by By Gianluca DiGiacomo
Tomorrow night, World Wrestling Entertainment will be live from Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan for their 36th annual rendition of the biggest party of the summer – Summerslam. A show that in the past has held some of the most iconic matches and moments in WWE history; the battle of the Hart brothers, the first ever TLC match, Undertaker and Edge’s classic Hell in a Cell match, Punk and Cena’s championship unification and much, much more. With a very good-looking card and some epic stories to be told, this is a Premium Live Event that on paper looks like one for the ages. Let’s get started!
SummerSlam Battle Royle (Presented by SlimJim)
Confirmed Participants: Shinsuke Nakamura, Sheamus, Tommaso Ciampa, LA Knight, Chad Gable, Otis, Santos Escobar, Matt Riddle, The Miz, Karrion Kross, AJ Styles, Grayson Waller)
An interesting match concept with even more interesting marketing tactics. A match only introduced a few weeks ago but has some pretty solid talent already introduced into the mix, and will likely have more.
Since Triple H’s creative takeover just over a year ago, it has been clear that there has been a level of emphasis on cutting down match quantity for Premium Live Events to give matches a more important feel to them, as well as the events themselves. I feel like this isn’t a bad way to showcase talent in those feuds that just wouldn’t make the cut otherwise.
With this in mind, this match really doesn’t serve a greater purpose. I think it should have some good entertainment value to it, but I feel like this match is probably just a way to get LA Knight onto the show and give him a feel-good moment. Although I completely agree that there needs to be a right place and time for LA Knight to be pushed further up the card, there needs to be a fine balance of “good things come to those who wait” and striking the iron while it’s hot. On the bright side, this could very well be the much-needed boost that LA Knight needs, but it will be interesting to see how they manage him. The United States championship may be a slippery slope with a high likelihood of Santos Escobar taking the gold off of Austin Theory’s hands in a few weeks.
Prediction: LA Knight wins the Battle Royale
MMA Rules Match – Ronda Rousey vs. Shayna Baszler
A story with a month of build on the surface, but so much more in the past. At Money in the Bank in London, these two were set to defend their WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships against a surprisingly good pairing of Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez. The whole scene of the women’s tag division has been quite clustered in recent memory, not necessarily to the fault of any talent as injuries had thrown off the path of the belts for quite a bit, but the belts have picked up some prestige with Ronda and Shayna successfully unifying the belts with the Women’s tag titles down in NXT as they defeated Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn on an episode of Smackdown.
Later in this match, it would seem that the champions would have another successful defense in bound, as Liv Morgan was neutralized and Shayna would tag in her tag partner Ronda Rousey. Rousey would look to finish the job, but Shayna would rush her from behind and attack her, to the genuine shock of everyone in the O2 arena. Liv and Raquel would jump on the opportunity and win the champions back that they never lost, as they were forced to vacate due to a small injury Liv Morgan sustained.
Since then, it has been a blood feud between the two, as even with a short build, the two’s past in the UFC with the Four Horsewomen (with Jessamyn Duke and Marina Shafir) is enough to create an intriguing storyline. Shayna’s anger with Ronda always getting the opportunities before anyone else and her resentment towards Ronda’s selfish nature will pour out into an MMA Rules match, which is only right for the two that bonded in the UFC, and have movesets heavily influenced by a variety of martial arts. Adding a stipulation in a match like this also adds another layer of excitement to the contest, especially to those who may be more indifferent to the match.
I have always been a big fan of Shayna Baszler. She is an incredibly underrated worker, and has never gotten justice since being called up from NXT besides one good run on the road to Wrestlemania 36, winning the Elimination Chamber and facing off against Becky Lynch at the grandest stage of them all. Otherwise, she has been thrown into random tag teams and lacked clear ambition.Given the alleged reports of Ronda Rousey leaving the company in the near future, Shayna absolutely needs to come away with a win. Hopefully it will put her higher up on the card to be considered a serious contender.
