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SummerSlam is tonight. Here's our take on what will happen!
WWE Universal Championship – Fatal Four Way
Brock Lesnar vs. Samoa Joe vs. Roman Reigns vs. Braun Strowman
Dave: The time has come for WWE to FINALLY get something out of Brock Lesnar and all of the goodwill that they have put into his character since his return. Whether he stays or goes next year is immaterial. They need to get something out of him now. I know that they have done the "if he loses, he leaves" storyline but that was predicated on him losing his Title without being pinned. How do you get around that? You have him do the job. It will help the new Champion since he pinned the beast, and it will also give Brock a way to get out of Paul Heyman's statement that they would leave. So, who gets the win? Well, if they have Roman go over, the crowd will go insane, and not in a good way. He should not win here. Braun is over whether he wins or loses and is clearly in the top guy picture for the foreseeable future. The one guy who could get a huge rub out of the pin is also the guy that deserves it, Samoa Joe. I don't know that Vince McMahon will see it my way, but it's clear to me it's the best way to go. Three top guys go into the match, four top guys emerge from it.
Mike: Brock is advertised for Raw and other events, so he ain't leaving. I think he's going to retain in some crazy disputed fashion.
Richard: I agree with Dave that Brock should lose the title in this match. If Brock loses without being involved in the finish, they can hype Raw with 'Are Brock and Paul leaving?' Then they have Paul come out and say they are leaving, but Kurt tells him that Brock has one more match, his rematch against Braun Strowman at the next pay per view. As Andrew says on the Preview Audio, they hammered it over our heads that it is going to be Braun and Brock. I would like to see Joe get the win after having to face Brock on the house show loops, but I think the visual of Brock looking up at Braun will mean more for the people in the back.
WWE Championship
Jinder Mahal vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
Dave: People went nuts when Baron Corbin cashed in MITB on Tuesday. I didn't because I saw a chance to make something special out of it. Without the briefcase out there, fans won't be waiting for Corbin to run out during this match. That means it's man vs. men. I really like Jinder and think he has a lot to offer, but they have blown his push. When it takes four people to beat a one-armed Randy Orton, in the champ's own match no less, it just doesn't get him over. So, crown the new messiah here. Shinsuke Nakamura wins the belt.
Mike: I think everyone expects a title change here given the way Mahal has been underutilized while champion. He's hardly been given the chance to look strong. I am going with the flow. New champ.
Richard: Even with Jinder's lackluster run as champion, has Nakamura done enough to get the casual fan who might not know of his work before the call up from NXT to believe that he can carry the brand? I think we will see the Singhs interfere to help Mahal retain. Then they can set up a rematch at the next Smackdown pay per view . . . HELL IN A CELL. This match will not have to deliver a blow away match with the other main title match on the show.
Raw Women’s Championship
Alexa Bliss vs. Sasha Banks
Dave: I love Alexa Bliss, I really do. Sasha's awesome as well, but Alexa is just something really special. With that said, I could definitely see Sasha winning it here and dedicating it to Bayley. I expect this to be really good.
Mike: This should be awesome. I don't think there needs to be a title change but I am fine with it if there is. The work here should be really great, as long as they are given time.
Richard: I was worried when Alexa was moved to Raw because she had crafted such a great character on Smackdown (and Talking Smack) and I think some of my fears were realized with the way Alexa has been portrayed in her promo segments. I think this will be the better of the two women's title matches and I think this will be the one where the champion is the same at the end of the night. Alexa finds a way to win and maybe have Bayley get involved to play into the loss and tease the break up between Bayley and Sasha.
Smackdown Women’s Championship
Naomi vs. Natalya
Dave: I am happy to see Natty in this spot. She is a great veteran and deserves it. I think she is in there to help the development of Naomi and I expect she will do that here. My hope is that if Naomi wins, her next challenge comes from Asuka. Asuka is so good she deserves to be on the main roster.
Mike: I'd like to see Natalya walk out the winner here but I really expect a Carmella cash-in and that she will be the one leaving with the belt.
