411’s WWE Summerslam Preview (Part II)

411’s WWE Summerslam Preview (Part II)

~THE STAFF~
* 411 Columnist, Mr. Steve Cook.
* 411 Columnist, Mr. Mike Chin.
* 411 Contributor, Mr. Ken Hill.
* 411 Columnist, Mr. Justin Watry.
* 411 Contributor, Mr. Rob Stewart.
* 411 Contributor, Mr. Jake Chambers.

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT PART ONE

WWE Intercontinental Championship Match: Champion Dolph Ziggler vs. Seth Rollins

Rob Stewart: Boy, I wish Rollins were in the main event and not here. There’s nothing inherently wrong with this bout; I’m just not really enamored of it, either. It feels like in the last two months or so, we have seen it and variations on it far too many times. This one has Dean Ambrose in play, though, to even the odds. I agree with Steve Cook’s article from Thursday this week in that I don’t foresee a Dean heel turn HERE. I think Ambrose stays in Rollins’ corner and helps him win the title. They spend a few months working together… until the Lunatic Fringe gets tired of playing second fiddle to Rollins as a titleholder, and that’s when he attacks Seth. Play up some kind of “I came back, but all anyone cared about was YOU and your Intercontinental title!” jealousy for a simple formula and let them go to work. Not sure where that leaves Dolph and McIntyre aside from a few tag matches after SummerSlam before Dean’s villainy comes to fruition, but eh.

WINNER: Seth Rollins

Steve Cook: After a 30 minute Iron Man match last month marred by bored fans chanting for the clock, these two will only need one fall this time. I think the presence of Dean Ambrose gives Rollins an emotional edge.

WINNER: Seth Rollins

Mike Chin: While these two have been pretty great in the ring together, and Dean Ambrose coming back to second Seth Rollins offered a fun moment on Raw, it feels like time to move on from this issue. I’m going to go a little out on a limb for this one and pick the big swerve—Ambrose turns on Rollins, costing him the match and his last title opportunity so that they go on to their own feud, and Ziggler and Drew McIntyre head on to other things.

WINNER: Dolph Ziggler

Justin Watry: Logic says Dean Ambrose will help Seth Rollins regain the IC Title. Knock out Drew McIntyre at ringside and let the fans go wild from there. Simple, easy, and effective. Wonderful. I just wrote down Seth Rollins as my winner…but changed it to Dolph Ziggler. Why? Not a clue. Just a spur of the moment flip flop. Ambrose is not going to turn heel, so take that away. That can happen another time. I just think SOMETHING will happen to cause this mini-Shield reunion to fall apart. Jason Jordan?

WINNER: Dolph Ziggler

Ken Hill: While I’m hopeful Rollins and Ziggler can put together a great match with their established in-ring chemistry, the real intrigue of this match lies within the recently returned Dean Ambrose…WHOSE SIDE IS HE ON!…*ahem*. While Cook made some interesting points on Ambrose holding off on a heel turn until after SummerSlam, I’m more inclined to believe that Ambrose will in fact turn on Rollins this Sunday to cost him the championship. Why, you ask? Courtesy of Rollins’ recent South China Morning post interview…

“Not that I would wish injury on Ambrose at all, but that was something that lit a fire underneath me. It’s definitely been a blessing in disguise for my singles career.”

Even though Rollins covered the unintentional barb with a well-wish to his brethren, it would still be a blow to someone with an established fragile, unhinged psyche like Dean Ambrose, who was all kinds of hesitant to let Rollins back into his life after the abrupt betrayal 4 years ago. It wouldn’t be a big surprise with that in mind to see Ambrose swerve Rollins and cost him the title Seth has been so adamant about this year in terms of how it’s revitalized his singles career. Even if you put my theory aside, with Ambrose’s new haircut, bulked-up physique and being a leather jacket short of a dime-store replica of every Triple H return ever, it seems like relatively obvious foreshadowing of an impending Ambrose heel turn, and SummerSlam, where they reunited and reigned triumphant a year ago, is almost too perfect of a scenario to ignore.

