WWE's Summerslam is tomorrow and Knotfest Wrestling has you covered with a full preview and predictions. The show is a big one for WWE, as it's the first premium live event under the eye of Paul "Triple H" Levesque. The card gives us hope for some good action and it should be a fun event overall.
Let's jump into the preview. I asked my Knotfest Wrestling colleagues, Jordan Olds and Colin Young, to chime in with some predictions. They'll be doing a huge post-show on Monday over on the Knotfest Youtube page.
Undisputed WWE Universal Championship Last Man Standing match: Roman Reigns (c) vs. Brock Lesnar
Rob: It feels like the main event of the next big show (Clash at the Castle in the UK) is already set in stone and it's scheduled to be Roman vs. Drew, so I can't imagine WWE going back on that plan, not that Drew vs. Brock wouldn't be a great match. But I don't think Brock needs the win here, really neither of them do. It will be interesting to see how the Last Man Standing gimmick plays into the victory. Maybe it will allow Roman to just squeak by but still be very defeated.
Colin: I hope a natural disaster prevents this match from happening.
Jordan: I hope Brock and Roman get married at the end. It’s the only way we won’t get the match again. But yeah Roman’s gonna win because otherwise what have the past 10 years been for?
Does Theory cash in Money in the Bank?
Rob: I imagine they will do a tease, but the opportunity will quickly evade Theory and the bell won't actually ring and he won't have a chance to cash in.
Colin: I don’t think it’s Theory’s time. With or without Vince.
Jordan: I think Theory will attempt a cash-in but it won't count or whatever.
Raw Women’s Championship: Bianca Belair (c) vs. Becky Lynch
Rob: As much as I want Becky to win, it's still Bianca's time on top, and Becky doesn't really need the title right now. I do know this will likely be an awesome match, as this was the best match on WrestleMania.
Jordan: Bianca’s better win because frankly I’m still hot about last year.
Colin: Bianca’s crowning moment! She had the ultimate Mania main event, but now at SummerSlam, where her initial championship momentum was covered in diarrhea, she can really start over.
SmackDown Women’s Championship: Liv Morgan (c) vs. Ronda Rousey
Rob: I hope they keep the belt on Liv. It's way too early for her to lose, and she has been having great momentum on all the TV shows.
Colin: Liv and Ronda is tough. I think Liv’s time is overdue, but Ronda is Ronda. Maybe a screwy finish that lets Liv retain?
Jordan: I think Liv wins by a Looney Toons ending. She paints a tunnel on the barricade and Rhonda Kabongs into it and then Liv tosses her back in the ring and gets the pin. She mails Rhonda a stick of dynamite mid-match.
United States Championship: Bobby Lashley (c) vs. Theory
Rob: I don't see why Lashley would need to lose here. He should be kept strong for an eventual return to the world title picture as a face.
Jordan: I think Theory gets a shock clean win. Some of these titles gotta change hands at the big show!
Colin: Theory wins here, then eats shit on the cash in. Bobby gains absolutely nothing from being U.S. Champion.
Undisputed Tag Team Championship: The Usos (c) vs. The Street Profits (Jeff Jarrett special guest referee)
Rob: The Street Profits need to win this or they look like a bunch of losers. But the Usos have been on such a great run. If the Profits don't win, perhaps one of them turns on the other? I predict the Profits win, though.
Jordan: I think Street Profits win because you need a feel-good title win on the show.
Colin: This is one of those matches that I’ve seen a billion times but ends up being good every time. I think since it’s a big show, and Usos win every other time, Street Profits are taking it.
Logan Paul vs. The Miz
Rob: Logan Paul isn't agreeing to lose to the Miz, nor does it even make sense for him to do so. Logan is here to get WWE publicity, so expect something whacky to happen that will get mainstream press talking. Either way, Logan wins.
Jordan: Maryse will look cool as hell. Logan will win. I will be making a snack during this.
Colin: Logan needs to get the win to justify whatever insane amount of money they’re paying him.
Seth Rollins vs. ??
Rob: The cool answer for this match would be Johnny Gargano, but the safe answer is AJ Styles. Either way, I see the mystery person winning.
Jordan: It’s gotta be Gargano right? Gargano will win because divorced Joker era Seth is bullet proof somehow.
Colin: Truly not a clue, but this is easily what I’m most excited about. Just let Seth face a mystery opponent forever and have 25-minute show stealers four times a year.
Pat McAfee vs. Happy Corbin
Rob: In my head, McAfee is a more entertaining wrestler than Corbin. I would love to see him win this one.
Jordan: Pat is gonna squash Corbin while eating mac and cheese bites from Sheetz.
Colin: Pat is the only actual babyface on the roster, and he isn’t even on the roster. Pat goes over clean as a whistle here.
