Last Second SummerSlam Predictions
The biggest party of the summer happens tonight when WWE invades Detroit for SummerSlam. The card only has 8 matches due to WWE being sensitive to keeping its PLEs to a certain time limit(more on that in a second). Here are my predictions for tonight’s matches:
Slim Jim Battle Royal: This match was thrown together literally at the last second and will feature LA Knight, AJ Styles, The Miz, Karrion Kross, Shinsuke Nakamura, Matt Riddle and Sheamus among others. There’s no rhyme or reason for this match only to serve as vehicle to begin a push for someone… and I think we know who that someone is. Who wins: LA Knight
MMA Rules Match: Shayna Baszler will meet Ronda Rousey in a MMA Rules fight to settle their differences. While Baszler is positioned as the ‘heel’ in this storyline the crowd will definitely be behind her to go over Rousey who’s rumored to be going on another hiatus. Who wins: Baszler
Ricochet vs. Logan Paul: Honestly… this is a storyline that hasn’t moved the needle for me at all. There will be some cool spots and high flying moves but nothing else in terms of advancing either man’s characters. Who wins: Logan Paul
Intercontinental Title Match: Gunther has made the IC title must see and WWE has done a good job with highlighting its lineage & Gunther’s reign. He’ll get his stiffest test yet in the Scottish Warrior Drew McIntyre. This could be the match that will steal the show. Who wins: Gunther wins… and continues his assault on the record books.
Cody vs. Brock III: This rubber match will close the book on this feud and while it’s been entertaining the bigger question for Cody seems to be what will be next for him. He’s stated his end goal is the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship. How he gets there will be interesting seeing as he & Roman Reigns are on different brands. Who wins: Cody wins but then is met by… Bray Wyatt?
WWE Women’s Title Triple Threat: Charlotte Flair, Asuka and Bianca Belair will put on absolute banger to decide who will be the Women’s World Champion. The problem I have is it feels like Asuka is once again being used as the prop to two other storylines – Charlotte vs. Bianca and Io/Bayley. I don’t think you need the belt to hype up Charlotte/Bianca and the fans are itching for an Io Sky/Asuka feud. This match can go a number of ways. Who wins: Asuka wins… but Io Sky cashes in to become new champion.
World Heavyweight Title Match: Talk about long term storytelling – Seth vs. Finn has been 7 years in the making and Finn has done the best promo work in his WWE career while addressing Seth. Finn hasn’t let go of what happened 7 years ago at SummerSlam when he beat Seth to become the 1st ever Universal Champion but had to relinquish the title the very next night due to injury. In Finn’s mind, Seth is living his life. Finn wants to get revenge but even if he does his own stablemate has the MITB briefcase. Who wins: Finn Balor
Undisputed WWE Universal Title Match[Tribal Combat]: The Bloodline story continues its twists and turns with the Tribal Combat match between Roman Reigns and Jey Uso. At stake is not only the Undisputed WWE Universal title but the right to be the true Tribal Chief. Roman Reigns has grown more desperate and vicious as he tries to hold on his power but Jey has grown more confident. Roman also has to be concerned that his muscle Solo Sikoa could turn on him at any moment. Who wins: Roman retains and receives help from another Samoan – possibly Jimmy Uso?
What’s Up With The Women’s Division
The Biggest Party of the Summer will only feature two women’s matches tonight and three of its biggest stars in the women’s division will not be on the card.
One of the matches that was long rumored to be happening was the final chapter between Becky Lynch and Hall of Famer Trish Stratus. The story was progressing nicely as Stratus got a win over Becky at Night of Champions thanks to the help of Zoey Stark. Without warning the match was then bumped from the SummerSlam card and added to RAW in 2 weeks. Needless to say fans are not happy about this and neither are Lynch & Trish. The reason for the match being canned had to do with WWE insisting on limiting the number of matches & runtime for their PPVs. There are 3 matches on the SummerSlam card that could EASILY be replaced with Trish vs. Becky.
The other woman completely missing from tonight’s card is the current Women’s World champion Rhea Ripley. Rhea is arguably the most over woman in the company and WWE couldn’t find any time for her? Since beating Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania, Rhea Ripley has defended the title only twice. WWE has been more concerned with inserting her in the Judgment Day feuds rather than have her feud with the other women in the division. There are too many talented women on this roster to not have storylines and feuds going on.
I won’t go into the women’s tag division because WWE won’t even address it on most nights… but that’s nothing new as WWE sees the men’s tag division being as big of a joke as the women’s.
What’s Working/What’s Not
What’s Working in WWE
- The pairing of Bobby Lashley and The Street Profits. This has the makings of a powerful stable. Hopefully WWE really does something with it.
- Speaking of stables, Imperium continues to shine with Gunther leading the way. It’s time for Giovanni Vinci & Ludwig Kaiser to go for tag gold.
- The Judgment Day dominating RAW is a good thing. The stable feels like a true force now.
- The Bloodline storyline continues to be the best storyline in all of professional wrestling.
What’s Not Working in WWE
- Austin Theory. When he’s on my TV it shrieks in pain. He’s done nothing for the US Title and now it’s time to put in on someone that get over & make the belt mean something.
- Tag team wrestling across the board is in shambles. On the men’s side there are too many tag teams not to meaningful storylines around the tag titles.
- WWE’s biggest problem is wasting opportunities to push talent who organically get over/over with the fans. They wasted Bray Wyatt’s return last year. They wasted Drew McIntyre. Now it looks like they’re wasting the opportunity to really push the LWO. They’re beginning to cool off. Piece of advice to WWE – don’t do the same with LA Knight.
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