WWE SummerSlam 2023 is coming up this Saturday and before the event takes place, let’s run down everything you need to know about the upcoming pay-per-view.
Who is scheduled for the card? How interesting does the show seem? What’s going to happen with all the matches?
Here is a full preview of WWE SummerSlam 2023.
PPV EVENT INFORMATION
Date: Saturday, August 5, 2023
Start Time: 7 p.m. ET (kickoff), 8 p.m. ET (main show)
Location: Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan
MATCH CARD, PREDICTIONS & HEAT INDEX ANTICIPATION LEVELS
(as currently advertised; card is always subject to change)
Temperature Scale = Scorching > Hot > Lukewarm > Temperate > Chilly > Cold > Freezing
Heat Index is my assessment of how interesting the segment is, including how excited I am for the match and how intriguing the feud has been. The hotter, the better. Scorching translates to not being able to wait to see it, while Freezing means I couldn’t possibly care less and think it will be awful.
TRIBAL COMBAT UNDISPUTED WWE UNIVERSAL CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH:
Roman Reigns (c) vs. Jey Uso
Heat Index = Lukewarm
Prediction: Roman Reigns wins.
Thoughts: I REALLY wish this was more than just a No Disqualification match with a different name. They could’ve done so much more to spice things up. On top of that, I don’t believe one bit that Jey Uso has any shot at winning the title, so that renders a lot of the buzz moot to me. I fully expect Roman to hold the belt until at least WrestleMania, if not longer, so I’m basically checked out until then. It’s an interesting feud, but it isn’t actually all that much different from what we’ve seen before with Roman and Jey a few years back. Plus, every week is just the same bickering. I’m fine with moving on from this and seeing Reigns feud with someone new. Kudos to Jey for being such an anchor talent over the past few years, though. I expect Jimmy Uso to cost him the match because that’s nonsense and WWE loves those types of illogical twists just to get people talking.
WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH:
Seth “Freakin” Rollins (c) vs. Finn Bálor
Heat Index = Temperate
Prediction: Seth Rollins wins.
Thoughts: Two talented guys who will put on a good match, but I couldn’t care less. They JUST did this match at the last event. What’s changed since then? Balor said “I want another” and Rollins said “K.” That’s it. There’s no gimmick. Damian Priest hasn’t even done anything more to push his narrative of cashing in past what we already had going into Money in the Bank to any substantial level. It’s basically just double-dipping, and the only way I’d be interested in this is if there is a cash-in. But I think that’s going to lead to Priest failing, and I don’t want to see that happen. I also don’t want Balor to win it just to lose it. Basically, they’re going to put on a good show between the ropes, but it will be a match that isn’t all that memorable unless something with MITB happens, and I think it’s lazy for them to be doing this match instead of figuring out anything else.
WWE WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP TRIPLE THREAT MATCH:
Asuka (c) vs. Bianca Belair vs. Charlotte Flair
Heat Index = Hot
Prediction: Iyo Sky wins.
Thoughts: I’d have saved Bianca Belair vs. Charlotte Flair for WrestleMania 40. Since they’re doing this Triple Threat, it wouldn’t shock me if they do still have that in mind, but that they think having them work together here doesn’t spoil it because Asuka’s involved. We’ll see if that’s the case. But I don’t think any of these women are walking out champion. I expect Iyo Sky to cash in and win it, feud with Asuka, Belair and Flair (and Bayley, naturally) over the course of the next few months, drop it to Flair, who will drop it to Belair.
INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH:
Gunther (c) vs. Drew McIntyre
Heat Index = Lukewarm
Prediction: Gunther wins.
Thoughts: These two will definitely beat each other up and it’ll be fun to watch. That’s pretty much guaranteed. So even though we’re just trying to wring out some leftover WrestleMania juice and not really doing much else, I’m okay with it for one more match. It’ll be time to move on to something else after that, rather than stretch it out and have them fight at Payback, too. As far as the winner goes, I think they need to have Gunther beat Honky Tonk Man’s record, so I’m crossing my fingers he keeps it until at least then.
SINGLES MATCH:
Cody Rhodes vs. Brock Lesnar
Heat Index = Hot
Prediction: Cody Rhodes wins.
Thoughts: If Cody Rhodes doesn’t ultimately win the feud, then why bother? The guy can’t lose WrestleMania, then just get entirely sidetracked away from the title for the rest of the year with no explanation just so he can get his ass beaten up by Brock a few times and score some wins over Dominik Mysterio and other midcarders. That’s not some amazing follow-up to be worth the Mania loss. To be fair, neither is “he fights Brock 3 times and ultimately wins that feud” as that doesn’t really mean anything, either. But at least a definitive win over Lesnar SHOULD help get Cody back on track a bit, if WWE is willing and able to follow it up. This will be a fun segment, but I have my doubts that it will steal the show or be worth any of it in the long run. Prove me wrong, WWE. This should have had a gimmick, too.
SINGLES MATCH:
Ricochet vs. Logan Paul
Heat Index = Hot
Prediction: Logan Paul wins.
Thoughts: It’s so cool to see WWE giving a spotlight match to Ricochet like this. Granted, we all know this match is happening primarily because of Logan Paul, not that this is “the vessel to promote Ricochet”, but they could have easily just said those moments were good enough on their own and moved Logan Paul toward feuding with a bigger name. I love that they’re going to let these two just go out and have a true match. It’s got a ton of potential to rock. Paul is going to win, since he hasn’t been coming up victorious as much lately and I don’t think Ricochet is going to lose much steam with a loss (depending on if WWE wants to capitalize on this or if they just let him fade into obscurity, of course).
MMA RULES MATCH:
Ronda Rousey vs. Shayna Baszler
Heat Index = Temperate
Prediction: Shayna Baszler wins.
Thoughts: I was over the Ronda Rousey experiment when she first left. This whole second run has been blah. Conversely, I think WWE has screwed up Shayna Baszler on the main roster pretty much from WrestleMania 2020 onward. I’m hoping they do the right thing here, have Shayna win a decisive enough victory that she can regain some of that momentum and get back on track toward becoming women’s champion and being dominant again, and that Rousey either leaves and doesn’t come back at all, or at least doesn’t come back until she’s passionate enough to fix the things that have plagued her past year or so and made that so bland. Thumbs up for this being an MMA Rules match instead of copping out with a generic match like some other things on this card, or how Trish Stratus vs. Becky Lynch, the US title and the tag titles are just flat out missing.
SUMMERSLAM BATTLE ROYAL:
Featuring: Chad Gable, LA Knight, Otis, Sheamus, Shinsuke Nakamura, Tommaso Ciampa and more TBA
Heat Index = Hot
Prediction: LA Knight or Grayson Waller wins.
Thoughts: I dig battle royals. They’re fun. Making sure a lot of people get on this card is good, too. Even better, having this be a spotlight match for LA Knight gets a thumbs up from me. Naturally, he’s the favorite to win, but as much as I’m about 60% leaning in that direction, I think it’s just like WWE to have him NOT win just to transfer heat over to someone else. If Grayson Waller ends up in this match, I’m going to be expecting him to win by last eliminating LA Knight instead. In any fashion, I’m excited for this.
OVERALL PPV:
How excited am I for the event as a whole?
Heat Index = Hot
Thoughts: There are definitely things missing from this card. That goes for full matches and for gimmicks. But while there are things that could definitely be better, the overall lineup does still look solid. There’s potential for this to be a really good show. Don’t screw it up.
What do you think is going to happen at WWE SummerSlam? Which matches are you most excited to see? Keep the discussion going in the comments below!
