This article is gonna be kind of long, so I’ll skip the intro.
Randy Orton vs. Sheamus
Here is the issue I have with this. Actually, there are a couple of problems. First off, Randy Orton defeated Sheamus clean the last time they fought at Battleground. Since then, Randy Orton has defeated Sheamus three times in tag matches, including Orton pinning Sheamus last night. Not to mention Randy foiled Sheamus’ cash-in attempt last week with an RKO. With all that being said, why would anyone want to see them fight AGAIN? In addition, we don’t even know why they are fighting to begin with! Literally, no reason. As far as I can remember, Randy Orton went over Sheamus by DQ one week. Then the next week Sheamus went over Orton by DQ. Then they fought at Battleground. And now, for some Vince-forsaken reason, we need to see them fight again. Calling this feud horrible doesn’t do it justice in regards to how pitiful watching these two has been. If Orton wins again, so what? And if Sheamus beats Orton, again, so what? The only good thing that can come out of this match is if Sheamus defeats Randy in convincing fashion to reinforce the idea that he might actually be a great threat, because it isn’t anyone takes him seriously in his current condition. Since Orton went over last time on PPV, and every time after that, I suppose I’ll take Sheamus here. However, like I have said before, this feud, if you want to call it that, has been so humdrum that the victor will gain nothing by it. Maybe they’ll get the RAW after WrestleMania 29 treatment.
Winner: Sheamus
Dolph Ziggler vs. Rusev
I know we already have a good amount of tag matches on the card, but this really would make more sense if this was a mixed tag with Lana and Summer Rae. After all, they’ve been doing most of the physical stuff in this feud anyway. Speaking of horrible feuds, these two have been the co-stars of the reality drama portion of RAW for the past month. A dominant brute such as Rusev being reduced to soap opera like booking is beyond me. I was willing to give the Dolph/Lana pairing a try at first, but I think it’s safe to say it has grown on everyone. Technically, Dolph stole Rusev’s girl and he got the upper hand after last night, so for me, it only makes sense that Rusev goes over here. He’d just continue a free-fall if WWE decides to give Ziggler the win. Rusev really needs this victory.
Winner: Rusev
Ryback (C) vs. The Miz, The Big Show – Intercontinental Championship
Safe to say Ryback’s reign has been a flop thus far. This just makes Daniel Bryan’s injury all the more sad. Imagine if he was healthy and had a feud with a guy like Ziggler or Ambrose. Now that would be elevating the IC belt. However, because of his injury, this is what we are reduced to. We were spared from this atrocity at Battleground, but we won’t be as lucky this Sunday. Just expecting slow, sluggish and lazy with The Big Guy still holding onto the belt. Because as bad as he is as champion, the other two would be far more insufferable.
Winner: Ryback
Kevin Owens vs. Cesaro
A ladder match with Finn Balor and then he gets Cesaro the next night? If you are a KO mark, then you’re in for a real treat this weekend. I’m calling for this to be the match of the night should it go over the 15 minute mark. Cesaro is about as entertaining as anyone is on the current WWE roster and is practically flawless in the ring (if you disregard his rope botch last night). Meanwhile, Kevin Owens has been in flux since he lost his feud with John Cena (the overwhelming fear of what would happen if he lost). I don’t think there is another pairing on the roster that would bring out the great wrestling of KO than Cesaro. Give this 15-20 minutes, and this match is stealing the show. As for who will win, I’m leaning towards Owens here. News suggest that Kevin is set to win the NXT Title back from Balor in Brooklyn this Saturday. If that’s the case, then to impose his presence, I’d assume that he would go over a worthy competitor like Cesaro. Now the key here, for me, relies on what happens at Takeover. They’ve been giving more attention to Cesaro for the past couple of months and the “Cesaro Section” signs is certainly to raise his stock and popularity with the fans. Of course Vince doesn’t believe Cesaro is entertaining and can’t reach the brass ring. Meanwhile Owens’ look is too unorthodox for the likes of Vince and Kevin Dunn. At this point, I believe that Owens has a higher ceiling than Cesaro, but I expect both men to deliver nothing short of a classic and will leave all satisfied.
