By Jason Powell

Join me tonight for live coverage of the WWE Night of Champions pay-per-view. Plus, Chris Shore and I will be taming up for a member exclusive audio review of the show later tonight. You can listen to all Dot Net audio on the ad-free version of the website by signing up for membership now via the Dot Net Members' Signup Page.

***The following predictions are made with no inside knowledge regarding the match finishes.

C.M. Punk vs. Triple H in a No DQ match: I'm intrigued by this match. I don't have the high expectations that I had for the Punk vs. John Cena matches. I'm sure it will be entertaining, but my intrigue lies more in whether Punk or Hunter will be revealed as a heel via an alliance with Kevin Nash, who most people assume will get involved in this match. I'm still going back and forth on which man it could be. Hell, it could be neither man and Nash just spoils the match to set up a Triple Threat Hell in a Cell match in two weeks. When it doubt with WWE creative these days, go with the least compelling prediction.

Prediction: Kevin Nash interferes and we get a non-finish to set up a Triple Threat.

Alberto Del Rio vs. John Cena for the WWE Championship: WWE has used Cena to make Del Rio out to be a fraud and a complete pussy. You know, like 99 percent of the heel champions they've had in the modern era. Sure, they teased us by having Del Rio plow through guys like John Morrison and Daniel Bryan in the week after he won the strap, but now he's just a typical WWE chickenshit heel champion. I'm guessing it's by design so that he can do the "unthinkable" by simply walking out on his title match. Thus, Cena will get him inside the Hell in a Cell structure and play up that he can't run or hide.

Prediction: John Cena defeats Alberto Del Rio via countout.

Randy Orton vs. Mark Henry for the World Heavyweight Championship: Here's an opportunity for WWE to make Henry look like a sadistic monster. I'd have him absolutely destroy Orton and refuse to acknowledge the referee's pleas to stop to set up the DQ. Orton looks sympathetic and vulnerable heading into the HIAC rematch, where Henry beats him to take the strap.

Prediction: Orton beats Henry by DQ to retain the World Hvt. Championship.

Air Boom (Kofi Kingston and Evan Bourne) vs. The Miz and R-Truth for the WWE Tag Team Championships: As much as I enjoy the Miz and Truth chemistry, it feels way too soon to book a tag title change. Of course, this is 2011, so nothing would surprise me.

Prediction: Air Boom retain the WWE Tag Titles.

Kelly Kelly vs. Beth Phoenix for the WWE Diva's Championship: I've been thinking that all signs point to Beth going over and becoming the dominant heel champion. However, this show is in her hometown of Buffalo, and we all know how strange WWE gets when it comes to the way they book talent in their hometown. The crowd should be into this one, and I'm still going to hope that WWE does the right thing by putting Beth over when they know the crowd will be hot.

Prediction: Beth Phoenix wins the WWE Divas Championship.

Dolph Ziggler vs. Jack Swagger vs. John Morrison vs. Alex Riley for the U.S. Championship: I'm simply hoping that they give these guys enough time to have a good match before the weird Vickie Guerrero, Ziggler, and Swagger triangle storyline takes center stage via the finish. I'm beginning to wonder whether they're turning Ziggler face. If so, Swagger going over and Dolph chasing is logical. Here's hoping Swagger's father returns and has a long, loving relationship with Vickie. Yes, I know I'm the only person who wants to see that pairing.

Prediction: Jack Swagger wins the U.S. Championship.

Cody Rhodes vs. Ted DiBiase for the Intercontinental Title: WWE has waited so damn long to push DiBiase that there's no reason for them to rush into a title change here. I'd rather see him have a long chase. Sadly, a long chase in 2011 means he'll probably win the U.S. Title a little over a month from now at Vengeance.

Prediction: Cody Rhodes retains the Intercontinental Title.

RECOMMEND THIS ARTICLE: