hope he stays, but I can't see him picking the belt up, as pleasant a turn around as that would be. Guy just can't seem to get a legit hold on that main event mode! Edge has issues with the mystery General Manager, he might be the dark horse.
Prediction: Sheamus

No Holds Barred World Heavyweight Championship match
The Undertaker vs Kane (c)
The Undertaker has long been one of my favourite wrestlers, so it's hard not to be a little bit excited about a return to one of his most embellished feuds. Kane is a pale shadow of the former-self that started this feud in 1997, but it's hard to imagine them passing up the opportunity to continue it to next month's Hell in a Cell Pay-Per-View, fulfilling the desire that was never realised in their heyday. If a HIAC match is on the horizon, then you'd reason it'll be one more month before Undertaker reaps his vengeance on his dastardly half-brother and World Champion.
Prediction: Kane

United States Championship match
Daniel Bryan vs The Miz (c)
Before his firing several months ago, Daniel Bryan had revealed his name to the "WWE Universe".
I don't know why he hasn't reverted to Bryan Danielson upon his return, but by any name he does remain one of the most interesting acquisitions WWE have made in recent years. Despite my relative disdain for The Miz, this is probably the match I'm most looking forward to. Denying Bryan the gold would be a downright travesty, but I can't help but feel that's exactly what lies ahead.
Prediction: The Miz

The Big Show vs CM Punk
Not really sure why this feud is being dragged out, especially with the Straight-Edge Society seemingly disintegrating, but whatever. I don't have any great problem with this being part of the undercard. Should be a decent match. Punk probably needs a win more, but I don't know...
Prediction: Big Show

Tag Team Championship match
The Hart Dynasty (c) vs Mystery Opponents
Not quite sure why there'd be unnamed opponents for this match. After a defeat on Smackdown, I would think Drew McIntyre & Cody Rhodes might have a shot, but your guess is as good as mine. The Usos are still lurking, and anybody watching the win/loss records will know that Santino & Kozlov have racked up an unlikely 6-0 win streak, which makes them one of the most successful WWE tag teams of the year. I'm not sure any of these teams deserve to take the belts from the Harts, but after charging toward the belts with intense momentum, WWE's tag team vaccuum has sapped their strength.
Prediction: Mystery Opponents

DQ Title Change Intercontinental Championship match
Kofi Kingston vs Dolph Ziggler (c)
I still can't believe Ziggler has the belt. It seemed inevitable he'd get there eventually, but I was ready to count that wait in years rather than months. As has been the case with a long line of rapidfire IC champs, it'd be adding injury to insult to rip the belt off him now. Kofi's had a couple of successive reigns already. Let's try to get some credibility back into this once great championship!
Prediction: Dolph Ziggler

Lumberjill Divas/Womens Championship Unification match
Michelle McCool (c) vs Melina (c)
Don't know, don't care. Merging the belts is long overdue!
Prediction: Michelle McCool

The Kayfabe Countdown: WWE Top Ten
Cumulative tally based on the win/loss records of televised matches.

#1 The Big Show [+1]
#2 Kofi Kingston [+1]
#3 Rey Mysterio [-2]
#4 R-Truth [+1]
#5 The Miz (United States Champion) [-1]
#6 Randy Orton [+4]
#7 Michelle McCool [+1]
#8 Christian [+1]
#9 Kane (World Heavyweight Champion) [new]
#10 Dolph Ziggler (Intercontinental Champion( [RE]

#1 DH Smith & Tyson Kidd (Tag Team Champions) [--]
#2 Layla & Michelle McCool [--]
#3 Big Show & The Miz [--]
#4 Santino Marella & Vladimir Kozlov [new]
#5 Curt Hawkins & Vance Archer [-1]

Originally posted: http://www.1up.com/do/blogEntry?bId=9053844