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WWE returns to pay-per-view (PPV) — if your cable provider is carrying the event, of course — tomorrow night (Sun., Aug. 23, 2020) from the Amway Center in Orlando, Florida, with its SummerSlam event starting at 5:00 pm ET with the Kickoff show leading right on into the main course at 7 pm ET on the WWE Network.
Luckily for you Cagesiders, our staff of learned wrestling blowhards is here to help figure out just how the event is going to play out with predictions for each match on the card.
Let’s get to it.
SummerSlam predictions
Drew McIntyre vs. Randy Orton
Geno Mrosko: I can actually see this going either way, which makes this an actually compelling match-up. The question is did McIntyre beat Brock Lesnar that way just to lose to Randy Orton here? I’m not so sure they go with that. Pick: Drew McIntyre
Sean Rueter: Don't generally like to use the "d" word, and never thought I'd be saying it about this guy. Something something 2020 something something. Randy Orton deserves this. Pick: Randall Keith Orton
Kyle Decker: While I think this program finally ends with Randy Orton winning the title (and shockingly, I think he should), I bet Drew gets a first win in it to reaffirm as a top guy before they make the change. Pick: Drew McIntyre
Rev. Claire Elizabeth: Ordinarily I’d be inclined to bet on Drew— his reign is still young and Orton doesn’t tend to be in the habit of winning world titles lately. But something about the re-energized Legend Killer combined with living in Plague World has me second-guessing myself. I don’t think Randy takes this without going to a whole new level of sadism, but I do think he takes it. Pick: Randy Orton
Cain A. Knight: I expect that Randy Orton will enter September as the WWE champion, it’s just a matter of whether he wins the title at SummerSlam or Payback. Either way, the SummerSlam match will probably have a dumb controversial finish to set up an immediate rematch at Payback. Pick: Drew McIntyre
Stella Cheeks: It’s clear that Orton is on the path to becoming WWE champion once again, but with two PPV’s back to back it would make more sense for them to have some kind of false finish at SummerSlam and a rematch at Payback. It’s too bad. McIntyre was an excellent champion all things considered. Hopefully, he gets another chance when the company is back in front of live audiences. That is of course assuming that we aren’t all completely sick of him after what I am sure is going to be an endless amount of matches between the two. Pick: Drew McIntyre
Braun Strowman vs. Bray Wyatt
Geno Mrosko: I couldn’t possibly care less about the match itself, considering there is very little these two can do that will make for a good wrestling match and neither of the two are all that interesting to me at this moment in time. I’m far more intrigued by Alexa Bliss and her place in all this. I have a feeling she’s getting involved here, I just don’t know how. I’m going to guess she costs Strowman the title and aligns with Wyatt for a shock finish. Pick: Bray Wyatt
Sean Rueter: Thus ended a reign that was never supposed to happen in the first place. Pick: Bray Wyatt
Kyle Decker: Braun Strowman was never supposed to be champion. At least not right now. It was supposed to be Roman Reigns. In fact, Wyatt lost to Goldberg so Goldberg could put over Reigns. And then Roman understandably left during the pandemic. There’s no need to push this feud any longer than they’ve already stretched it either. Time to go back to the start. Pick: Bray Wyatt
Rev. Claire Elizabeth: So we’re all agreed there’s got to be some kind of ThunderDome shenanigans in this one, right? Like they’re gonna brawl out into the “crowd” and go into the Firefly Fun House or some nonsense? I want to love this but I just can’t. Anyway, Braun becoming the most evil son of a bitch you ever laid eyes on or what have you is just going to open the door to let Him in and put the Big Blue Belt back around the Fiend’s waist. Pick: Bray Wyatt
