Predicting the 13 matches for SummerSlam

Over the course of any given day, these protecting WWE inside ESPN get to speaking about a variety of matters. Generally it is severe and fast, breaking down a artistic resolution or a present, and typically it is a bit of extra esoteric, as we sit round and picture a world the place everybody universally loves the artistic path of the WWE.

After watching Stomping Grounds on Sunday night time, Marc Raimondi and Tim Fiorvanti debated a number of the potential instructions WWE might head in after a present that overachieved. Relatively than attempt to synthesize the way it all went down in a brief listing, they figured sharing the entire dialog would give a bit of extra perception into the way in which they have been desirous about SummerSlam — and within the course of, guide the cardboard between them.

With apologies to the cruiserweight division, Ali, Miz, Shinsuke Nakamura, Rusev, Huge E, Xavier Woods, R-Reality and everybody else who was left off the imaginary card (most of whom will definitely seem on the present), here is the way it all performed out:

Tim Fiorvanti: Marc, we’re sort of basking within the afterglow of a better-than-expected Stomping Grounds, save for possibly the primary occasion. However we’re solely three weeks out from Excessive Guidelines, and fewer than two months away from SummerSlam in Toronto.

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With WWE displaying at the least a number of indicators of preventing its method out of the large post-WrestleMania gap it dug for itself, I can not assist however assume forward and picture what could be in retailer that night time on the Scotiabank Area. I used to be considering we might plot out the cardboard from high to backside, after which as soon as WWE steps in and does its personal factor, we will at the least see how our imaginative and prescient traces up. That sound like one thing you would be up for?

Marc Raimondi: Tim, for those who’re asking me to fantasy guide for ESPN.com the identical method I’ve for the final 17 years of my life taking part in Excessive Warfare Revenge and Complete Excessive Warfare, how might I probably flip that down? I will wager you and I can provide you with some fairly compelling storylines heading into SummerSlam season. Plus, it’s going to hold our minds off what is going on on with our New York Mets.

Tim: Sure, I might do with considering a bit of bit much less about Mickey Callaway and a bit of extra about … mainly anything.

It is settled then. Just a few floor guidelines would in all probability assist. Let’s guide the highest 4 matches first — the boys’s and ladies’s world title bouts — and from there we will freestyle. Winner of a coin flip will get to select the primary match, after which we’ll bounce forwards and backwards. As a result of SummerSlam has had 13 matches the final two years, that is what we’ll have. And final however not least, the one qualification for the roster pool we will choose from is that they needed to have had one match within the final 12 months (reside occasions rely, even when that is solely a approach to get Bray Wyatt in), and Undertaker and Goldberg are off the desk as a result of this is not Saudi Arabia.

If that every one sounds OK to you, I will allow you to name the coin toss once you’re prepared.

Marc: Sounds good. Tails, please

Tim: And tails it’s. The ground is yours.

Marc: Name me a purist (or possibly only a fan of coherence), however I will guide a Common title match for SummerSlam with solely members of the Uncooked roster. Loopy, I do know. Seth Rollins will go into Toronto because the reigning champ. He’ll lastly get by way of this endless program with Baron Corbin, however he is nowhere near being accomplished having to look at his again. That is as a result of Braun Strowman will win a deadly four-way the night time after Excessive Guidelines for a shot on the Common belt. So, Rollins won’t solely should cope with Brock Lesnar being able to money within the Cash within the Financial institution contract every time he desires, but in addition the monster Strowman coming for his neck. Essential: Strowman must be booked very robust this summer season to make this work. At SummerSlam, Rollins faces insurmountable odds towards Strowman with Lesnar lurking, however he comes again from a hellacious beating to retain the title. Barely.

After the match, Lesnar comes out, hits an F-5, fingers the referee the briefcase and pins Rollins to grow to be the Common champ. Once more.