Prediction: Shayna Baszler
Logan Paul vs. Ricochet
After the massive spot of a Spanish Fly through tables at Money in the Bank, these two have been at each other’s throats after a fight in the back, needing to be broken up by security. Ever since then, these two have been butting heads on the microphone with some pretty entertaining stuff, of course most recently, Logan Paul mentioning that it would be embarrassing for Ricochet to hear Logan Paul’s win being announced by his real-life fiancee, Samantha Irvin.
I can’t see this match being anything short of awesome. Of course it may lack some underlying technical wrestling, but this is a tale of two incredibly athletic talents prepared to throw their bodies all over the place.
For having such a short tenure in the industry so far, Logan Paul has a lot of raw talent in the ring and on the mic. Given his notoriety on the internet and his past as an internet influencer, Logan knows exactly how to get reactions out of people. Mix that with his athleticism, quick learning of the ways of pro wrestling, and his background with amateur wrestling, and it makes quite the prodigy. The fact that he was quite frankly just thrown into the deep end and swam with ease gives me hope for what he could be capable of.
On the flip side, this has let Ricochet show some general character as well. Even though Ricochet has always been a top quality in-ring competitor, he has always been shaky on the mic. He just seemed to generally lack the confidence to cut a convincing promo. I personally think that he has had some good growth in character through this whole feud, giving him that much needed “umph” to possibly push him to the next level.
Personally, I think Ricochet will win. Although Logan Paul has lost a lot, he is a part-timer used to bring attention to feuds and have quality wrestling matches, he does not need the win. Unless they were planning to stretch this feud out for longer, Ricochet will pick up a pin tonight. Regardless of outcome, I am very excited to witness whatever crazy things these two will bring to fruition.
Prediction: Ricochet
WWE Intercontinental Championship: Gunther(c) vs. Drew McIntyre
Gunther has had a historic run with the Intercontinental Championship, his run spanning 420 days and having thirteen successful defenses up until this point. Time after time, he has proven his prowess in-ring in one way or another, but up comes his biggest challenge yet.
After losing in the triple threat for the same title at Wrestlemania 39 in April, McIntyre was not seen on television for quite some time, reportedly because of a contract dispute with the company. Despite many rumors of McIntyre leaving the WWE altogether, he would return to confront Gunther in dramatic fashion after the Ring General retained against Matt Riddle in London.
Although the build to this match hasn’t exactly been top notch, I am still anticipating an in-ring masterclass from these two. If this match is anything like the triple threat they had with Sheamus, this could have some contention for match of the night. Their styles just naturally mesh together for what will be a grueling, hard-hitting contest.
Despite a more lackluster build, I will say the match itself is difficult to predict. Many are saying this will simply be another defense for Gunther, but I beg to differ that McIntyre has a better shot of this.
There can be a bit of a dilemma with this match. If Drew wins, he puts an end to Gunther’s groundbreaking title reign thus far, with a chance to top Honky Tonk Man’s Intercontinental Championship record coming up fast. With that said, a win could possibly shake up the midcard, which could be beneficial for the likes of Bronson Reed, Shinsuke Nakamura, Tommaso Ciampa, and others to involve themselves with a championship. Not to mention a loss would put Drew McIntyre in a less than optimal position for after the show. Could a win this important have been an ultimatum for Drew’s contract and terms with the company?
Gunther, though, is just over a month away from defeating the all-time record number of days as champion, as Honky Tonk Man had a reign of a whopping 454 days in the late 1980s. It is tough to argue against the fact that Gunther deserves it, though. A talented, charismatic performer that has consistently output quality match after quality match is an understatement for a guy like Gunther. One could also argue that the midcard can benefit from Gunther retaining anyway, as a shakeup may not be what is necessary and there is a pool of talent forming to contend for the title.
With everything in mind, I could see this match going either way, and I would be content with either man coming away as champion. Gunther has the narrow edge though, and seeing him break an almost forty year-long record would be something truly special.
