SUMMERSLAM 2018 PREDICTIONS, MATCH ORDER AND HOLY SHIT RATINGS

I’m really looking forward to this SUMMERSLAM. It’s been quite a while since a card on a major WWE PPV feels as fully formed over a week out from the event…and by and large it makes sense. What is really exciting here is that there are so many permutations as to how the main event, which I assume will be Brock Lesnar vs. Roman Reigns, will play out; and there’s a “Money in the Bank” contract match which will factor into all this…oh and then there’s the whole Paul Heyman situation. I can’t remember a WWE storyline with so many possibilities, not that the WWE can’t figure out a way to screw this all up and leave the fans confused and disappointed…and as good as this PPV could be it will again be overshadowed by NXT TAKEOVER which invades  Brooklyn’s Barclay Center the night before.

As of now there are eleven matches on the card and I have to believe that there will be a few modifications and probably two pre-show matches. Here are my predictions, match order and “Holy Shit” (💩) expectations for the event. If need be I will update all this after the RAW and SMACKDOWN LIVE “Go Home” shows.

Here we go gang

The Miz vs. Daniel Bryan💩💩💩1/2 (Match Order: Seventh) Here’s where the card kicks it up a notch. I know this looks like a low “Holy Shit” score but I think that this is the beginning of a long program that may take us all the way to WRESTLEMANIA so they can’t leave it all in the ring…unless Bryan does not re-sign in which case this is a 💩💩💩💩💩 match. Miz will win in some questionable way but strap in for months of this feud.

Baron Corbin vs. Finn Balor💩 (Match Order: Fifth) Bathroom break. Finn wins.

The Bludgeon Brothers vs. The New Day (SmackDown Tag Team Championships)💩1/2 (Match Order: Sixth) God I hope it’s the New Day but I think the Bludgees retain in a short match. A shame given the phenomenal ND/Bar match on SMACKDOWN.
UPDATE: It's my prerogative to change my mind and, given the in-ring level that the New Day is operating at right now I think they will take back the belts.

Dolph Ziggler vs. Seth Rollins (Intercontinental Championship)💩💩💩💩 (Match Order: Fourth) These guys can wrestle but this has been going on for so long. I guess Seth wins with Drew McIntyre stepping in for Rollins’ next program. Dean Ambrose may appear here either to help or turn on Rollins.
UPDATE: Well Ambrose showed up on Monday and looked fantastic. This match is going to be pandemonium and should set up many story lines for these solid performers. I'm elevating the "Holy Shit" level to 💩💩💩💩💩

Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Jeff Hardy (United States Championship)💩💩💩1/2 (Match Order: Second) This should be a solid match and keep the buzz going from the KO/Strowman battle. The WWE has prevented Shinsuke from realizing his full potential having totally blown his program with AJ Styles which I thought would steal the show at WRESTLEMANIA. There are rumors Nakamura may be returning to NJPW but I think he will retain. Oh, and Randy Orton will play some role here probably helping Shinsuke win and then turning on him.

Braun Strowman vs. Kevin Owens (Money in the Bank contract is on the line)💩💩💩💩 (Match Order: First) I know that you want to start with an action-packed, high-flying battle and these two lunks, although they can move, will not deliver that kind of match. However, this battle will have a major impact on the main event and the result can play through the rest of the four plus hour show which leads me to believe that Kevin Owens (my hero) is going to find a way to wrest the MITB briefcase from Strowman and factor into the Lesnar/Reigns outcome.
UPDATE: Given Monday's RAW it's clear that Paul Heyman is going to play a significant role here. A Heyman/KO alliance with KO holding the belt would be awesome. I'll hold out hope.

Carmella vs. Becky Lynch vs. Charlotte (SmackDown Women's Championship)💩💩1/2 (Match Order: Third) Two of these women can wrestle and one cannot and she will retain in a way where Becky and Charlotte will start their program.

Alexa Bliss vs. Ronda Rousey (Raw Women's Championship)💩💩💩💩 (Match Order: Ninth) I have become a Ronda Rousey believer and she will defeat Miss Bliss who will put in a surprisingly solid performance here and there will be a Natty turn either during or before the match. This could turn into a three against one (with Mickie James thrown in) to give Rousey a daunting challenge. Guaranteed to exceed expectations.
UPDATE: Well Natty is probably out for this Sunday and if she does show up I doubt she will turn on Rousey. Also it appears that Alicia Fox is the new Mickie James. I haven no idea how all this will impact the match but I still think that there will be a title change here.

AJ Styles vs. Samoa Joe (WWE Championship)💩💩💩💩💩 (Match Order: Eighth) This will be the match of the night with two veterans who know each other really well and, you may remember, both had top shelf contests against Brock Lesnar in the past year. It’s going to be a brutal strong style match. Should be Joe but I think AJ retains.

Brock Lesnar vs. Roman Reigns (Universal Championship)💩💩💩💩1/2 (Main Event) What’s really exciting isn’t the match itself which will be brutal, violent and fairly quick but what happens before and especially after. I’m assuming Heyman does not come down with either of these dudes. There are so many possibilities but the one I’m rooting for is a Reigns win and an Owens run in to beat an exhausted Reigns for the belt and then an alignment with Heyman. If I’m wrong about KO then Strowman runs in and Roman beats him as well to overcome the two monsters, solidify his position as top dog and then turns with Heyman as his advocate. The anticipation for this will be huge.

To summarize in match order and projected winner (*)

Strowman v. Owens* 💩💩💩💩
Nakamora* v. Hardy 💩💩💩1/2
Carmella* v. Lynch v. Charlotte 💩💩1/2
Ziggler v. Rollins* 💩💩💩💩💩
Corbin v. Balor* 💩
Bludgeon Bros. v. New Day* 💩1/2
Miz* v. Bryan 💩💩💩1/2
Styles* v. Joe 💩💩💩💩💩
Rousey* v. Bliss 💩💩💩💩
Reigns* v. Lesnar 💩💩💩💩1/2

Summerslam Bottom Line: 💩💩💩 ½ Holy Shits

Summer Slam Chili: 💩💩💩💩💩💩