If you believe the WWE, its second biggest show (behind WrestleMania) takes place tomorrow evening live on the WWE Network from the Barclays Center in New York. Here’s a quick look at the announced matches and how I think they’ll play out.
SummerSlam 2016 Live This Sunday!
Cesaro vs. Sheamus
Best-of-Seven Series Match #1
This one could really go either way. I’d be shocked if this doesn’t go the full seven so it really doesn’t matter who wins this first one. Neither guy was on the last month’s Battleground and both guys lost their matches at Money in the Bank. That said, WWE has no sense of history past what happened on RAW (or Smackdown) last week so that means nothing. I spose I’ll go with Sheamus to win this one (because I fully believe Cesaro will win the series).
Sami Zayn and Neville vs. The Dudley Boyz
It seems to me that the Dudley Boyz are here to just put people over these days (which I’m totally fine with). Zayn had a straight up tremendous match last month and I see his momentum continuing. He and Neville for the win.
American Alpha, The Hype Bros and The Usos vs. Breezango, The Ascension and The Vaudevillains
This is your standard “get as many guys on the card as you can” match. Tough to pick these as they’re really nothing but high spots. I’ll go with the “good guys” American Alpha (Jason Jordan and Chad Gable), The Hype Bros (Zack Ryder and Mojo Rawley) and The Usos (Jimmy and Jey Uso) going over the “bad guys” Breezango (Fandango and Tyler Breeze), The Ascension (Konnor and Viktor) and The Vaudevillains (Aiden English and Simon Gotch).
Brock Lesnar vs. Randy Orton
Lesnar got caught doping when he was in UFC. He never got suspended by WWE cause he wasn’t with them at the time. I’m guessing he’ll do the job here to Orton as his punishment.
Finn Balor vs. Seth Rollins
WWE Universal Championship
I’d love to see Balor get this but I don’t see how you can have Rollins (the #1 draft pick on RAW) lose this match to a newcomer. Rollins will be your first ever Universal Champion.
Dean Ambrose vs. Dolph Ziggler
WWE World Championship
I’m an Ambrose guy. Something tells me that I’m going to be disappointed in the outcome and Ziggler is going to get the win here, but I’m going to go with my heart and pick Ambrose.
John Cena vs. AJ Styles
This is the rubber match between these two. Conventional wisdom says Cena would go over here but he’s getting older and I honestly think he’s going to start winding down over the next couple of years as he transitions to a main stream star. Whether you love or hate Cena he’s a WWE guy through and through and he’s going to do what’s “best for business” as he heads toward the twilight of his in ring career. Look for him to do the clean job in the middle of the ring to give Styles his first signature WWE win.
Rusev vs. Roman Reigns
WWE United States Championship
This one could go either way. On one hand it’s tough to think that Reigns would lose here when he’s just a month or so removed from top of the card. On the other hand if they make Reigns go on a sort of a losing streak the fans won’t see him as being pushed down their throats and will start to get behind him. I don’t have much confidence in WWE to be thinking that far ahead though so I’m going to choose Reigns to snag the title here.
Sasha Banks vs. Charlotte
WWE Women’s Championship
Dana Brooke is barred from ringside but I don’t think that’s really going to matter. It would be a travesty to take the belt off Banks after only a month on top. Banks wins her first PPV title defense.
The New Day vs. The Club
WWE Tag Team Championship
I’m over the New Day’s schtick. I don’t want to see The Club with the titles but it makes sense. Time for New Day to lose them and change things up a bit. The Club are your new tag champs.
Enzo Amore and Big Cass vs. Chris Jericho and Kevin Owens
I refuse to call Jericho and Owens “Jeri-KO”. It’s clever but I don’t like it. Enzo and Cass are Superstars and unless they tease a break up (which I don’t want to see) I see them getting the win here, most likely with Jericho taking the loss.
The Miz vs. Apollo Crews
WWE Intercontinental Championship
Couldn’t care less about this one. Seems likely that Crews would get the title here but there’s something sticking in the back of my mind about how awesome (excuse the pun) Miz is as a hell champ. Miz retains.
Carmella, Becky Lynch and Naomi vs. Natalya, Alexa Bliss and TBD
Eva Marie was supposed to be here but got popped for substance abuse. They’re going the “mystery partner” route but it’s not going to matter. This is the bathroom break match regardless of who they roll out. Guessing Carmella, Lynch and Naomi get the win but I couldn’t care less.
Leave me a comment with your picks!