Prediction: Gunther retains the Intercontinental Championship
WWE Women’s Championship: Asuka(c) vs. Bianca Belair vs. Charlotte Flair
A battle of three major stalwarts in the WWE women’s division will face off for the newly redesigned/rebranded WWE Women’s Championship. With a combined 20 world championship reigns between the three in WWE alone, there is a lot to be excited about in terms of in-ring prowess across the three. Combine this with the possibility of the women’s Money in the Bank contract holder Io Sky adding something to this match, and you have a heck of a debacle on your hands.
After Asuka’s refreshing revamped character, reminiscent of her days in various Japanese promotions, the Empress of Tomorrow ended the 420 day reign of Bianca Belair in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia at Night of Champions. These two have had many great matches – a pairing it would take a lot of for me to get tired of.
What I am getting tired of, however, is Charlotte Flair’s booking. She has reached the point of main event status that anything outside of the title scene is obsolete or predictable, yet we are all sick and tired of seeing her near titles. I just find it a bit obnoxious that she can magically return and get a title shot in the fashion that she did.
Don’t get me wrong, Charlotte Flair really is a great in-ring performer. But how much can they really push her to the top, and how can they keep her in circulation without the championship? She will add great quality to the match, but we must take it with a grain of salt considering how she got into the match in the first place. I think that if they can fix how saturated she is in the main event scene, they can do a lot with her to help her bring exposure to rising stars in the women’s division. She can be just the figure that the women’s division needs to give it more much needed star power.
I think it only makes sense for Asuka to retain the title here for me. She has only held the championship for 67 days at the time of this article being written, and it wouldn’t make a lot of sense for her to drop it now. Plus beating two of the best women’s workers in the company would add a lot of valor to her current reign. A cash-in could be on the radar, but I wouldn’t bank on it.
Prediction: Asuka retains the Women’s Championship
WWE World Heavyweight Championship: Seth Rollins(c) vs. Finn Balor
Seven years in the making. This entire feud has been built on Rollins trying to “get that version of Finn Balor back.” Balor beat Rollins in the inaugural Universal Championship at this very show back in 2016. Unfortunately, a buckle bomb on the barricade on the outside would injure Balor, and he was forced to vacate the title the very night after. Balor has almost hated himself since then, and wants to get his revenge on Rollins and claim world championship gold for the first time since that very night.
This feud came very out of the blue at first, but it has grown on me to such an incredible extent, pulling things from the past that make a lot of sense to create a captivating story now.
Despite the poor production of the ending to their match at Money in the Bank, I still have incredibly high hopes for this match. Both men are very well-rounded and have such great chemistry together, as long as they make the finish a good one, the sky’s the limit.
Which brings me to the fact of how there is so much intrigue to this match because of the sheer amount of outcomes we could see. Will Priest get overzealous and try to cash in, and would he succeed or fail in trying to cash in? Could Finn Balor win the belt and finally relieve that pain of self-doubt he has felt so close to his heart for so long? Could Priest cash in to show that he could do what Balor never could, triggering a struggle of power within the Judgment Day? Could Rollins retain and Balor could go even more over the edge than before?
Having so many possibilities gives us fans something to look forward to before, during, and after this match. But for me, I think Balor HAS to win this match. Finn Balor has lost too many important matches in recent memory, most recently losing to Edge inside Hell in a Cell at Wrestlemania. I will confidently say that Finn is at the peak of his heel character since his days with the Bullet Club in New Japan. Not to mention the rest of the Judgment Day are reaching full capacity, why stop there? I think they could drag on a story of Damian’s teasing of a cash-in with Finn holding the title and eventually have the two face off, but with just how good this group is doing now is not the time. Balor and Priest are both flourishing as monster heels and it would not be wise to turn them against each other now. Nonetheless, I reckon that Finn Balor will be your new World Heavyweight Champion.
Prediction: Finn Balor becomes the new World Heavyweight Champion
Brock Lesnar vs. Cody Rhodes
The culmination of a trilogy of matches throughout a span of four months will all be on the line between these two. A feud started out of completely thin air has boiled over for a third match as Rhodes and Lesnar both have one match apiece. A big piece of criticism behind this feud many people share is, “Why did Brock Lesnar attack Cody Rhodes in the first place?” To which I would reply – he’s Brock Lesnar.