No DQ: Rey and Dominick Mysterio vs. Finn Balor and Damian Priest
Rob: It feels like they are setting up some sort of angle here. Maybe Edge returns to help Rey and Dominick?
Jordan: Finn and the gang will win and then Edge will return hopefully with a less hilarious haircut.
Colin: Dominick will turn and cost them the match. So either way, we all lose.
Who do you think will be going home victorious at SummerSlam? Hit us up on @KNOTFEST with your predictions!
Linda McMahon Asked About Vince McMahon's Retirement
Vince McMahon's estranged wife Linda McMahon was at a political event earlier today (the American First Policy Institute Summit in Washington, D.C to be exact) and was asked by a Fox News reporter about Vince's recent retirement and hush money payments. It was incredibly awkward. The guy in the back makes the video.
Less awkwardly, Triple H addressed reporters at a public tryout about taking over for Vince, and gave a very diplomatic answer.
"There are a massive pair of shoes to fill that I'm trying in some way to step into but I do not dream, for one second, that I can fill those shoes by myself. It's going to take a lot of us, it's going to take a team, it's going to take everybody here to fill those shoes and continue this on but we will."
"The intent is to continue the legacy of what has been going on, what made me fall in love with this business that he created, and to take it to new levels and to take it beyond where it is now," Levesque continued. "The only way we're going to do that is with a team. That's with Steph, that's with Nick Khan, that's with myself, that's with Kevin Dunn, that's with everybody that is here, that is with all this talent. We have the greatest, hardest working talent in the world. I have no doubt in my mind that with this team that we can do it."
Triple H also noted he has a clean bill of health.
NBA All-Star Dwight Howard Visits WWE Tryout
Eight-time NBA all-star Dwight Howard showed up at the WWE tryouts in Nashville this week, ahead of SummerSlam creating a buzz online. Howard was scene cutting a promo under the moniker of "Sho’nuff," a reference to the villain from the 1985 movie The Last Dragon. Here are some videos…
Weekend Wrestling Preview
Here’s what’s announced for tonight's Smackdown on Fox at 8pm eastern, on the eve of WWE Summer Slam:
- Sheamus vs. Drew McIntyre in A Good Old Fashioned Donnybrook Match
- Aliyah vs. Lacey Evans
- The New Day vs. The Viking Raiders
- Maximum Male Models unveil their 2022 beachwear collection.
- Perhaps some clues as to who Seth Rollins is facing and maybe a setup for Nakamura vs. Gunther?
AEW Rampage, Friday on TNT has two matches announced so far:
- Jay Lethal, Satnam Singh, Sonjay Dutt vs. Best Friends (Orange Cassidy, Chuck Taylor, Trent Baretta)
- ROH World Champion Claudo Castignolli addresses the crowd
- Anna Jay-AS vs. Ruby Soho
- Ethan Page vs. Leon Ruffin
- Matt Sydal vs. Lee Moriarty
Starrcast is this weekend and there are a ton of panels on FITE, as well as some great shows. The big one is Ric Flair's last match on Sunday, July 31st on FITE TV and PPV. The final card is:
- Ric Flair & Andrade vs. Jeff Jarrett (w/ Karen Jarrett) & Jay Lethal
- Impact World Championship: Josh Alexander (c) vs. Jacob Fatu
- Impact Knockouts Championship Three-Way: Jordynne Grace (c) vs Deonna Purrazzo vs. Rachael Ellering
- Ricky & Kerry Morton (w/ Robert Gibson) vs. Brian Pillman Jr. & Brock Anderson (w/ Arn Anderson).
- AAA featured match: Rey Fenix vs. Laredo Kid vs. Taurus vs. Bandido
- The Wolves (Davey Richards & Eddie Edwards) vs. Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin)
- Killer Kross (w/ Scarlett Bordeaux) vs. Davey Boy Smith Jr.
- Ren Narita vs. Yuya Uemura
- Jonathan Gresham vs. Nick Wayne vs. Alan Angels vs. Konosuke Takeshita
- Ricky & Kerry Morton (w/ Robert Gibson) vs. Brian Pillman Jr. & Brock Anderson (w/ Arn Anderson).
- The Von Erichs (Marshall & Ross Von Erich) vs. The Briscoes (Jay & Mark Briscoe)
- Bunkhouse Battle Royal with participants to be announced
There are some cool indie shows this weekend too. Here's the Black Label Pro card:
Also, tonight GCW presents a stacked card for "The People vs. GCW" also on FITE. Here's the card:
Right before, WWE Summerslam, New Japan Pro Wrestling's US division is doing a show. Here's the lineup:
Of course, the G1 Climax continues. Here's a preview of night 8 and night 9.
Finally, here's Macho Man with Grimace to kick your weekend off right. You can always follow me @robinjection on Instagram and Twitter and @Squaredcirclpit
