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WWE will present SummerSlam this Saturday August 3 on Peacock and the WWE Network from Cleveland, Ohio. Here is our take on what will happen on Saturday.
Cody Rhodes vs. Solo Sikoa for the Undisputed WWE Championship
Dave: I see this as being the start of the war for control of The Bloodline. I see something like liberal interference from The Bloodline on Cody. Maybe Jimmy Uso comes out at some point. Maybe even Jey and/or Sami. But I think the seminal moment in the story happens when Roman Reigns returns. The shock of his return leads to Cody leaving with his belt. Just as importantly, it starts the war for control of the family, which given how it's been booked would be even more important to Roman and Solo than getting Cody's Title. It seems that the family is destined for War Games.
Mike: I don't see Solo getting the belt at this juncture, especially since we know Roman is going to have to come and make him answer for his crims against the Bloodline. They don't need the title for that but Cody does need the title for Orton and other challengers as we round our way back towards Wrestlemania season. I expect this to be a crazy brawl but in the end, Cody retains.
Richard: It has been a while when the main event of a PPV from WWE is more of a storyline than a wrestling match that has a definitive ending to a story. This might end the Cody/Solo story, but it will be the next chapter in the 403030 chapter book of The Bloodline. This will be 'Bloodline match template" with the ref bump, interference, and shenanigans. Will anyone help Cody or will he be on his own? (I discuss many scenarios on the preview audio but this is the one I am going to run with) After Solo is about to hit the Samoan Spike on Cody as the referee wakes up, Solo looks to the heavens, and then THE MUSIC PLAYS and Roman Reigns makes his way to the ring. While Solo crapped on Roman last week, he thinks Roman will help his blood get the title for him. However, Solo forgot that Paul said that Cody was off limits. Solo holds Cody and Roman Spears Solo and Cody gets the win. Roman fights off Tama and Tonga but does not get involved with Fatu. Then we start on the road to Tribal War Games in Vancouver with Solo, Tama, Tonga, and Fatu against Roman, Jey, Jimmy, and TBA. Then we have Roman kick off Smackdown.
Damian Priest vs. Gunther for the World Heavyweight Championship
Dave: Priest has slowly been turning to being a respectable character. A while back, he would tell The Judgement Day to stay in the back for his matches and they would come out when he needed them, and he would win. He was OK with it. Then he got serious about them staying in the back, culminating in the stip with Seth Rollins and subsequently being honorable after the match. Finn Balor has been dropping enough clues about him not appreciating Priest. I see this blowing up here and Priest loses the Title and then breaks away from the group, turning full babyface. Gunther then gets to headline in Germany as the champ.
Mike: I think this will be the end of the Priest run (for now) as Champion. He's already teeetering on a babyface turn and he probably could use it to push himself in a new direction with some momentum against Judgement Day and then round back to GUNTHER after. GUNTHER is great and the timing is right, but we'll see where they go. My gut says title change here.
Richard: The most important thing about this match is that THE drama surrounding THE Judgment Day doesn't bleed too much into the match. Gunther was the dominant IC champion and now it is time to see if he can be the dominant World Champion. Priest's title reign has not been the greatest because of the drama in the faction being the bigger story, but it isn't at Trick Williams levels. This match is about fighting to get your spot on top versus the guy who was handed everything to be great. (WE HAVE OUR ROCKY IV STORY) Priest will put up a valiant fight but Gunther will be too much. While Gumther does not need any help, I would not be surprised to see THE Judgment Day at ringside to lead to the tension I discuss in the Liv/Rhea match. Gunther wins and the Austrian gets to go almost home for the next PPV in Berlin as champion (and if they had booked him right, against Ilja Dragunov)
Liv Morgan versus Rhea Ripley for the Women's World Championship
Dave: Much like the previous match, I see Judgment Day business happening. It seems like Dom will turn on Rhea but if so they have to be careful how they do it. When the JD turned on Edge, it didn't make Edge a face. He was still a heel but the other heels didn't want any part of him. If they go down the road, Rhea needs to be a real babyface. I see Liv coming out of it with the Title and Rhea still chasing. Liv needs the belt to continuing building her character, which she has done a great job in doing.
Mike: This should be a ton of fun, but my feeling is Liv retains after somone turns to push Rhea officially into the babyface realm. Is it Finn or Dom? We will see, but Dom would be the most impactful.
Richard: This is a match that I think Rhea should win but based on the storyline Liv should retain. This will be more of.a storyline than a match to set up the B Level Civil War with THE Judgment Day. There are many ways they can go (and I talk about them on my preview audio) and this is where I think they will go. While I thought they would have Dom turn on Rhea and they prove the Liv/Dom segment was a ruse, I think they go with the alternate option of Liv manipulating the tag champs because she helped Finn and JD get the tag titles. I think Liv retains and Rhea beats the crap out of Liv after the match. Dom pulls Liv away from Rhea and then Finn attacks Dom and Liv gets in a few shots on Rhea before everyone gets separated. When the dust settles, Rhea and Dom work with Priest while Finn, JD, and Liv form their own union and Carlito sits in the waiting room with his apple. Maybe we also see Liv in a weakened position for Tiffany to cash in?