WINNER: Dolph Ziggler

Jake Chambers: Here’s to hoping this one ends more like the first fall in their wimpy 30-minute “Tinfoil-man” match from last month (as in, it’s over in 5 minutes), and not like the last fall (as in, still going after 30 minutes). I can’t be the only person wishing WWE would move on from doing the same matches over and over, can I?

WINNER: Rollins, Loser = Always Dolph Ziggler, even if he wins he’s a loser!

WWE United States Championship Match: Champion Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Jeff Hardy

Rob Stewart: Randy’s not in this match? Huh. Seems weird. This build has been much more about him than it has been Nakamura. This seems like a placeholder until we get the Triple Threat match that I expected would be here. Nakamura retains, and this may well be another brief affair like their Extreme Rules match (maybe Randy RKO’s Jeff before the match or something?).

WINNER: Shinsuke Nakamura

Steve Cook: I loved their MITB match. We’ll get a longer one this time, but the result will remain the same.

WINNER: Shinsuke Nakamura

Mike Chin: Jeff Hardy is reportedly hurt, and WWE just moved the title from him to Shinsuke Nakamura. Barring Randy Orton complicating the issue, this ought to be the blow off between these two, at least for the time being, before Hardy takes some time away.

WINNER: Shinsuke Nakamura

Justin Watry: Two gifted performers. Two guys who could walk out with the United States Title. Champions usually retain, so that is the safe bet.

WINNER: Shinsuke Nakamura

Ken Hill: Once again, the intrigue of a match lies with an outside party, or at least it did until the recent controversy concerning Orton’s past interactions with reporters arose (I COULD do a rhyme with “Hey diddle diddle, Orton likes to fiddle…”, but that’s just too easy). I was really digging his involvement with both Hardy and Nakamura, decimating Jeff with the pretense of depriving the WWE Universe of its favorites to reestablish his street cred as a legend, as well as playing mind games with another master tactician in Nakamura. Sadly, it seems his involvement will be held to a minimum until this media hoopla blows over. In the meantime, Hardy and Nakamura have had a rivalry steadily building in intensity and action, and will hopefully have a proper payoff this Sunday. Whether Orton indeed plays a factor or not, I see Nakamura retaining over an ailing Hardy.

WINNER: Shinsuke Nakamura

Jake Chambers: WWE spends the entire month building Randy Orton into an awesomely cruel, jerky heel again, and THIS is the match we get out of it? I’m confused.

WINNER: Randy Orton?, Loser = Randy Orton too?

Smackdown Tag Team Championship Match: Champions The Bludgeon Brothers vs. The New Day

Rob Stewart: After Wrestlemania, I thought WWE was set on the Smackdown tag team title scene. The Bludgeons came in, destroyed everything, and almost effortlessly won the straps. All that was required–all they needed to do–was let these beast continue running roughshod over the entire roster and build a lengthy run as monster champs. Instead, they settled into the background. They appeared infrequently, and just didn’t seem like a big deal. It hasn’t been a failure of a reign, but it hasn’t been a force of nature making turn, either. Could New Day win here as some kind of reset by getting the belts back into hands the WWE trusts? It could happen. But I have to have faith that WWE can still salvage some star-making potential with the Bludgeons. I think they take this in a “safe” match on a big stage where no one who would be a fresh opponent to the BB’s has to take the L.

WINNER: The Bludgeon Brothers

Steve Cook: The only time fans have really cared about the Bludgeon reign was when Team Hell No was involved. Not a good sign. Getting them out of the way opens things up to teams like the Bar & Usos.

WINNER: New Day

Mike Chin: On one hand, The Bludgeon Brothers are running the risk of feeling a little stuck as dominant heel champs who’ve run roughshod over everyone, including Team Hell No, with few obvious challengers left. On the other hand, Harper and Rowan have already gotten the best of The New Day, and it feels problematic for New Day to beat them out of nowhere this time around.