Tim: Man oh man. If I considered that sort of finish end result final 12 months and even most of this 12 months, I in all probability would’ve been livid. However a really carefree Lesnar, dancing and singing with the briefcase, has admittedly been enjoyable. My guess could be that one other title reign would seemingly carry us all the way in which to WrestleMania, however I digress. On to my activity at hand.

I believe you set precedent by ensuring your challenger is on the identical present because the champion and title they’re vying for, so I will observe alongside — even when it robs me of a Kofi Kingston title protection towards Samoa Joe or Cesaro. I do not need to rush Bray Wyatt alongside too quick, so I will hold him away from the large titles in the intervening time. Kevin Owens is a tempting path to go in, however we have seen a few of that already and I believe him and Sami Zayn vying for tag titles is the way in which to go within the quick time period.

In my thoughts, SummerSlam is the proper sort of showcase to thrust somebody like Andrade instantly into the highlight to see how he fares. His matches with Rey Mysterio, Finn Balor and AJ Types, amongst others, have proven what Andrade can do within the ring, and Zelina Vega is the proper complement to his character. He’ll crew with Shinsuke Nakamura, choose up a pin over Kingston after which the ball will begin rolling. Andrade loses a detailed contest in an Excessive Guidelines match however then unleashes his fury upon Kofi and retains up his pursuit by way of SummerSlam. Whether or not or not he walks out of Toronto as WWE champion is one other matter, however I will say that by mid-2020 he’ll have at the least one world title reign.

Will Charlotte Aptitude get one other likelihood at Bayley and the SmackDown ladies’s championship at SummerSlam? WWE

Marc: Love that. I believe that’ll be an important match. I am an enormous Andrade fan. Simply going again a second to my SummerSlam end plan, for a second: Lesnar will go away Toronto because the champion, however Rollins will win it again earlier than the top of the 12 months is out – when the percentages are usually not utterly stacked towards him. Lengthy-term reserving, Fiorvanti!

Let me persist with SmackDown right here and guide this ladies’s title match for the blue model. The choices are fairly restricted if Bayley is heading into SummerSlam nonetheless the champion, which I think she will likely be. As a lot as my intestine would go along with an Asuka heel run this summer season, she’s tied up on this tag crew with Kairi Sane, and that is high-quality. We’ll hold it life like. Charlotte Aptitude has but to get her revenge on Bayley for successful the title through Cash within the Financial institution contract cash-in final month.

Bayley vs. Charlotte would be the program by way of Excessive Guidelines into SummerSlam. It is sensible, even when we have seen it earlier than. Bayley retains the title clear in Toronto, solely to be ambushed by Shayna Baszler, Jessamyn Duke and Marina Shafir from NXT, asserting their arrival on the primary roster. That units up the remainder of the 12 months within the SmackDown ladies’s division, together with an eventual Aptitude babyface flip to kick-start the long-awaited Horsewomen vs. Horsewomen feud, culminating in Ronda Rousey’s return.

Tim: I like the place your head’s at, and that is a no brainer on each accounts. Clearly this plan significantly depends upon the standing of each Sasha Banks and Ronda Rousey.

So far as the Uncooked ladies’s title goes, it looks like we’re full steam forward with Becky Lynch as champ for the foreseeable future. She saved the day after a monumentally misguided major occasion, and followers are universally behind her. After placing the final of Lacey Evans behind her with a blended tag crew match at Excessive Guidelines, the trail to SummerSlam turns into the first focus. There’s loads of historical past with Alexa Bliss that may be revisited, though that appears a bit of formulaic coming proper after Bliss’ problem towards Bayley. I might like to see Nikki Cross get an enormous likelihood, however it appears she’ll be tied on the hip to Bliss in the intervening time. I will be optimistic and say that the night time after Excessive Guidelines, Lynch calls out for a brand new challenger and Banks makes her return. Having all 4 of the Horsewomen battling for the titles is a brilliant approach to reconnect them instantly earlier than they be part of forces to battle Rousey and Co.

Marc: Nice thought. I actually like how this card is shaping up. SummerSlam weekend is sort of the place Aptitude, Banks, Bayley and Lynch made their names, so I admire this cohesion.