Richard: I think we will see a new champion by the end of the night, however, I do not think it will be Natalya. I think Naomi retains and then Natalya snaps about how she blew her chance to be champion again so she puts Naomi in the Sharpshooter. As Natalya walks to the back, we hear Carmella's music play and she sashays her way to the ring with James Ellsworth and the briefcase. Carmella does what Baron Corbin could not do on Smackdown and she successfully cashes in the briefcase to become the new Smackdown Women's Champion. Then the Princess of Staten Island can have her victory celebration in Brooklyn (hopefully with Enzo still hanging above the ring in the shark cage)
WWE United States Championship
AJ Styles vs. Kevin Owens, Shane McMahon as the referee
Dave: This Title flips a lot between these two but I see Styles winning here and Owens' issues with Shano Mac escalating, leading to them fighting next month.
Mike: We have heard the plan here is to build to Shane vs. Owens in a program heading into the Hell in A Cell PPV, so my guess is Shane lays out Owens after he does something underhanded and Styles walks out with the belt.
Richard: I expect a good match from Styles and Owens, but the one thing that I feel needs to happen in this match is that Shane needs to do the Shane-O Shuffle before going down to the mat to make the count. Andrew made a good point about the expectations that people have had for Styles and Owens and that they have not necessarily reached that level. I think they will over deliver in this match because of those expectations not being met. AJ should retain and then Kevin gets pissed off at Shane for not doing enough to allow Kevin to be champion again. If this is going to lead to a match, don't make their first match inside Hell in a Cell.
Raw Tag Team Championship
Cesaro and Sheamus vs. Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins
Dave: What is the point of putting these two back together if they don't win? I love Cesaro and Sheamus as a team. They have gotten so good, but what makes sense here is to have The Shield, after a few "are they on the same page" spots, take the Titles.
Mike: No way there isn't a title change here.
Richard: If we get new tag team champions, Sheamus and Cesaro are the ones to blame for this match happening. If they hadn't come out while Dean and Seth were killing each other, Seth and Dean would not have fought together and Kurt would not have made this match. Since there is still some tension between Dean and Seth, it would follow the 'singles wrestlers who do not get along team up and win the titles' theory WWE loves so much. And it would be fitting that the champs were thrown together by Mick Foley after last year's Best of Seven Series. I think Seth and Dean win the titles on Sunday night.
Smackdown Tag Team Championship
The Usos vs. The New Day
Dave: The Usos have been great since their heel turn and no matter what happens here, this feud should continue. I could see New Day eke out a win and Use and Use then destroy one of the Day members.
Mike: This should be a lot of fun. The teams have a great chemistry and history. I don't think it matters who wins here, but I can see New Day walking out with the belts.
Richard: Unless they are going to put Breezango or The Ascension into the title picture, this is your Smackdown Tag Team Division. The turn has worked for the Usos, even if I am not in love with their promos. I don't think changing both tag titles is a bad thing.
WWE Cruiserweight Championship
Akira Tozawa vs. Neville
Dave: These two are both awesome, both in the ring and with their characters. I usually don't like Titles flipping too soon but the story is in place for Neville to lose his mind after missing The Red Arrow and costing himself his belt and he just goes nuts here. Maybe he wins the Title back, or maybe he destroys Tozawa. Either way, this feud must continue.
Mike: I am with Dave, but I see a title change here. Neville is the type of guy you can build the 205 show around. I love Tozawa but don't see them giving him that same opportunity.
Richard: If they were going to do the title change regardless of when the match happened, why not have it happen in front of more than 3 million people instead of on the Network (even if I would have rather seen it happen on 205 Live). Neville has been one of the best characters in 2017 and, as Andrew points out, Tozawa has been able to make people care about Titus. Psycho Neville might be a good thing for 205 Live (unless he turns into a male version of Laurel Van Ness and forgets to shower or change clothes).
John Cena vs. Baron Corbin
Dave: I talked about Corbin above. The only way to make him not look like a dope for wasting his cash in is for him to beat Cena here, and it should be him winning, not a luck thing. Cena is moving on to Raw so he can put Corbin over here and help the kid while moving on to Mondays. Will it happen? Well, all I can tell you is that it should.