Cain A. Knight: I regret nothing about all the times I’ve criticized Strowman’s work over the years; it’s clear that Braun’s peak in 2017 was much more about strong booking than individual talent. It’s time to move on from his reign as champ, but I’m at least a little worried that maybe The Fiend will ditch Bray Wyatt and inhabit Braun Strowman going forward. You’ll never see it coming! Pick: Bray Wyatt
Stella Cheeks: The Fiend wins with the help of Alexa. I have a feeling that this is going to be the beginning of a real messed up Beauty and The Beast situation. Only The Beast is a weirdo with a devil mask and, shockingly, Braun is Gaston...oh man, I hope I’m wrong. None of this would have happened if Braun just stayed a ghost! Pick: Bray Wyatt
Sasha Banks vs. Asuka
Geno Mrosko: The path of least resistance. Pick: Asuka
Sean Rueter: Time for The Boss to have Two Beltz while her fellow Golden Role Model has Uno Strap. Pick: Sasha Banks
Kyle Decker: Asuka is going to win one of her matches at least and this one is the easy one. The Two Woman Power trip is meant for someone to dethrone them. And given they’ve run roughshod for a while, it’s time to start. Plus, there’s a ready made Asuka vs. Baszler feud in the wings. Pick: Asuka
Rev. Claire Elizabeth: Well, there’s a lot of fun possibilities when one person is wrestling in two title matches on a given show, but there’s one thing that makes this very easy for me— we know that Sasha is going second, so I’m betting she gets to pick the bones no matter how the first match goes. Pick: Sasha Banks
Cain A. Knight: Sasha Banks never retains the Raw women’s championship on pay-per-view. Bayley will accidentally screw this one up for her best friend, and then Asuka will quickly move on to a feud with Shayna Baszler. Pick: Asuka
Stella Cheeks: Sasha is a Boss on weekly TV and a flake on PPV’s. She just can’t get the job done. Especially when it comes to the RAW women’s championship. Plus, if Sasha loses it will add fuel to the embers of the Sasha/Bayley feud and we’ll get Asuka versus Shayna. That’s a win/win right there. Pick: Asuka
Bayley vs. Asuka
Geno Mrosko: See previous prediction. Pick: Asuka
Sean Rueter: Still think they're dragging the split out until at least Survivor Series or Royal Rumble, so Sasha won't directly cost her bestie the match. But Bayley's epic run ends here. Pick: Asuka
Kyle Decker: The big question is Asuka going to get her Jericho moment - beating Bayley and Sasha Banks in the same night to become double champion? It’s not an easy call to make. I could legit see it going both ways. So I’m going to lean to the angle I’d personally enjoy more. Pick: Asuka
Rev. Claire Elizabeth: Ah, and now the hard part. Betting on the Bayley/Sasha split hasn’t really gotten anyone anywhere... is tonight the night? I think not. I think things go awry, it’s a near thing, some interference almost gives Asuka the match but Bayley finds a way out of it. Pick: Bayley
Cain A. Knight: Bayley’s match against Asuka will come before Sasha’s match, so I’m guessing that means Sasha will help Bayley retain the title. Pick: Bayley
Stella Cheeks: Sasha loses. Bayley retains. Pick: Bayley
Mandy Rose vs. Sonya Deville
Geno Mrosko: Real life events clearly influenced the direction here, and also seem to have spoiled the match. All the best to Sonya Deville during this difficult time. Pick: Mandy Rose
Sean Rueter: Reality bites. Glad everyone is safe, and do whatever you need to do process what happened. Pick: Mandy Rose
Kyle Decker: The change in stipulation doesn’t change my pick, though I was expecting a badass bald Sonya. Now I think she’s going to take some needed time off. Which sucks because she rules but she needs to take care of herself first. Pick: Mandy Rose
Editor’s note: Rev., Cain, and Stella didn’t get a chance to change their prediction after WWE changed this match’s stipulation.