WINNER: The Bludgeon Brothers

Justin Watry: If the tag division over on RAW is bad, then I don’t know what the word is to describe the blue brand. Sanity has done nothing. The Usos are locked up or something. The Bar must be out drinking, and The New Day are still the old day. That leaves us with Luke Harper and Erick Rowan. Reliable but not too exciting.

WINNER: Bludgeons

Ken Hill: This match stands out as one of the few that’s actually easy to call. While the New Day have racked together some impressive wins in recent weeks over The Bar and SAnitY, it stands to be little more than seasoning for Harper and Rowan’s latest buffet of bludgeoning come SummerSlam. While it would unbalance the heel and face tag ranks on Smackdown, I’d personally like to see The Bar turn face and make a run for 2B’s tag titles, perhaps with SAnitY thrown into the mix later on for some uppercutting, hard-hitting BIG BOI shenanigans.

WINNER: The Bludgeon Brothers

Jake Chambers: I literally have no thoughts on this match. I’ve been staring at the blank space beside this entry for days. I feel like I kind of remember the Bludges being part of another pointless throwaway Daniel Bryan match at the last PPV. I’m not even sure who will be competing for the New Day because they use that moronic “Freebird Rule” (which is still NOT a rule). That’s the extent of my thoughts on these two teams. Here’s a prediction, on Monday we’ll ALL have forgotten this match happened.

WINNER: The team that wins, Loser = The team that loses.

Smackdown Women’s Championship Match: Champion Carmella vs. Becky Lynch vs. Charlotte Flair

Rob Stewart: WWE is writing a narrative here, but it’s not the one the fans think they are reading. This match seems like the story of Becky Lynch. The Horsewoman who is the most beloved by the crowd all these years into their careers–the one who never seemed to really get out of the gate, but never felt stale of directionless, either–feels like the protagonist of this tale, having to overcome her friend and a conniving champ to get the belt. But I guarantee you that WWE sees this as Charlotte’s story. It’s her return from injury to reclaim a belt that was stolen from her, and she even has to get by her ally to get it. Am I being pessimistic? Maybe. But it really feels to me like WWE and the fans are on far different pages here. And when in doubt, I just assume Charlotte is going to win everything.

WINNER: Charlotte

Steve Cook: The story here should probably be Becky vs Charlotte, but Carmella has done a good job of generating heat & making everything about her. I think she takes advantage of dissention & retains the championship to the shock of the crowd.

WINNER: Carmella

Mike Chin: This is one of the more wide open title matches, with a case to be made for WWE having any three of the women involved walk out with the title. I’m going to go with, in some ways, the least obvious choice—Becky Lynch. Lynch has been on a roll and is more deserving of another title opportunity. Carmella’s reign feels pretty played out, and theorizing that Charlotte Flair was added to the match to add her star power, and cast more doubt on Lynch winning before she arrives at her big moment.

WINNER: Becky Lynch

Justin Watry: I was going to pick Becky Lynch over Carmella. Then Charlotte was added to the mix. I understand the move but not the timing. If we are getting a Charlotte/Becky feud for the Fall, then we could have easily got a start the week after Summerslam. Charlotte is a big star and deserves to be on the card obviously, but Randy Orton isn’t. Asuka isn’t. She can just as easily be on the Kickoff panel and announce her return that Tuesday or something. A triple threat battle will be fine. Just not as good as Becky getting her moment alone. Carmella squeaks by again. *sigh*

WINNER: Carmella

Ken Hill: I can’t honestly say I’m a fan of WWE throwing Charlotte into the mix here. I can understand wanting as much star power as possible and wanting to differentiate from the RAW Women’s Title match, but I would have much preferred to have Becky take the title from Carmella one-on-one, THEN move on into a seemingly friendly feud with Charlotte, who ultimately turns heel to snatch the title from her friend. It seems likely we’re going to get a condensed version of that at SummerSlam with Charlotte stealing a win from Becky anyway, but I’d just prefer they do the former to firmly push Carmella out of the title scene.