Sticking with Uncooked, let’s guide america title. Ricochet gained the belt from Samoa Joe at Stomping Grounds for his first singles gold on the primary roster. That program is way from accomplished. I might anticipate there to be a rematch with a stipulation at Excessive Guidelines and maybe it’s going to carry all the way in which into SummerSlam. Rey Mysterio is hopeful about getting back from a shoulder harm in July. A triple risk between Mysterio, Joe and Ricochet for the U.S. title at SummerSlam could be juicy. Know what could be even higher? How a few Deadly Four-Manner. Add Cesaro, who has overwhelmed Ricochet lately, into the combination. That can blow the roof off. Ricochet has historical past with all three, in truth; Mysterio and Joe clearly have loads of unfinished enterprise, and Ricochet and Mysterio have historical past from earlier than WWE, in Lucha Underground. Samoa Joe simply occurs to be probably the greatest triple-threat match wrestlers in historical past. Ultimately, there will likely be a Joe vs. Mysterio blow-off match, however this will likely be one other teaser and all ought to shine.

Aleister Black has been on the sidelines lately and a Demon versus Darkness battle at SummerSlam might make for the proper showcase. WWE

Tim: It blew my thoughts after I regarded again and noticed Ricochet and Samoa Joe had by no means crossed paths earlier than WWE, and their title match at Stomping Grounds was an important base upon which to construct out a rivalry. Ideally I might love for Joe to step again into the world title image earlier than too lengthy, however that is an extended timeline and a unique story.

I am all about stability right here, so let’s reply the query of the Intercontinental championship. Finn Balor had some great matches with Andrade over the previous few months, and I might prefer to see him get the prospect to indicate off his skills as a workhorse. There’s one identify on the SmackDown roster that is simply screaming out to me, and it is Aleister Black. It is time to get him out of that darkish room he is been brooding in for months, and after a tune-up or two, an Intercontinental championship alternative is the proper approach to present these unfamiliar with Black at this level what he is able to. The considered Black vs. Balor in a WWE ring is a can’t-miss in my guide, and will fairly actually steal the present with as little as 12-15 minutes (although I might clearly love extra).

Marc: Rattling, the demon vs. the darkness. Depend me all the way in which in for that one. I’ve little question that these two would work effectively collectively and I believe Black is in for a monster push in some unspecified time in the future. No higher time like the current.

I will leap again to Uncooked earlier than we go too lengthy with out reserving probably the greatest wrestlers on the planet, AJ Types. WWE has been placing Types again along with his former Bullet Membership cohorts Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson lately — simply in time for G1 season, I would add. There was some stress within the ranks, although, for those who’ve observed. That can result in a flip by Gallows and Anderson on Types. Seeking an opponent to tackle the Good Brothers at SummerSlam, Types turns to considered one of his idols: Shawn Michaels. Types and Michaels win and this storyline results in the eventual Types vs. Michaels dream match at WrestleMania 36.

Tim: If Shawn Michaels is keen to strap the boots on a number of extra instances, I am all for it. I will admit I would not have considered this one, however that is some robust long-term reserving proper there.

We have crossed the midway mark, and whereas I am certain there will likely be a number of extra title matches to make to fill out the cardboard, I need to swing again to Bray Wyatt. His solely appearances on WWE TV over the previous few months have been the stuff of kids’s present nightmares within the Firefly Enjoyable Home. But when the ramping up of his appearances in that weekly spot are any indication, we’re on the precipice of his in-ring return. What higher approach to present his progress and readiness to take over WWE than by exorcising the demons of his biggest letdown — his WrestleMania 33 WWE championship loss to Randy Orton? Orton is a reputation that is too massive to be left off a present like SummerSlam, and the whole lot Orton and Wyatt did earlier than that fateful match was actually good.

Marc: I dig that recognition of historical past and the place the brand new Wyatt character might go. He completely wants a rocket ship strapped to his again upon an in-ring return. A win over Orton could be an important begin.