Bayley vs. Nia Jax for the WWE Women's Championship
Dave: Like the whole show really, there is drama here and that is Tiffany Stratton. What will she do? I would not be surprised at all if she walks away with the belt here, and that's what I would do. Nia could have Bayley in trouble and Tiffy urges her to destroy. Nia does and then Tiff wipes her "friend" out from behind, enters the match and leaves with the belt. Why do I expect this? If you have watched Tiffy since NXT, she's nobody's patsy. When Nia called her a Barbie Doll, I filed that one away for a reason for Nia to be turned on later. This could be the place. Will they do it? I don't know. If they don't they will probably have Bayley win and that will cause issues with Nia and Tiff.
Mike: I can see Tiffany walking out with the belt after a cash-in no matter what, but as far as the bout, I don't think Nia needs a title win and then a quiick loss. Having Bayley win a hard-fought match from underneath and then falling prey to Tiffany seems like a stronger story to me.
Richard: I am on the fence on this match. Bayley is the legacy of the current women's division, but is it time to go in a different direction on Saturday. To go a step further, do you do it with her opponent in the match or with the woman with the briefcase, who is the better long term option for the women's division. I don't think Bayley walks out of Cleveland with the title. While Tiffany might have a better chance against Bayley than Nia, I think Nia gets the win. Why doesn't Tiffany cash in against Liv?
Logan Paul vs. LA Knight for the United States Championship
Dave: I have been saying for a while now that it's getting late in the Knight run and he needs to finally win a big one. I do it right here. It makes sense from a business perspective and I think it's time to get the belt off of Paul anyway. He and his brother are making a lot of strong comments that half of the country will like and half will not. If I am HHH, I don't want to have one of my Titles on a guy who could bring me bad publicity. But more than that, it's just time for Knight to reach the mountain top.
Mike: LA Knight needs the win or he's going to hit a wall. He really need a strong milestone. Does WWE give it to him here or is he shifted into the mid-card for a bit? If I am WWE, I do want that belt off Logan Paul given how much stupidity is radiating off his social media at the moment, but that's just me. Paul is a hell of a hand and Knight is good so this should be solid, but it's Knight's moment, unless WWE decides to halt that mission.
Richard: LA Knight is in the most dangerous position on the show, as Mike and Dave talked about on No Name. HE HAS TO WIN THIS or he is done. Knight is over with the crowd and in WWE that is more important than in ring work. People often don't expect Logan to lose so a Knight win gives a refreshing look at the US Title division. While Logan is a mainstream draw, people might be sick of him. Knight needs to win with as little interference from Logan's sycophants and that it isn't a banana peel win.
Sami Zayn vs. Bron Breakker for the Intercontinental Championship
Dave: As I said above, you have to listen to what is said now that there is a great storyteller in charge. Bron made a point to mention he made a rookie mistake. That shows he is cognizant of his error and will address it and get the win here. When you look at how WWE has booked him and compare it to how AEW has booked Will Ospreay or Kazuchika Okada (at much higher salaries), it clearly points out how WWE gets it and AEW doesn't. Bron is money and it's time for him to get a belt. Sami is also a stud and if they go with The Bloodline story I see coming, Sami will already move on from the belt to the most important story that the company has. That's great booking so I expect it to happen.
Mike: I have to think this will be the Bron crowning moment so they can slide Sami towards The Bloodline story. I expect this to be a lot of fun.
Richard: Bron needs to learn from what cost him against Sami in Toronto to win this match. That means that he needs to stop going at 300 mph the entire match and build to the Warp Speed Murder Sequence. Maybe a family member can advise him. I would not be surprised to see Sami try to 'out Bron' Bron and try to get the quick victory with a Helluva Kick as the match starts. Bron will fight from behind and figure out a way to counter Sami and set up the Warp Spear and the victory. Sami can move to the tag titles with YEET.
CM Punk vs. Drew Mcintyre with Guest Referee Seth Rollins
Dave: As long as everyone stays healthy, the finish here will be largely insignificant. This is the first match between these two, the story is just getting started so nothing will be close to settled here. I think whoever comes out on top, it will be easily disputed leading to the next match. I will go with Seth does something that somehow leads to Punk winning. If all stay healthy, Drew still has every reason to chase Punk. If Punk gets hurt (and I don't think that will happen, but they have to be ready), they can move on to Drew vs. Seth.
Mike: Punk needs a big performance and to get out unhurt. Drew has been savage. Seth hates both. Lots of great potential here. I like the idea of Seth having to count the pinfall onn Punk "when he doesn't want to" after not seeing some sort of underhanded tactic from Drew. This should spark some really fun stuff for the fall.
Richard: The most important thing about this match is that everyone does not suffer an injury that keeps them out of the ring for any period of time. Seth has said that this match will be under AEW rules and we will see a few slow counts, fast counts, and Seth out of position. This is the next step to a potential Hell in a Cell match at Mania. Drew needs this win more than Punk and I think Seth 'screwing over' Punk more than Drew to set up the round Robin over the next PPVs.
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