WINNER: Charlotte Flair

Jake Chambers: Still funny that with all the talk of “evolution” for the women’s division, the two main brand champions are the wrestlers that would have fit most perfectly during the Diva’s era. I except WWE will course correct this in the lead up to the #firstever all women’s PPV.

WINNER: Charlotte or Becky, Loser = WWE’s “looks first” policy (for now).

Raw Women’s Championship Match: Ronda Rousey vs. Champion Alexa Bliss

Rob Stewart: There’s a possibility that Alexa retains to drag this out a bit further, but I have a feeling that WWE is champing at the bit to get the championship on Ronda. Ronda’s already had her coronation delayed once, and oddly, beating Alexa for it will mean a lot more than beating Nia. The latter is an also-ran who, until this year’s ‘Mania, always came up short in big bouts; the former is someone who’s been a champion since pretty much her call up to the main roster. Nia may be the more physically imposing, but dethroning Alexa has more prestige.

WINNER: Ronda Rousey

Steve Cook: Logic dictates that Alexa finds a way to screw Ronda over and hang on to the title until Evolution. That could happen, but I just don’t see Ronda taking the fall here. I figure her undefeated streak in WWE should last as long as her MMA streak did.

WINNER: Ronda Rousey

Mike Chin: Hopefully WWE cuts to the chase here and gives Rousey her big moment. I’m going to go a step further with my prediction and peg the finish. Bliss has demonstrated her ability to fake dislocating her elbow on select occasions in the past. The trick could offer a particularly memorable visual to sell Rousey’s arm bar.

WINNER: Ronda Rousey

JUSTIN WATRY: I wrote two months ago that Ronda Rousey vs. Alexa Bliss for the Raw Womens Championship should headline Summerslam. Best heel in the division and the best face in the division going at it for the top title in the division. Makes sense to me from that angle. Rousey should be victorious and win in short order. That is what we wanted to see at WM with Stephanie McMahon earlier in 2018, and the same applies here. Bliss has been great, but her time is up. No Natalya heel turn. No funny business. Just a new champ crowned on the Road to Evolution.

WINNER: Ronda Rousey

Ken Hill: If you had asked me for a prediction on this match a week or two ago, I would’ve probably picked Alexa to squeak out a win thanks to Nattie betraying her “bestest buddy” Ronda at SummerSlam. With Jim Neidhart’s untimely passing, though, I imagine WWE will give Nattie the proper time to grieve and step away from the ring for a short time. In that time period, however, Ronda’s title opportunity looms large, and while there’s no doubt Alexa will have many a tactic in mind to stave off the Rowdy One, mk II, it will be all for naught as Rousey storms through Little Miss Bliss and claims her first championship in WWE. If WWE Creative is so adamant about a Rousey screwjob, they can always have Alexa rematch Ronda on RAW weeks after, then have a returning Nattie cost Ronda the championship then. For now, though, this is Ronda’s time in the sun.

WINNER: Ronda Rousey

Jake Chambers: Rousey is pretty damn awesome at pro-wrestling, in my opinion; everything she does feels exciting and different. The WWE is gonna try hard to hammer those dents out of her and make her blend in with the rest of their bland wrestling. This is a “break the wild horse” type match, where Rousey will have to really buckle to the WWE’s in-house style against the diminutive and nonthreatening Bliss. Still, not giving Ronda the championship here would be damn dopey.

WINNER: Ronda Rousey, Loser = Uniqueness.

WWE Championship Match: Champion AJ Styles vs. Samoa Joe

Rob Stewart: This one should be pretty good, right? I feel like I should be more hesitant here, because Styles/Nakamura never hit the heights a lot of fans expected (though I thought the last two matches were better than a lot of others did), and Joe recently had a DUD with Roman (who is usually eminently carryable by good opponents)… but I don’t care. I think these two are going to bring a lot of intensity. I may be a sucker, but I think this is the hardest match at Summerslam to predict. Joe SHOULD win, but Styles’ run has been terrific, so why end it? And besides, Nakamura was “supposed” to beat AJ, too. I wouldn’t be surprised by almost any outcome here. It’s my mental coin flip of the night.

