The 29th SummerSlam may be the WWE’s biggest one yet.
The annual event features a star-studded card with every belt on “Raw” and “Smackdown” on the line. Will Dean Ambrose retain the WWE World Championship over Dolph Ziggler? Can Seth Rollins overcome recent NXT callup Finn Balor to win the newly named WWE Universal title? And who’s better: The Beast Incarnate Brock Lesnar or The Viper Randy Orton?
The Denver Postap pro wrestling nerds Joe Nguyen and Hugh Johnson break down who they believes should and will win at SummerSlam on Sunday in New York.
Listen to Johnson and Nguyen break down their :
The preshow
Sami Zayn and Neville vs. The Dudley Boyz
Tag team match
Who should win
Hugh: Dudleys. Is it just me or are the Dudleys a bit too low on the card? For a team of their caliber, I’d expect to see them in more high profile feuds. But I digress. The Dudleys could use a signature win at a Big Four pay-per-view.
Joe: Zayn and Neville. It’s a preshow match and both Zayn and Neville are destined for bigger and better things than just a tag match. Unless Neville turns to set up a feud with Zayn, I can’t see any reason why the two babyfaces should lose.
Who will win
Hugh: Zayn and Neville. The team of Sami Zayn and Neville is an interesting pairing. I expect a returning Neville will be impressive.
Joe: Zayn and Neville. Dudleys aren’t winning.
American Alpha (Jason Jordan and Chad Gable), The Hype Bros (Zack Ryder and Mojo Rawley) and The Usos (Jimmy and Jey Uso) vs. Breezango (Fandango and Tyler Breeze), The Ascension (Konnor and Viktor) and The Vaudevillains (Aiden English and Simon Gotch)
12-man tag team match
Who should win
Hugh: American Alpha and friends. While I would love to see the Vaudevillains get a big win here, I’m really a fan of how much energy American Alpha brings to the ring and to the tag team division. The WWE should feed them more.
Joe: Breezango and Co. The WWE’s biggest tag teams — The New Day, The Club, Enzo and Cass — are all on “Raw.” This is all “Smackdown” roster has to offer. While American Alpha have been impressive in the early going, there’s a lack of competition for them. A victory by the heel squad would stimulate competition in the division for the Tuesday show. A belt would help, too…
Who will win
Hugh: American Alpha and friends. First, let me say that I love this rebuilt tag team division. American Alpha has all the momentum right now and I don’t seem them slowing their roll any time soon.
Joe: AA and friends. I don’t see anything outside of a pin by Gable.
Main card
Carmella, Becky Lynch and Naomi vs. Natalya and Alexa Bliss
2-on-3 handicap match
Who should win
Joe: Carmella, Lynch and Naomi. It’ll be interesting to see who comes in to replace Eva Marie on Natalya and Bliss’ team — Nikki Bella has been rumored to be cleared by doctors to return. Bayley’s main roster move would be interesting in this spot, but it doesn’t fit her character. Regardless, I can’t see Carmella, Lynch and Naomi losing.
Who will win
Joe: Carmella, Lynch and Naomi.
Cesaro vs. Sheamus
Singles match
First in a best-of-seven series
Who should win
Hugh: Cesaro. Being that this is the first match of seven, getting the pin here isn’t as important for each superstar but for Summerslam itself. A Cesaro win will energize the crowd at the Barclays center.
Joe: Cesaro. He’s one of the most entertaining performers the WWE has inside the ring. This series will probably run all the way to a seventh match, but Cesaro deserves the victory at WWE’s second biggest stage.
Who will win
Hugh: Cesaro. The Swiss Superman should get the win here. Itap a big four PPV and we should see a classic face win here.
Joe: Cesaro. What Hugh said.
Rusev (c) vs. Roman Reigns
WWE U.S. Championship
Singles match
Who should win
Joe: Rusev. Since his loss to John Cena at WrestleMania 31, Rusev has gone from monster heel to another body stuck on the upper mid-card. A win — especially a win over Roman Reigns at a Big Four PPV — will help re-establish him as a dominate bad guy once again.