Mike: Corbin needs to get the win here by crushing Cena with the End of Days and smashing him in a pulp. John's role should be to have competitive matches that make people care about up and coming talents like Corbin and then put them over. I can see him doing it here. If Cena wins, they will have really put Corbin in a bad slot.
Richard: Two of the three men who have not been able to cash in face off a few days after Corbin joined Cena and Sandow (who lost to Cena) as MITB Cash In Losers. Corbin should win, but I don't think he will.
Randy Orton vs. Rusev
Dave: Rusev came back and lost to John Cena last month. One armed Orton should have beaten Jinder in the prison and did beat him non-Title. If Orton doesn't win here, there is no point at all to his last few months of booking.
Mike: What is the point of this one? RKO 1-2-3. Rusev has been floating aimlessly since his return and is just here to be fodder for Randy. By the way, so great to see WWE built off that, ahem, awesome Orton vs. Brock finish last year.....
Richard: This match has been put together almost as well as the Gargano/Almas match on Takeover. Someone wanted a match and the other person said 'sure'. Andrew wondered why this match wasn't on the Kickoff Show and I don't disagree with him. Rusev should win, but he will take an RKO out of nowhere and Orton wins. If Lana is not out there, I would not be surprised if there aren't 'We Want Lana' chants during the match.
The Demon Finn Balor vs. Bray Wyatt
Dave: The Demon should only come out when Balor is going to win, at least in a match against a non-top guy. Bray got the win on Monday, Finn gets the win here.
Mike: I am with Dave. To me, WWE has taken the slow road with Finn to make sure he is ready to go. It seems to me that he's ready to go. Finn told me last night at the WWE 2K18 media launch that he is ready to go. I expect this will be Balor's win and his way to put the last year to rest and in the past. I expect this to be a lot of fun.
Richard: If they wanted to have Balor bring the Demon out at Summerslam, why not have it in a match that matters? All I want in this match is to have Wyatt do his lean back in the corner spot and Balor kicks Wyatt in the head. The Eater of Feuds continues to languish as Balor wins and moves on to maybe do something significant on Raw as he tries to get back his Universal Title.
Big Show vs. Big Cass
Dave: First off, I have a ton of respect for Show. He has gotten into great shape but more importantly is an awesome veteran who is helping a young guy gets elevated. That is what a profession does. And after his hand got "broken" on Monday, taking away his finisher, I see him being the pro again here and putting over Cass. No other finish makes sense.
Mike: I hate this entire deal. Cass is supposed to be the big heel on the rise but has been KO'd twice. Enzo as a babyface in the cage makes no sense. The one thing they did right was have Cass and company injure Show's handl so they have a story to tell in the match and giveShow some sympathy from the audience. I don't know that this will be a make it or break it for Cass but by my gut says he gets the win here.
Richard: This match will be 'big', but Andrew threw out a good theory that this match doesn't necessarily happen and it is Cass attacking Show in the back. You can listen to the preview audio on Sunday to hear some of my theories for what to do with Enzo. Cass should win and Show will do what is best for Cass' future.
The Hardy Boyz and Jason Jordan vs. The Miztourage
Dave: I like the idea of putting the Hardys with Jordan. He hasn't exactly gotten over like gangbusters since becoming Kurt Angle's son. The Hardys should help him there. I see Jordan pinning Miz here to lead to a Title program between the two.
Mike: I agree with Dave. Jordan has been dying on the vine and needs the rub. I expect that Jordan will get the pin here to set up a Miz title challenge as well. This one should be a lot of fun.
Richard: Miz is so justified with his comments since he is the only champion on Raw or Smackdown who is not defending his title. I also feel bad for the Hardys since they would have had a match against The Revival if Scott had not gotten injured. This does get Curtis and Bo on the pay per view (well, the Kickoff Show) while there are so many others who deserve to be on the pay per view or Kickoff show but are not used because they need to get the 'top[ish]' guys on the show. I agree with Dave and Jordan pins Miz. Then we get the title match on Monday and Miz gets his revenge.
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