Brock Lesnar is big money.
UFC knows that. After all, they put him into a worked shoot with Daniel Cormier after D.C. won the UFC Heavyweight Championship at UFC 226. Lesnar cut a better promo than he ever has in WWE, and despite the fact it was called out for being a staged confrontation, it made mainstream media outlets buzz with anticipation, which in turn made Dana White’s pockets buzz with anticipation.
Make no bones about it, Lesnar is a draw, and at SummerSlam, all eyes will be on his match with Roman Reigns. However, he’s not the draw WWE should be hanging their hat on as champion. Lesnar has kept the Universal Championship off television for weeks and months at a time, severely devaluing the top prize on Monday Night Raw.
Which brings us to Sunday’s main event (yes, it will be the main event), when Brock Lesnar will defend the Universal Championship against longtime rival and the most polarizing wrestler in all of sports entertainment, Roman Reigns. WWE has done everything they can to put heat on Lesnar, byway of calling out his absenteeism, having him disparage the WWE Universe, and even having him attack his advocate, the well-admired Paul Heyman. Has it worked? Fans certainly seem to be ready for a change at the top, but it’s not necessarily because of the push to make Lesnar look like a reluctant participant in professional wrestling. Fans just want to see the title on Monday Night Raw every week, and are seemingly ready to accept a title transition to the frequently loathed Reigns.
This title change should have happened at Wrestlemania 31 in 2015, but instead we’ll get it on Sunday after an extremely long and somewhat tiresome chase from Reigns. The coronation of Reigns won’t be met with resistance but it also won’t be accepted as meaningful. It just serves as a means to an end. Let’s make the title switch and move on.
Although, don’t count out a Money in the Bank cash-in before the end of the night.
Prediction: Reigns defeats Lesnar for the Universal Championship
WWE Championship: A.J. Styles (C) vs. Samoa Joe
For many fans, this is the true main event of the evening. The best wrestler on the planet, A.J. Styles, is defending the WWE Championship against the true-to-life badass, Samoa Joe. It’s far from the first time the two have met in the squared circle as their history dates back to the early days of TNA Wrestling, but it’s the first time they’ll face off in a meaningful bout in WWE.
This match should steal the show considering the chemistry between Styles and Joe, and the wrestling acumen possessed by both. Let’s give the edge to Styles just based on his current high level of success as champion, and the fact these two can have a fantastic return match down the road.
Now ring the bell, and let’s see these two beat the tar out of each other.
Prediction: Styles defeats Joe to retain the WWE Championship
Raw Women’s Championship: Alexa Bliss (C) vs. Ronda Rousey
Ronda Rousey is competing in her second one-on-one championship match just five months into her in-ring career. She has exceeded expectations every time she’s stepped into the ring and is a bona fide mainstream superstar. Ronda Rousey is the future of WWE.
Having said all that, Alexa Bliss should remain Raw Women’s Champion. With Evolution, WWE’s first all-women pay-per-view, around the corner in October, there should be no rush to crown Rousey. Her championship moment should be of the greatest magnitude, in the main event of a major event, which is Evolution.
Rousey will be one of the biggest stars, if the not the biggest star, of the show on Sunday, but she won’t take home her first championship. Alexa Bliss will find a way to eke out a victory, and she’ll do it by nefarious means no doubt.
Prediction: Bliss defeats Rousey to retain the Raw Women’s Championship
Smackdown Women’s Championship: Carmella (C) vs. Becky Lynch vs. Charlotte Flair
Speaking of Evolution… there’s another star in WWE who has the capability of main eventing that pay-per-view. Charlotte Flair is, no doubt, one of the biggest stars in WWE, challenging Rousey for top billing in the women’s division. She’ll be taking on Becky Lynch and Carmella for the Smackdown Women’s title on Sunday.
Charlotte and Becky have been working a program leading up to SummerSlam that focusses on a friendly rivalry which, according to the rules of professional wrestling, means someone is getting stabbed in the back during the match. Charlotte and Becky will put on a great show, and Carmella will sneak in to retain her Women’s title.
Prediction: Carmella defeats Charlotte and Becky to retain the Smackdown Women’s Championship
Daniel Bryan vs. The Miz
The WWE Universe is hoping this isn’t a one-time-only match as Daniel Bryan and The Miz have produced some of the most compelling television on WWE over the past few years. WWE has done a spectacular job of building an emotional, personal conflict between the two superstars both in and outside of the ring, and the hope is that it doesn’t culminate with just one match at SummerSlam.
The Miz will use any method possible to take down Bryan. Former members of “The Miztourage” Bo Dallas and Curtis Axel will be at the show and could play a role in helping Miz win. Miz’s wife Maryse is always close by to lend a helping hand. Triple H has always held some disdain for Bryan. There are several possibilities that could end with Miz picking up a win over Bryan.
Prediction: Miz defeats Bryan
Intercontinental Championship: Dolph Ziggler (C) (with Drew McIntyre) vs. Seth Rollins (with Dean Ambrose)
With the long absence of the Universal Championship, the Intercontinental Championship has increased in value over the past few years. The Miz, Seth Rollins and Dolph Ziggler have all put the title on a higher pedestal.
The match on Sunday, however, is even more interesting now thanks to the added attraction of Dean Ambrose. The “Lunatic Fringe” returned to WWE TV on the final edition of Raw before SummerSlam following an eight month injury layoff due to torn triceps. Ambrose came out sporting a brand new look with shorter hair, a beard and a much more muscular physique.
The new-look Ambrose will be in the corner of challenger Seth Rollins, when he takes on champion Dolph Ziggler, who will have Drew McIntyre in his corner. Ziggler and McIntyre have been some of best stuff on Raw over the past few months, reminiscent of Shawn Michaels and Diesel, the “Two Dudes With Attitudes,” from the early 1990s.
Ambrose’s new look lends to the idea that he also has a new attitude, which wouldn’t seem to bode well for Rollins.
Prediction: Ziggler defeats Rollins to retain the Intercontinental Championship
And the rest…
• Shinsuke Nakamura (C) defeats Jeff Hardy to retain United States Championship
• Kevin Owens defeats Braun Stroman to win Money in the Bank contract
• Finn Balor defeats Baron Corbin
• The Bludgeon Brothers (C) defeat The New Day to retain the Smackdown Tag Team Championship
• The Revival defeat The B-Team (C) to win the Raw Tag Team Championship
• Rusev & Lana defeat Andrade Cien Almas & Zelina Vega in a mixed tag team match
• Cedric Alexander defeats Drew Gulak to retain Cruiserweight Championship