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All WWE SummerSlam lineup events

This year is a mix of old and new, which makes it even more intriguing to see which direction the company will shift in.  New stars and old combine for a great looking card. Will we finally see Hulk Hogan back on WWE tv? (yes if Elias performs)

It’s SummerSlam weekend, the second most important date on the WWE Calendar. SummerSlam is normally the sneak peak of who WWE will put their faith in to carry the company over the next year. In the past we’ve seen them crown champions such as Brock Lesnar, Randy Orton, Daniel Bryan and a host of other experimental matchups.

And speaking of the aforementioned Lesnar and Bryan, a lot of the WWE future depends on their contract statuses. Both contracts expire this month, and while Lesnar will keep us guessing till the final bell if he’s sticking around before heading back to UFC, Daniel Bryan’s situation is somewhat more complicated.
WWE SummerSlam

He’s made it clear he wants to leave and join the very successful indie circuit, or perhaps even New Japan Pro Wrestling to share the stage with the Bullet Club et al. Will Daniel Bryan be all in for his match against The Miz? Or will be put the awesome one over before he finally departs the WWE healthy and hungry for something new.

Let’s take a closer look at this Sunday’s card.

SummerSlam Kickoff Matches

Rusev & Lana

Rusev & Lana vs. Andrade “Cien” Almas & Zelina Vega

All four of these guys and girls have been doing fantastic work lately, but it’s clear the WWE will never give Rusev the run he deserves. Expect Aiden English to somehow cost Rusev Day the win, while Almas and Vega ascend to the top of the roster.

Result:

Cedric Alexander

WWE Cruiserweight Champion Cedric Alexander vs. Drew Gulak

While putting on solid matches, Alexander has not progressed the title much in terms of importance. (Missing Enzo yet?), so Drew Gulak could find himself champion by the end of the night. Both guys will look to put on an impressive showing, but the cruiserweight division stays relegated as an afterthought.

Result:

Raw Tag Team

Raw Tag Team Champion B-Team vs. The Revival

While it’s understandable there’s not enough space on the main card for everyone, it’s a crying shame the Tag Team championship can’t find a place. Especially after the run Bo Dallas and Curtis Axel have been on. They are super over with the crowd and can both work like nobody business. The B-Team should retain here, and go on to face a fresh team in the coming weeks.

Result:

SummerSlam Main Card

SmackDown

SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Bludgeon Brothers vs. The New Day

Do the New Day really need another title run? Not exactly, but the power of positivity could come into question here. The Bludgeon Brothers should dominate to hold onto their titles, and we may finally see some sort of wedge being inserted in the New Day…could Big E be the breakout heel of the group? SummerSlam is the testing ground for new ideas, so it’s very possible.

Result:

Finn Bálor

Finn Bálor vs. Constable Baron Corbin

These two are going head to head again, and unless we see the reappearance of the Demon Finn Balor, I suspect that the crowd may hate on this match, especially if its late on the card. Corbin need the win to be taken seriously, as his Constable character has become very cartoonish.

Result:

Shinsuke Nakamura

United States Champion Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Jeff Hardy

This has all the potential to be match of the night. Shinsuke has done tremendous work since being a heel, and Jeff Hardy remain over with the crowd. A true good guy vs bad guy match, with an even badder guy waiting to strike from outta nowhere, as Randy Orton will  most certainly be involved somehow. Shinsuke should retain and move on to a new challenger as the upcoming Orton vs Hardy feud does not need a title belt involved.

Result:

Daniel Bryan

Daniel Bryan vs. The Miz 

See my thought in the intro for this one…regardless of which direction they go, this will be a hard hitting match. Someone will bleed as we finally get the payoff  to the hottest angle of the last 8 years. The fact that they are not extending this to a WrestleMania match has me believe Bryan wont be around then. Miz wins an epic match, earns the respect of Bryan and the WWE Universe, and goes on to the main event title picture.

Result:

SmackDown Women

SmackDown Women’s Champion Carmella vs. Charlotte Flair vs. Becky Lynch (Triple Threat Match) 

Carmella has been a great champion. Not because she’s talented in the ring, but because she knows how to be disliked. Besties Charlotte and Becky need to find a way to find a way to overcome the Princess of Staten Island, and the only way might be to turn on each other. My prediction is Becky pins Charlotte, but it’s Charlotte who lays down a beating on Becky after the bell.

Result:

Dolph Ziggler

Intercontinental Champion Dolph Ziggler vs. Seth Rollins

Who needs the IC belt more? Neither to be honest. It’s hard to understand this storyline, other than the fact it was a way to bring back Dean Ambrose. Rollins gets the win, and we hopefully see Ambrose get the lust in his eyes for the title. Will be a great match. Drew McIntyre is a World Champion by 2019.

Result:

Braun Strowman

Braun Strowman vs. Kevin Owens

This match is for Stowman’s Money in the Bank contract, and while nobody is more deserving of another title run than Owens, the monster should retain here. However…could we see someone come out the shadows to help KO? Someone familiar…someone who wants revenge for what Strowman did to him last year? HHHa!

Result:

Alexa Bliss

Raw Women’s Champion Alexa Bliss vs. Ronda Rousey

The WWE has boxed themselves into a corner here, they simply have no choice than to make Rousey champion. If she loses out on the title again she can’t be taken seriously as a theat. IF she wins, the cries of “too soon” will ring out. Sorry to steal a phrase from Carmella, but Ronda is money. Bliss will do her broken arm gimmick to put Ronda over huge.

Result:

AJ Styles

WWE Champion AJ Styles vs. Samoa Joe

AJ has been the exact champion WWE needed over the last few years, but it’s time for Joe to get that title. He’s been deserving of it since arriving on the main roster. Here’s hope AJ and Joe recapture that magic from their TNA feud and steal the show. Samoa Joe is your new WWE Champion.

Result:

Brock Lesnar

Universal Champion Brock Lesnar vs. Roman Reigns

This should not be the final match on the card, but it will be. Again. The Lesnar and Heyman stuff over the last few weeks has been fantastic, but the Roman stuff…well, has been the Roman stuff. This needs to end. Roman wins. Unless Brock wants to stick around and make more money for doing nothing then Brock wins. Crowd turns on this match huge, they may even go old school and toss litter into the ring no matter who wins.

Result:

The SummerSlam kick-off show will be on SuperSport4 from 23:00 on Sunday (19 August) night.

The main event will be from 1:00 – 6:30 on Monday morning.

The repeat on Monday between 17:00-23:00.

Source: Thesouthafrican.com