Let’s shift gears to some tag crew wrestling, particularly the Uncooked tag title. The Revival maintain the belts at present, however not for lengthy. They will fall to the Usos in a stipulation match to lastly blow off that feud at Excessive Guidelines. The Viking Raiders (or no matter it’s they’re being referred to as now) win a multi-team match on Uncooked to earn a title shot at SummerSlam. Samoans vs. Vikings within the North.

Might a tag crew title run for Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross be on the horizon? WWE

Tim: I used to be tempted to attempt to make a multiway match for the Uncooked tag belts at SummerSlam, however as I give it some thought, the ladies’s tag crew titles provide a pleasant alternative to cross over manufacturers with out doing an excessive amount of in the way in which of disruption. The IIconics and Asuka/Kairi Sane are two apparent entries, after which we will add a return of Beth Phoenix (to tag with Natalya) and Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross. Bliss and Cross strolling out of SummerSlam as champions could be a pleasant approach to additional strengthen their bond.

Marc: I can not imagine we have gone this lengthy with out reserving one of the best on the earth, Tim! Shane McMahon wants a SummerSlam match. The boss’ son has been working wild and there is just one man who can put a cease to it: Triple H. Shane vs. Hunter in a no disqualification match. The loser retires from in-ring competitors. Triple H goes over to lastly put an finish to this Shane push.

Tim: The battle between Vince McMahon’s son and son-in-law. An impressed alternative. We’re down to 2 extra matches, and there are a few evident holes. Whereas we nonetheless haven’t got matches on this card for Bobby Lashley, Drew McIntyre or Roman Reigns (and boy, did Stomping Grounds show Reigns must evolve earlier than followers begin outright booing him once more), there is a juicy chance that is nonetheless lingering on the market. Daniel Bryan and Rowan defending the SmackDown tag crew titles towards Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn. KO and Sami have been among the many world’s finest tag groups earlier than signing with WWE, and we’ve not seen sufficient of them towards top-level groups. This might be an important match. Placing the straps on KO and Sami could be an incredible thought for the long-term well being of tag-team wrestling within the WWE.

Marc: Doing this simply exhibits how a lot expertise WWE has. It is fairly unbelievable that we have come this far and never booked these names — or a cruiserweight title match.

Shane McMahon has been feuding with Reigns for a while now. He will not face him at SummerSlam, however has different plans for The Huge Canine: a deadly four-way pitting Reigns towards the on-again-off-again trio of McIntyre, Lashley and Corbin. The deck is stacked towards Reigns versus three Man Band 2020, however he perseveres once they activate one another after this added stipulation: winner will get a future Common title shot.

Recapping our card:

Common championship: Seth Rollins (c) vs. Braun Strowman (Brock Lesnar cashes in after Rollins retains)

WWE championship: Kofi Kingston (c) vs. Andrade

SmackDown ladies’s championship: Bayley (c) vs. Charlotte Aptitude

Uncooked ladies’s championship: Becky Lynch (c) vs. Sasha Banks

Deadly Four-Manner for america championship: Ricochet (c) vs. Samoa Joe vs. Rey Mysterio vs. Cesaro

Intercontinental championship: Finn Balor (c) vs. Aleister Black

AJ Types & Shawn Michaels vs. Karl Anderson & Luke Gallows

Bray Wyatt vs. Randy Orton

Uncooked tag crew championships: The Usos (c) vs. The Viking Raiders

Deadly Four-Manner for the ladies’s tag crew championships: The IIconics (c) vs. Asuka & Kairi Sane vs. Beth Phoenix & Natalya vs. Alexa Bliss & Nikki Cross

No DQ (loser should retire): Triple H vs. Shane McMahon

SmackDown tag crew championships: Daniel Bryan & Rowan (c) vs. Sami Zayn & Kevin Owens

Deadly Four-Manner match for a future world title shot: Roman Reigns vs. Bobby Lashley vs. Drew McIntyre vs. Baron Corbin