The Beast Incarnate has built a reputation for being a destruction-seeking monster that just kind of annihilates anyone he feels like annihilating, and he really doesn’t need any further advisory. It all started after Wrestlemania, Cody Rhodes was set to have a tag team match with Roman Reigns and Solo Sikoa, with his partner being Lesnar. As the main event came around, Lesnar would attack Rhodes and from there, they feuded.
Rhodes would get what many would consider a “lucky win” over Lesnar at Wrestlemania Backlash in Puerto Rico. Lesnar would attack Rhodes in his triple threat for a chance to fight for the World Heavyweight Championship, and Lesnar would even the scoresheet with a win over Rhodes at Night of Champions. Now it comes down to this.
Although it is tough to book feuds like these with a part-timer like Lesnar, one thing Lesnar can unconditionally bring to the table is intensity. This feud is intense, and there’s no denying that. Cody will go over in a short but brutal match and float around the upper midcard for a little while longer before being pushed back up into title contention.
Prediction: Cody Rhodes
Tribal Combat – Undisputed WWE Universal Championship: Roman Reigns(c) vs. Jey Uso
Well, here it is. A story three years in the making comes down to one of the most highly anticipated blowoff matches in the history of professional wrestling. Roman Reigns has held the Universal Championship for a whopping 1,067 total days and counting. Jey Uso has been the consistent right hand man for Roman Reigns throughout his entire tenure as the Tribal Chief. After the breakup of the historic Bloodline faction, The Usos would defeat Roman Reigns and Solo Sikoa in the proclaimed “Bloodline Civil War.” Jey Uso would pin Roman Reigns for the first time since December of 2019 after being dealt quite the beating. Incredibly, Jey Uso was also the first person to pin Roman Reigns in his entire career during his time with The Shield.
I could write an entire book on how great this storyline is, but I’ll keep it simple – I have never in my entire life been invested in a television storyline as much as I have here. The storytelling, the passion, the cross between kayfabe and reality, and most important of all the match quality. Originally I had many grievances about Roman Reigns retaining at this year’s Wrestlemania, but the more this story progresses it makes me realize that it was the right decision at the end of the day.
I have no doubt that this match will deliver. Although I think The Bloodline story will be far from over at the end of this match, it still closes a pivotal chapter in this feud. Additionally, the Tribal Combat stipulation will give the match its own unique feeling to it, but also add dimensions to what could happen. Will Jimmy Uso have his brother’s back? How will Solo Sikoa involve himself? Will there be any unexpected betrayals? This match will answer a lot of our questions and open another door for the possibilities of The Bloodline.
Now, do I think Jey Uso could logically beat Roman Reigns? Yes. Roman may be a superhuman among men in the grand scheme of things, but Jey Uso knows him more than any other wrestler. He knows how to beat him, his weaknesses, and the limits he will have to break to have a chance. But should Jey Uso be the one to beat Roman Reigns? No. I think Jey Uso has great potential as a singles competitor, but I can’t say he should be the one to end this historic reign. Whoever beats Roman Reigns needs to have what it takes to be the face of the company, and I don’t think Jey Uso has the main event material feel to him to make a title run worthwhile.
Similar to Kofi Kingston’s reign, Jey is a fantastic worker and a win from him would be a feel-good moment, but he lacks a main event status needed to follow up a nearly three year-long run. For example, if Jey Uso were to go up against the likes of Seth Rollins, Gunther, AJ Styles, or others of that prestige level, he just doesn’t have the feel of someone who could beat someone in that position. I would fear his title reign would run dry due to a lack of reasonable opponents. Despite putting on a performance of a lifetime, Jey will fall short, with or without interference.
Prediction: Roman Reigns retains the Undisputed Universal Championship
Overall, this Premium Live Event has my full confidence to be something special, and lets hope they deliver!