Hugh: Rusev. The Bulgarian Brute can be a big heel force in the WWE. He just needs to win feuds. A victory over Reigns could be a staple in Rusev’s current title run and make him a legitimate top heel in the company once again.
Who will win
Joe: Rusev. Reigns has been on a cold streak for some time, and it’s not necessarily a bad thing, especially with his less-than-stellar reaction from the fans. A mid-card run would do him good — he’s solid in the ring and he’s slowly improving on the mic. He’ll be back, but on this day, he’s just another steppingstone for Rusev.
Hugh: Rusev. The sacking of the Roman Empire will continue. Ever since Roman Reigns was suspended for violating the WWE’s wellness policy, “the guy’s” stock has plummeted in WWE. Don’t worry, Reigns fans, Roman will make his way back to the top but Sunday will be Rusev’s day.
The Miz (c) vs. Apollo Crews
WWE Intercontinental Championship
Singles match
Who should win
Hugh: Crews. This big guy does things in the ring that are reminiscent of a cruiserweight. His matches have been great. Itap time to see what he can do with the IC title.
Joe: Miz. I like Crews, but it’s not his time. Not yet. He’s good inside the ring, but his character is lacking. A longer feud with The Miz would help polish his character. Miz should win this fight with outside interference from Maryse.
Who will win
Hugh: Crews. I think this will be the big title change of the night. I think WWE is all in on former NXT superstars (more on that later) and Apollo Crews is simply incredible in the ring.
Joe: Crews. As the company did with Kalisto a while back, the WWE will pull the trigger and put this title on Crews.
Sasha Banks (c) vs. Charlotte
WWE Women’s Championship
Singles match
Who should win
Hugh: Banks. I don’t understand why they had Sasha win the title on Raw. Itap a pay-per-view moment. Nevertheless, Charlotte’s time as Divas and Women’s champion put the title back on everyone’s radar. Itap now Banks’ turn to continue that momentum.
Joe: Banks. I agree with Hugh — SummerSlam should have been Banks’ moment. But now that she has it, she deserves a good run with it.
Who will win
Hugh: Banks. I don’t see “The Boss” losing her title so soon after her victory over Charlotte on Raw a few weeks ago.
Joe: Banks.
Enzo Amore and Big Cass vs. Jeri-KO (Chris Jericho and Kevins Owens)
Tag team match
Who should win
Hugh: Enzo and Big Cass. Enzo and Cass can control the crowd like no one else. In all seriousness, I haven’t seen anyone captivate the fans like Enzo and Cass since The Rock. WWE will keep that momentum
Who will win
Hugh: Jeri-KO. Call it a wild hunch but this is the perfect match for WWE to throw us a curveball and have Chris Jericho and Kevin get the win here.
John Cena vs AJ Styles
Singles match
Who should win
Hugh: John Cena. WARNING: Cena mark rant incoming. Letap be real. Not since the infamous Team WWE vs. Team Nexus match in 2010 has John Cena been victorious at the biggest show of the summer. He spent the following two years losing to CM Punk. Then Daniel Bryan laid him out with the knee seen round the world (okay Randy Orton cashed in MITB moments later but still). Then Cena became the first resident of Suplex City before it was even founded, and finally, Jon Stewart, one of the great comedic geniuses of our time, cost Cena the title in last year’s bout against Seth Rollins. I know Nexus should have won that match but to lose six years (including Styles) in a row after that is rough.
Joe: Styles. He has been in three high-profile feuds since joining the WWE and has lost the previous two — one to Chris Jericho and the other to Roman Reigns. Third time’s the charm. Styles is — full pun intended — phenomenal in the ring. It’s time to let him shine. Plus, Cena’s reality show “American Grit” was renewed for a second season, so it’s a good bet that the WWE’s golden boy will be on hiatus again in the near future.
Who will win
Hugh: Styles. Styles wins his first feud in the WWE and itap a big one at that. Cena has put over newer talent at Summerslam lately so don’t be surprised if he does that again.
Joe: Styles.