WINNER: Eh, Joe feels like a SAFER pick, let’s do that.

Steve Cook: AJ’s title reign has faced plenty of challenges. He’s faced Joe plenty of times in the past. He hasn’t faced this Joe at this level. A win by Joe sets up a feud that is scheduled to be featured on SmackDown’s 1000th episode in October. AJ getting his last shot makes more sense than Joe getting his.

WINNER: Samoa Joe

Mike Chin: On one hand AJ Styles’s reign has lasted a long time now, and Joe more than good enough to be next in line. On the other hand, I’m predicting the other world title to change hands at this show. Moreover, I wonder if WWE might stretch out Joe as challenger further, perhaps similar to when he was going after Brock Lesnar last year and controlled most of the match before suddenly losing—affording him room to claim the loss was a fluke, and press the issue onward.

WINNER: AJ Styles

Justin Watry: Despite me coming off as somewhat negative, I really like this Summerslam card. Lots of intriguing matchups and tons of potential for some really cool feel good moments. AJ Styles and Samoa Joe appears to be a lengthy feud, so this initial meeting may not result in much. The two are still talking on Smackdown LIVE each week without much fighting or drama. The family aspect can be exploited more in the coming months. For that, I suspect Joe destroys AJ but loses to a quick roll up. Kinda cheap but better than a DQ/count out finish. Styles retains and keeps his spot as the face that runs the place.. For a little bit longer.

WINNER: AJ Styles

Ken Hill: I mentioned in my latest FoF exchange with my Len-Kennection bro that this was the match I was looking forward to the most, with Miz-Bryan coming in at a photo-finish second, and for good reason. You have the rarity of two seasoned veterans in Joe and Styles who are extremely well-versed in the ring, have developed a phenomenal (pun totally intended) chemistry with each other, and have each developed their own remarkable cadence on the mic, constructing an emotionally in-depth storyline based on Styles’ family woes, Joe and AJ’s shared history, and the mind games Joe plays to screw with Styles’ and undermine his confidence going into what is bound to be a MOTN candidate for SummerSlam, if not MOTY for 2018.

Keeping in mind my theory for Miz ultimately coming out of 2018 as WWE Champion, Styles would need to retain here and in the likely rematch at HITC. I could see Joe winning and Styles taking it back inside the Cell, but Joe has always served well as a physically and mentally threatening challenger who helps to reaffirm/reestablish his opponents. Styles eking out a win here, then coming out by a hair at HITC would do just that, making Miz’s eventual title win all the more shocking if and when it goes down.

WINNER: AJ Styles

Jake Chambers: If you’re thinking this match will be excellent following the mediocre string of “dream” matches produced by Styles and Nakamura, then I suggest you don’t take calls from time-share salespeople or open any email in your junk folder.

WINNER: Styles, Loser = Anyone expecting more than average from this match.

WWE Universal Championship Match: Champion Brock Lesnar vs. Roman Reigns

Rob Stewart: Seriously? Who even knows? Am I going to be the idiot that says “Yeah, Roman was definitely going to win the last three times this match happened, but this time he’s DEFINITELY definitely going to win!” It feel’s like a fool’s errand to be that guy. But then… isn’t this what WWE wants us to think? Just when we think “Hey, maybe it’s safe to assume Roman WON’T win the title” is exactly when they’ll put the damn title on him. So I don’t know. All I know is that Obi-Braun Kenobi is our only chance of this match being worthwhile; whether he cashes in during (a la Seth Rollins) or in the immediate aftermath. It’s probably too obvious to pick that cash-in, too, but eh… I guess I’m a sucker.

