Damien: Predictions For SummerSlam Weekend - Part 2
TO VIEW PART ONE, CLICK HERE.
WWE's biggest event of the summer and second biggest event of the year takes place this weekend.
For the second time in a row, the WWE will run three-straight nights at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, hoping to match the overwhelming success last years edition of the event produced.
Having been there last year for two of the three nights (NXT and Raw), I can tell you they have a tough task ahead, but surpassing the 2015 version is very doable.
Here's the second part of my preview, not only of SummerSlam, but of the entire weekend:
Rusev vs Roman Reigns - US Championship
I just watched this match for 20 minutes on Monday. I have no desire to watch it again.
Prediction - Reigns pinned Rusev clean on Monday. He loses Sunday and this program goes on forever (or at least another month).
AJ Styles vs John Cena
AJ is incredible. John Cena steps up when it matters most. I thought for sure AJ Styles had to win this match. Rusev beat John Cena then look what happened to him. Kevin Owens beat John Cena, then look what happened to him. Alberto Del Rio beat… Nevermind.
Prediction - AJ Styles can't go down the path of the names above. But he's not exactly a "young up and comer," so how much does a program win over Cena mean? Likewise, what does a Cena win mean for him? I'm pushing. I have no idea.
Prediction II - The Brooklyn crowd will sing "John Cena sucks"
Dean Ambrose vs Dolph Ziggler - WWE World Championship
This program has been done very well… with one small exception: who the hell am I supposed to cheer for? The program started with Dean Ambrose coming off as the heel, but the crowd wasn't receptive. So on Tuesday, Ziggler laid out Ambrose with a superkick while screaming people will take him seriously. So is he the heel?
Prediction - Dean retains the title and Ziggler turns heel. I think. Someone is turning heel by the time this thing is over! I think.
Sasha Banks vs Charlotte - WWE Women's Championship
Unlike Wrestlemania, the women won't have the best match on the card, but this will be extremely entertaining with the crowd likely hanging on every move.
Prediction - Sasha Banks retains
Finn Balor vs Seth Rollins - the winner is crowned the first ever Universal Champion
This will be the match of the night, but not the match of the weekend. The WWE inexplicably blew Balor's Demon entrance on Monday's episode of Raw, essentially blowing what would've been one of the high spots of the night. These two are such incredible performers the question isn't how great will this match be, its how will they make their return matches even better.
Prediction - Finn Balor winning sends a clear message that we really are in a New Era. Rollins winning won't hurt anything and given the way his last two title reigns ended the storyline is still there for him. I'm going Balor.
Back to Saturday - NXT TAKEOVER: BROOKLYN II
Samoa Joe vs Shinkuse Nakamura - NXT Championship
THIS will be the best match of the weekend, and possibly the most physical.
Last year's Brooklyn main event of Balor and Owens was harmed by the emotional investment the sold out crowd put into the Bayley Sasha Banks match minutes before. That won't be an issue this year. This match is clearly the main event and it will perform as such. Neither of these guys should be on the NXT roster. Nakumara is the most charismatic guy in the company and Samoa Joe vs Brock Lesnar has money written all over it.
Prediction - This match will be awesome… and the crowd will chant that before the match even starts. Nakamura.
Back to Sunday - SUMMERSLAM
Brock Lesnar vs Randy Orton
15 YEARS IN THE MAKING. Wait… Didn't they just use that tagline for the first AJ Styles John Cena match? Ok, maybe it's not creative, buts it's true. These two have never fought on a big stage. So here we go - the mayor of Suplex City will toss around a guy who's coming back from shoulder surgery.
Roman Reigns got little offense on Brock Lesnar. Dean Ambrose got little offense on Brock Lesnar. Two years ago at this same summer event, John Cena was literally destroyed by Brock Lesnar. So… why on Earth would Randy Orton get any offense? Because the people in charge LOVE Randy Orton. There is no reason for Orton to win this match. None. But the bosses fascination with the Viper casts some doubt over the outcome. There's also that small issue of two, very public, drug test failures from Lesnar's last UFC run.
Prediction - Brock Lesnar wins and threatens to destroy the other MMA guy fighting this weekend. (see below)
Back to Saturday - UFC 202
Conor McGregor vs Nate Diaz
Conor McGregor heard ticket sales were down, he knew interest was dwindling, so instead of directing his verbal attention to Nate Diaz, who isn't the best hype man in the world, started popping off at WWE superstars and, in return, got the attention he was desperately seeking.
Combine that with the bizarre Wednesday press conference, a fight I had little interest in seeing is now on my radar. McGregor absolutely has to win this fight. Neither he, nor the UFC, can afford the loss. The real question is if McGregor is still a draw. The undercard is fine, but lacks the star power many of his previous undercards have had.
Prediction - Conor McGregor. He's desperate. Nate Diaz is now rich beyond his dreams - he likely no longer gives a s**t - assuming of course, he ever did.