Winner: Kevin Owens
Prime Time Players (C) vs. Los Matadores vs. The Lucha Dragons vs. The New Day – WWE Tag Team Championship
This is what WWE used to do back during the Attitude Era. When you have a whole tag team division with no direction, just stick them all in a match and hope that a large number of tag teams will be able to produce a good match. Aside from The New Day, the tag team division has been dangerously lacking. There was some hope for The Lucha Dragons after WrestleMania, but that hype only lasted so long. Now, need I remind everyone that The New Day already defeated all the other tag teams in the Elimination Chamber to retain the titles? So it’s not like they should be worried or anything. The Lucha Dragons and Los Matadores are out because they don’t seem to be setting anyone on fire at the present moment. The Prime Time players were a decent surprise at first, but at this point, The New Day should go over and never lose the titles back unless Daniel Bryan and Cesaro become a tag team in the future. To be frank, I really can’t care less about this match. The booking has been so nonchalant that every time the tag teams come out, I feel like they are the Divas portion of the show. I’ll pick the New Day just because I’m not totally convinced that the WWE creative team doesn’t have at least one functioning brain cell between all of them.
Winners: The New Day
Neville and Stephen Amell vs. Stardust and King Barrett
I’m not one for celebrities wrestling on WWE PPV’s but he did have a pretty entertaining segment two weeks ago so I’m willing to give him a chance. Besides, it’s not like we are meant to take this match seriously. For me, I thought this should have been just Stardust and Amell straight up. Neville and Barrett (especially Barrett) was just thrown into this, but hey. It’s sports entertainment. Good guys go over here and celebrities don’t usually lose in matches. Remember Kevin Federline pinning John Cena?
Winners: Neville and Stephen Amell
Team BAD vs. Team Bella vs. Team PCB – Triple Threat Elimination Tag
Let us be honest with ourselves. This is all just a strategic way to have Nikki Bella surpass AJ Lee’s record. When is the last time she defended that belt? Anyways, I am invested in the Divas revolution and after Kevin Owens/Cesaro, this is the match I will be paying attention to and this time, I won’t be in the bathroom. WWE finally seems to be taken the women seriously and the amount of time they have gotten on television over the past few weeks have been rather encouraging. Despite some botches and slip ups from some of the Divas in recent matches with each other, I have full confidence that each team would bring out the best in each other. They need to use this opportunity on the grand stage of Summerslam to make a statement. It’s either capitalize on this chance to change the perception of the Divas or confirm all of their concerns and flop under the pressure. The winner of this match is a toss up if I’ve ever seen one. Technically the Divas division runs through Nikki, so she and her team would need to be protected in some way. Team PCB is the most technically sound group and can’t afford to show a lot of vulnerability and Sasha Banks is probably the most charismatic and talented Diva on the roster so she and her team would require some protection as well. For wrestling’s sake, and because this Divas revolution did start with Paige, I’ll say that Team PCB ends up on top. There really is no favorite to this match as each match has been sort of picked at random, so it’s impossible to know who’s a clear winner and who’s a clear loser. Team PCB just makes sense in the intimidation factor.
Winner: Team PCB
Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose vs. Luke Harper and Bray Wyatt
Jeez, how many tag matches are on this card again? Somewhere in a bar, Teddy Long is pleased. Anyway, this has heel turn for Dean Ambrose written all over it. The theme here is Family vs. Family, and how family sticks together and junk. Well I think it’s finally time that Dean Ambrose turned to the dark side and raise his profile. Seriously, his face run has been a complete disaster. Sure, he may not accomplish much more as a heel, but at least it’s different. Besides, his promos would be significantly better as a heel. Guaranteed. You see what I’m getting at here. The Wyatt Family have no momentum coming into this PPV meanwhile The Shield have all of it. Now they may not go ahead with the heel turn and may just have a dirty finish to the match, but where’s the fun in that. We all know WWE has huge plans for Roman down the line so turning him now would foil those. I say Dean turns on Roman and costs them the match, giving The Wyatt Family the victory setting up an Ambrose/Reigns feud.
