WWE Summerslam 2016 Rapid Fire Predictions
On August 21st, 2016 WWE will present the 29th Edition of the its flagship event Summerslam. At the time of this writing, we are under an hour away from the start of the main card. Here are the matches and a quick explanation of who wins and why:
Kickoff Show
The Usos, Mojo Rawley, Zack Ryder & American Alpha vs. Fandango, Tyler Breeze, The Ascension & The Vaudevillains
Winners: The Usos, Hype Bros and American Alpha
Analysis: This is a relatively cold match to get wrestlers on the card. The babyfaces have been positioned with more momentum in recent weeks and I can’t in good conscience pick a team that has the Ascension on it to win anything.
Kickoff Show
Sami Zayn & Neville vs. The Dudley Boyz
Winners: Zayn and Neville
Analysis: Zayn and Neville win because the Dudleyz are in the role where they win enough to be credible but will drop a match at Summerslam as the WWE continues build this New Era.
Kickoff Show
(Best Of 7 Series – Match #1)
Cesaro vs. Sheamus
Analysis: This program is built and designed to move Caesaro up the card. Caesaro and Sheamus will likely go seven hard hitting, violent and brutal matches. Caesaro will open the series with a pin fall victory.
Enzo and Big Cass vs. Chris Jericho and Kevin Owens
Winner: Enzo and Big Cass
Analysis: Enzo and Big Cass are from the New York area and I doubt that the homers drop a big match in their hometown to a team that’s not a traditional team. KO and Jericho are two of the the best heels in the company and a loss would not hurt them- they are a heels- a loss will strengthen their cause as they move forward.
Carmella, Becky Lynch & Naomi vs. Natalya, Alexa Bliss & ???
Winners: Natalya, Bliss and the mystery partner.
Analysis: Natalya, Bliss and the mystery partner win here because the babyfaces are at a natural disadvantage. This six-woman tag match was supposed to feature Eva Marie but real life managed to work into her gimmick of a delayed debut as she recently failed a drug test and is legitimately serving a 30 day suspension. The heel team can picks up the win here.
Intercontinental Championship
The Miz © vs. Apollo Crews
Analysis: Apollo Crews is not ready to be the champion. He’s athletic and talented but The Miz is the best fit as champion. The Miz wins and probably cheats to do so. It doesn’t matter how it happens The Miz should leave with the title.
WWE Tag Team Championship
The New Day © vs. Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson
Winner: Gallows and Anderson
Analysis: The New Day have had an amazing run as the tag team champions. They got a gimmick they wasn’t initially well received,they got it over, won the belts, became stars and got a cereal to boot. With Big E being unable to compete, the table is set for the incumbent champions to lose and they will do so to the team and Gallows and Anderson.
Gallows and Anderson were hot free agents that came in from New Japan Pro Wrestling and after being initially being paired with AJ Styles on Raw they were split after the Brand Extension and now Gallows and Anderson will be established as instant stars on a different level when they beat the longest reigning tag team champions. The challengers will win clean with the Magic Killer.
U.S. Championship
Rusev © vs. Roman Reigns
Analysis: Roman Reigns was aggressively pushed in the WWE for the better part of the last two years to the chagrin of of the audience. After winning in the main event of the largest Wrestlemania ever Reigns failed a drug test and was subsequently suspended. Failure to connect with the audience and a drug test failure has caused WWE to deemphasize Reigns.
In the long run this recalibration may benefit Reigns. We have seen WWE superstars recover from punishments and get their career on track just ask Triple H who was in the dog house after the Curtain Call in 1996 to go on and become a star year later and build a legendary career.
Reigns road to redemption starts tonight by winning the United States championship. He pins Rusev after a spear.
WWE Women’s Championship
Sasha Bank$ © vs. Charlotte
Analysis: Sasha Banks title win on the July 25th episode of RAW was one of the biggest moments on the show and was a clear indication that the WWE was clearly embarking on a New Era. Bank$ is one of the most popular women on the roster and she is only three weeks into her run, I doubt they switch the title after three weeks.
WWE World Championship
Dean Ambrose © vs. Dolph Ziggler
Analysis: Ambrose is the champion and he will be for the foreseeable future. Ziggler is a talented wrestler but he is not a threat to Ambrose at this time. Ziggler is a transitional opponent for Ambrose while WWE ready other opponents for the champion.
Analysis: Cena is moving to a part time schedule due to outside commitments. AJ Styles is building his resume as a WWE Superstar after a great 14 year run around the world everywhere else. AJ will win and add a notch to his proverbial belt. Cena is an absolute pro and a loss will not hurt him and a win will win will help Styles. A Styles win makes the most sense.
Brock Lesnar vs. Randy Orton
Winner: Brock Lesnar
Analysis: Lesnar is an attraction when he appears. He won in dominating fashion against Mark Hunt at UFC 200 ( we won’t discuss USADA testing here). He’s about as real as it gets in the world of professional wrestling. I expect this to be a great bout but Orton can afford to lose and he can rebuild himself on TV weeks after losing, Lesnar as a result of his schedule isn’t afforded the same opportunity.
WWE Universal Championship
Finn Balor vs. Seth Rollins
Analysis: this match was the hardest to pick. You could pick either superstar and make a valid case for the winner. The WWE made Rollins the number one overall pick for a reason. This match will be the match of the night and they will wrestle each other again. Rollins will be the first Universal Champion in a Match of the Year candidate.