WINNER: Don’t know, but Braun is leaving as champion.

Steve Cook: OMG Closed Door Meeting! I just love that news bite. We know how Brock Lesnar & meetings with WWE management go, so I would be shocked if he exited Brooklyn without the Universal Championship. Sorry Roman, but you’re coming up short again.

WINNER: Brock Lesnar

Mike Chin: The past few months have taught us never to assume that Brock Lesnar is going to drop the Universal Championship, least of all to Roman Reigns. However, at this point, it’s hard to fathom anyway it’ll make sense to have Lesnar vs. Reigns again without the title moving to Reigns and/or Braun Strowman swooping in with the Money in the Bank contract. In the end, though, I’m going with Occam’s razor and calling it that Reigns finally goes over.

WINNER: Roman Reigns

Justin Watry: Here we go! Let’s go! Big time baby! This is what we have all been waiting for. The REAL main event of Summerslam. The Universal Championship is up for grabs as the two top dogs in the industry duke it out. Even though Lesnar has retained every time fans have ‘guaranteed’ and ‘knew’ he would lose, I do think he finally drops the strap on Sunday. No more swerves or last second deals. Let the man commit to UFC and come back for non-title story lines when he is free. Reigns is the present and future of the business. Nobody can deny that, so do what is right. Annnnddddd neeeeewwwww…

WINNER: Roman Reigns

Ken Hill: *Insert obligatory Michael Corleone line here* Double oy! See previous entries on Intrigue –> Outside Party. While I suppose I should be hopeful Reigns and Lesnar will string together a good to great match at this point, it doesn’t really matter if it’s a given that the Brooklyn crowd will turn on it like a hungry pack of lions on a couple of limping gazelles. The only reason anyone (outside of the contingency of fans who are actually looking forward to Take 1000 of Roman’s push) is watching is to witness the very likely MITB cash-in by either Strowman or Owens. If there’s even the slightest indication that nothing of the sort will go down, I can almost guarantee the Brooklyn crowd will simply leave in protest mid-way through the match. If WWE anticipates that to be the case, they may well have the MITB holder pull a Rollins and interject themselves mid-way through the match. Regardless of how it’s set up, we’re looking at a new champion…I hope.

WINNER: Roman Reigns (No Cash-In)…or…Braun Strowman (Cash-In)

Jake Chambers: This whole current Brock Lesnar situation is karma. And I blame you. You know who you are. Back in the wake of SummerSlam 2014 when the WWE first enacted this “absentee champion” angle, the praise from the punditry and fans was pretty overwhelmingly positive, with the common dopey argument being, “Brock not being there every week will make the championship feel special.” All of a sudden, the five hours of TV a week and the monthly 3-hour PPV didn’t matter, all so that a phantom Lesnar title match that would come one day might “feel special”. If you said or thought this, I blame you for this lame-ass match at SummerSlam. And there was a lot of you, don’t deny it. If there was ever a moment that you can pinpoint the beginning of the Mediocrity Era, it’s that 2014 SummerSlam main event: Punk had quit, Bryan had been forced to retire, Brock just squashed Cena in the SummerSlam main event and figuratively killed the symbolic presence of a regularly guaranteed meaty main event. And when you had the chance to embrace Roman Reigns as the next wrestler who could main event week-after-week, month-after-month, in great matches like Cena had, you shit on him because “he wasn’t ready”. Well, those two genius trains of thought “Brock being away makes the title feel special,” and “Roman Reigns isn’t ready” have culminated four years later in a match that will likely suck, for a championship that means nothing, featuring two wrestlers irreparably damaged by all the exterior gossip and business factors that constantly swirl around them. None of this is about giving the fans great wrestling matches in PPV main events anymore, and for that I blame YOU.

WINNER: Brock, Losers = Everyone who believed absentee champion Brock Lesnar would make the title feel “special”.

JOIN 411 TONIGHT AT 5 PM ET FOR OUR LIVE COVERAGE OF THE SHOW