Rev. Claire Elizabeth: First off, let me say I’m loving having an apuestas match on a WWE PPV. It’s part of the pro wrestling toolbox that doesn’t get utilized nearly enough here in the States and it creates instant tension and uncertainty. Now, this *is* WWE, so I wouldn’t be super surprised if we end the night with nobody actually having their head shaved because we have to do a non-finish to get to our second PPV a week later, but sign me up for Daddy Deville shorn and cutting a path of vengeance through the women’s locker room. Pick: Mandy Rose
Cain A. Knight: Their rivalry is one of the most effective storylines in WWE. It’s time for Mandy to get some payback on Sonya at Payback SummerSlam. Pick: Mandy Rose
Stella Cheeks: I don’t know how a story that started with Otis and Dolph being the focus ended up here, but boy am I glad it did. This is one of the best stories WWE has had in months. Sonya is SHINING as a heel and has made it clear that she is a formidable presence in the women’s division. Would not be surprised to see a championship title in her very near future. That being said, there is no way Mandy “I have a cute bob cut now” Rose is going bald. After that promo last week her winning not only makes sense storyline wise, but is backed up. Plus, Sonya is gonna look dope as hell bald. Pick: Mandy Rose
Seth Rollins vs. Dominik Mysterio
Geno Mrosko: This is still a babyface promotion. You can’t do everything they’ve done in this feud, even just between these two, and pay it off by putting the heel over. Pick: Dominik Mysterio
Sean Rueter: It's no DQ, and Seth doesn't have enough people. Pick: Dominik Mysterio
Kyle Decker: They’ve done a good job early showing us the strengths of Dom. But I don’t see former multi-time champion Seth Rollins dropping this match to the rookie. They can book the match so the young Mysterio looks good but still loses. Pick: Seth Rollins
Rev. Claire Elizabeth: We gotta start the kid’s career out on a high note, right? I can’t let myself believe this match ends in any way other than the Mysterio family standing tall. Pick: Dominik Mysterio
Cain A. Knight: The winner will ultimately be determined by which wrestler is wearing the best Street Fight jeans. I suspect that Dominik’s inexperience will leave him lacking in that crucial department. Pick: Seth Rollins
Stella Cheeks: Seth Rollins is one of the top performers in the entire WWE. Dominik is, frankly, just a famous person’s kid. It would be absolutely ridiculous for Dominik to win. So...Pick: Dominik Mysterio
Apollo Crews vs. MVP
Geno Mrosko: The baddies will remain just as bad with or without a title. Pick: Apollo Crews
Sean Rueter: The Hurt Business needs some gold soon, but MVP isn't back to take belts from younger guys. Pick: Apollo Crews
Kyle Decker: I’ve been thinking MVP is going to win the title for awhile. But now I’m not as sure. However with MVP continuing to put the bug of dissension in the ears of Cedric Alexander, and the great work he continues to do, I can see a brief run for him. Pick: MVP
Rev. Claire Elizabeth: The Hurt Business being banned from ringside means the Hurt Business are absolutely 100% going to get involved in this match. And I bet Cedric Alexander is still thinking about MVP’s offer... Pick: Montel Vontavious Porter
Cain A. Knight: Bobby Lashley is getting the big push, so I don’t understand why WWE is stalling on his eventual title shot at Crews by booking a far less interesting match with MVP. Pick: Apollo Crews
Stella Cheeks: I think Apollo wins, only to have the title taken by Cedric Alexander - perhaps at PayBack. MVP is in Alexander’s head. A title opportunity could be enough for him to switch sides. Pick: Apollo Crews
The Street Profits vs. Andrade & Angel Garza
Geno Mrosko: I think we’re inching closer and closer to Angel Garza splitting from Andrade and Zelina Vega, and that means they don’t get a run with the Raw tag team titles. Pick: The Street Profits
Sean Rueter: Cue the "WWE is planning an Andrade push" rumors. Pick: Andrade & Angel Garza
Kyle Decker: Would be a rough angle for them to poison a man and then get the last laugh. Pick: The Street Profits
Rev. Claire Elizabeth: I can’t help but feel like I should be enjoying this more, but something about this feels flat. Maybe it’s all the faffing around between the Viking Raiders and Street Profits that came before, maybe it’s Montez Ford’s poisoning feeling like an afterthought. I dunno. Anyway, it feels like Zelina’s boys have been losers for just a bit too long, so now’s the time— Pick: Andrade “Cien” Almas & Angel Garza
Cain A. Knight: Montez Ford already got his revenge (for being poisoned) on the go-home episode of Raw, so I guess that means the babyfaces will lose this match. Pick: Andrade & Angel Garza
Stella Cheeks: Zelina is losing control of her stable. All it needs to fall a part completely is one more big loss. Pick: The Street Profits
That’s how we see the card playing out.
You?