The New Day (c) vs. The Club
WWE Tag Team Championship
Who should win
Hugh: The Club. All good things must come to an end and as much as I’ve loved the incredible run of Xavier Woods, Kofi Kingston and Big E Langston, itap time for another team to hold tag team gold. Gallows and Anderson have become one of “Raw’s” most entertaining and dominant heel tag teams. I’m excited to see what they can do with the titles.
Joe: The Club. The New Day won the tag team titles at SummerSlam 2015 and have since gone on a record-breaking reign that’s lasted nearly a year. It’s been a magical run, but it’s time to move the titles on. This should be a good day for former Bullet Club members (some foreshadowing perhaps?).
Who will win
Hugh: The Club. Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson will do what countless others have failed to do in the past year and thatap pry the tag titles away from the dominant New Day.
Joe: The Club.
Dolph Ziggler vs. Dean Ambrose
WWE World Championship
Singles match
Who should win
Hugh: Ambrose. If you listen to the podcast you know I’m not Dolph Ziggler’s biggest fan. That said, I do like where he’s headed. The Zig Zag was always a weak finisher to me and I love that they have replaced it with the superkick. But itap not time for the WWE to invest in Ziggler just yet. When he finally gets the title again it should be for a good, long run. I don’t know if that can happen with Ziggler winning the title at Summerslam.
Joe: Ambrose. As much as I’ve enjoyed Ziggler’s run of late, the title feels right on Ambrose. He carries himself like a champion and is deserving of a long run with it around his waist.
Who will win:
Hugh: Ambrose. The “Lunatic Fringe” will overcome a ferocious and valiant effort by the scrappy Dolph Ziggler to retain his WWE World Heavyweight Championship.
Joe: Ambrose.
Finn Balor vs. Seth Rollins
WWE Universal Championship
Singles match
Who should win
Hugh: Balor. In wanting to avoid change I was tempted to put Seth Rollins down for who should be the winner. But that would be more of the same and it seems that WWE has finally figured out a reliable way to develop talented in-ring competitors into bona-fide superstars who will not flop, nor merely survive but thrive on the main roster. A move of this caliber represents the WWE’s ultimate faith in NXT as a developmental program. Itap to pull the trigger and give the belt to Finn Balor.
Joe: Balor. Since debuting on the main roster, the former NXT champion had a rocket strapped to his back and was shot to the top of the card. It doesn’t make much sense to put him this high and then have him lose. However, he may not win cleanly. Just saying, I have the rest of his former Bullet Club mates winning, too. This could be the start of a powerful new stable.
Who will win
Hugh: Finn Balor. This is a big move for WWE but I mentioned earlier that the company seems to be all in on NXT. This would mark the first time an NXT superstar jumped straight from the top of NXT to the top of WWE (on its flagship show no less). Anyway you slice it, itap a huge move for WWE that will fundamentally change the way the business operates.
Joe: Balor.
Brock Lesnar vs. Randy Orton
Singles match
Who should win
Hugh: Lesnar. I know, We’re nearing the time when Brock Lesnar’s dominant run should come to an end, but it shouldn’t end here. Brock Lesnar has become the Undertaker in a way as whoever beats him will get a giant infusion of momentum. That person need not be Randy Orton who is well established and has little more to accomplish in this business. Give it someone established but also someone who can use the win to reach new heights. Guys like Sheamus and Cesaro come to mind as superstars who could use a big win over Lesnar. Orton will be cool no matter what happens. His RKO Outta Nowhere gimmick will carry him to success.
Joe: Orton. I know, I know — whoever finally conquers the Beast Incarnate will be imbued with his powers. Orton, who’s been out with injuries, would instantly be propelled to the top of the card. And he’s a full-timer, unlike Lesnar. One huge run with the Viper could be entertaining.
Who will win
Hugh: Lesnar. Viperville will remain vacant as the “Beast Incarnate….BRRRROCK LESNAR” coasts to another victory.
Joe: Lesnar. Suplex City stays strong. Unless someone comes out to cost Lesnar the win. Like Heath Slater. Or who’s next?