Winner: Luke Harper and Bray Wyatt
Seth Rollins (C) vs. John Cena (C) – WWE World Heavyweight Title and United States Title
One side of me is saying that Seth Rollins goes over because he already tapped clean to John with a broken nose and can’t possibly lose again after proposing this match. Another side of me says that John Cena goes over because Seth doesn’t have any more main event faces to face after Cena and would be stuck in aimless feuds. Then there’s that part of me that says we don’t get a finish to the match because it’s not the main event so WWE can get away with it. I’ve toyed around with the idea that Sheamus comes out to cash in on Seth with the help of The Authority and turn Seth face, beginning the long feud to Seth/HHH at WrestleMania 32. However, Seth and John are supposed to be feuding beyond Summerslam, so those plans are probably scrapped. I’m going with my gut here and say that Seth wins. However, this is a vote of no confidence whatsoever. I was sure that Kevin Owens would go over John because John knows that at 38 years of age, he should start to put some new talent over him more often. Vince McMahon and Kevin Dunn don’t know that, though. Seth and John have wrestled a million and one times, so chemistry won’t be an issue. The only thing they have to be concerned about is how they plan to outdo themselves. The spots in their match are sometimes easy to call out because we have become so familiar with watching these two, it’s practically second nature. So I say that Seth Rollins wins, if they plan to have a finish.
Winner: Seth Rollins
Brock Lesnar vs. Undertaker
This match has been pushed as the rematch too big for WrestleMania. Well since their match at WrestleMania 30 sucked major donkey excrement, I disagree. I can’t find anyone who was bending over backwards to see these two fight again. Seeing how that this is the main event as well saddens me even deeper. I can’t possibly see how their match at Summerslam would be nothing more than an average spot fest of kicking out of each other’s finishers. Taker is a year older, and despite looking in good shape for his age and looking like his 2004-2005 self in terms of attire, I won’t see how it will correlate to results in the ring. When Taker comes back, I always want to see him in a barnburner, but Lesnar just isn’t the guy to get a great match out of these days. I can always be wrong, but I don’t have any reason to think I will be this Sunday. I also don’t get why WWE is trying to push Undertaker, as old and respected a legend as he is now, heel of all things. And a heel, no less with Brock Lesnar. Fans won’t bring themselves to boo Undertaker out of the building unless he starts to gain cheap heat by insulting the local sports team. Now I’m thinking that Lesnar goes over here, because if he loses to Undertaker a year older, the streak ending would be for naught. What’s the point in having Lesnar end the streak if you are just going to give Undertaker his win back? As far as I’m concerned, the only thing I get out of this feud is that Undertaker is salty as hell as well as butt hurt with his 18 month grudge. His saltiness prompts him to screw Lesnar and resort to low blows. This is how far Undertaker has fallen? Undertaker has never pinned Brock Lesnar in singles action (someone please correct me if I’m wrong), and that will continue this Sunday.
Winner: Brock Lesnar
For WWE’s second biggest show of the year (that is being covered by ESPN no less), there has been a lot of junk and half-assed booking efforts, which was made more abundantly clear on this past episode of RAW. There just seems to be a lot of filler and junk here because WWE either ran out of ideas or were just too lazy to come up with something. For all I know, this can be a show that rivals WrestleMania in terms of its greatness, or can flop majorly because of misdirection. WWE shouldn’t fall into the trap of thinking that more matches means the quality will be better. Sometimes, less is more and with NXT: Takeover set to perhaps steal the show from the main roster once again (though some NXT alumni will be working both shows), this is all the more reason why this show should have been treated with better care. Oh well. What we see is what we get, and hopefully we get a great show. Until next time.
