What's happening peeps! For once, my post isn't about any deaths or anything morbid. Instead, it's an exciting time because it's time for the biggest event of the summer, Summerslam. This year's event will originate from Brooklyn, NY's Barclays Arena for the first time ever. For the past few years, Summerslam has been contested in California so moving to NY is a change, albeit not foreign. One of the best Summerslams ever was in MSG for Summerslam '91. This year's event has been marketed to be more like a summer version of Wrestlemania than ever before, and truthfully this is a card that somewhat reflects this concept and could actually be a fairly entertaining show. Here is the lineup and my predictions for each match.
Winner Takes All Match
WWE World Heavyweight Title vs. U.S. Heavyweight Title
John Cena (U.S. Champ) vs. Seth Rollins (World Champ)
This has the makings to be one hell of a match, but this match is currently up in the air. A couple of weeks ago, Rollins violently broke the nose of Cena on RAW, which resulted in emergency surgery for the former fifteen time World Champion. The grotesque injury has resulted in him being off television since the injury. As of this time, the match is still unknown due to no clearence from the doctor yet. IF the match occurs, I expect Cena to come away as a sixteen time World Champion and vacate the U.S. Title. However, stay tuned to see if the match still takes place.
Winner & new World Champ: John Cena
Return Grudge Match
Undertaker vs. Brock Lesnar
Since Wrestlemania XXX (30 that is), Taker has been hearing, like we all have, the constant barrage of Lesnar being "the one behind 21 and 1) from Paul Heyman, and now Taker has rightfully had enough. Since that awesome pull-apart brawl on RAW a couple of weeks ago, Taker and Lesnar haven't been in the same building, but that may change next Monday on RAW. This is billed as the main event, but here's to hoping this match will be better than the match they had at Wrestlemania. Taker looks as good as he's looked in years, and he's gonna have to be dealing with a red hot Lesnar. Taker may take a trip to "Suplex City", but I expect Lesnar to get taken to the "Tombstone" and come away with his first ever win over "The Beast Incarnate".
Winner: Undertaker
WWE Inter-Continental Title
Triple Threat Match
Ryback vs. The Miz vs. Big Show
This match was just announced, as Ryback was recently cleared to compete after a severe staff infection in his right knee. The match was originally set for last month's Battleground event, but was cancelled at the last minute due to the injury. Now this rivalry for the belt can finally happen, and although Ryback has gained good momentum as champion, I fully expect The Miz to come away with his third title, and continue to be the insanely egotistical star he is.
Winner & new champion: The Miz
Triple Threat Divas Elimination Match
Team Bella (Brie & Nikki Bella and Alicia Fox) vs. Team PCB (Paige, Charlotte, and Becky Lynch) vs. Team B.A.D. (Naomi, Tamina Snuka, and Sasha Banks)
There is a Diva revolution folks, and they're definitely taking the bull by the horns. Kudos to Stephanie McMahon for finally getting it, and realizing the potential the Divas division has. While Divas like Natalya have been off television being ambassadors for the company, the on camera talent has stepped their game up in spades. Steph brought up NXT women badasses Charlotte, Becky Lynch, and even the NXT Women Champion Sasha Banks to elevate the division. Since then, we've had fairly fantastic matches from them. Now it's time to see who's the best crew of the three. I'm personally a fan of Team PCB, but I see Team B.A.D. as the new, female version of The Shield, but somehow I see Team Bella going out of this with the 'W', thus continuing their momentum.
Winners: Team Bella
WWE Tag Team Championship
Fatal Four Way Match
Lucha Dragons vs. Los Matadores vs. The New Day vs. Prime Time Players
Not really looking forward to this match truthfully because the tag division is back to suffering from sub-par talent. Actually, I should say sub-par booking. The Dragons are a great, lucha team with lots of exciting talent. Los Matadores (the gimmick) is a tired concept and needs to die. Primo & Epico were good enough without a gimmick, but these Puerto Rican bullfighters need to let it go. The New Day has grown to be very annoying heels and it's really getting over with the fans and they enjoy booing these guys. The PTPs have never enjoyed this kind of success, especially the dominance of Titus O' Neill. I peronally wouldn't be surprised if The New Day beciomes champions again and in fact that's what I'm predicting. Overall, it'll likely be a joke of a match.
Winners & new champions: The New Day
Family vs. Family
Roman Reigns & Dean Ambrose vs. The Wyatt Family
This will be a hell of a tag team match with four superb competitors. Reigns faced Bray Wyatt at Battleground but due to interference from Luke Harper, Wyatt picked up the win. It was revealed shortly afterwards that Harper had reunited with his "brother" and that spelled tons of trouble (damn, if only Erick Rowan hadn't injured his tricept, we would have a full-fledged reunion of the entire family). However, Reigns and Ambrose are Shield brothers and this rivalry between these four has been hard hitting. I predict The Wyatts to win this one, but definitely not in easy fashion whatsoever.
Winners: The Wyatt Family
Grudge Match
Neville & Steven Amell vs. Stardust & King Barrett
At last, Arrow actor Steven Amell is finally going forward with his feud with Stardust. Only now, they have backup in terms of Neville and Barrett. I'm not expecting a classic by any means, and might walk the lines of meaningless, but at least we see how physical this actor can be in the ring with Stardust and Barrett. I expect he and Neville to get the win.
Winners: Amell & Neville (billed as The Green Arrow and The Red Arrow)
If the Cena vs. Rollins match doesn't occur, there's word that it could be a triple threat match of Rollins, Orton, and Shaemus would be the replacement.Also, there are rumors of Cesaro vs. Kevin Owens, but Owens will also be a part of the NXT Takeover: Brooklyn special facing Finn Balor in a Ladder Match for the NXT Title. Stay tuned next week for the finalized card but these are the matches advertised thus far.
After the unfortunate debacle that was AAA Triplemania this past Sunday, wrestling needs a great follow-up show. I expect something very good from NXT but also from Summerslam. This year's Summerslam, overall, looks like an intriguing show, and I'm expecting good things from this show. I don't root for them very often compared to ROH events or even the NXT events, but I think this could be a pretty good one. Am I expecting something as epic as Lucha Underground's Ultima Lucha event, absolutely not. However, am I expecting something as all over the place as Triplemania XXIII? Not at all. This event will be right in the middle, and for a change, I hope it's a hit. Come back in two weeks for my review of the event. Until then, have a great two weeks!
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