Titles Most Likely to Change Hands at WWE SummerSlam 2022

WWE is in a state of flux following Vince McMahon's retirement. There could be many changes going forward, and SummerSlam 2022 may see some shifting of the roster with new champions crowned.

All but three of the main roster belts are on the line, and there is a Money in the Bank briefcase in play. The Biggest Party of the Summer certainly has the potential to see titles change hands and the landscape head in a new direction.

Which belts are more in danger of switching owners and which ones are staying put? Let's break down all the titles on the line and the likelihood of each champion holding onto the gold.

Definitely Not Happening: Titles Not Being Defended

Technically, any WWE title is subject to change. However, three championships are not even scheduled to be defended on Saturday, so it is almost a certainty they won't find new homes.

Gunther is feuding with Shinsuke Nakamura, but the intercontinental title hasn't been on a pay-per-view card in over a year. This is either a specific strategy to keep that a SmackDown exclusive or a passive dismissal of the belt.

Even if that match gets added to the lineup, The Ring General is the star of the show, while The Artist is just a challenger set up to lose to him.

The 24/7 Championship is another TV-centric title. It doesn't even appear every week on Raw, but when it does, it changes hands several times in a minute and goes back to Dana Brooke. The belt means next to nothing and no investment will be made in dedicating time to it on SummerSlam.

Lastly, the WWE Women's Tag Team Championship has been in limbo since Sasha Banks and Naomi walked out on WWE in May. Originally, it was announced there would be a tournament to crown new champions, but not a peep has been said since then.

The company likely has no idea what to do with the belts. Considering how poorly booked they have been in the past, it's doubtful the hierarchy will rush something onto the card.

Very Unlikely: United States Championship

Following Money in the Bank, it was announced Theory would get a rematch for the United States Championship. Since then, he has had his attention pulled in a half-dozen other directions while Bobby Lashley has been a non-factor.

Mr. Money in the Bank has been focused on Roman Reigns and Brock Lesnar for a potential cash-in, which has extended to butting heads with The Usos, The Street Profits and Sami Zayn.

Theory has also had tiffs with AJ Styles and been targeted by Dolph Ziggler on numerous occasions, all pointing to different feuds that have nothing to do with the U.S. title.

There is no logic to Lashley winning the United States belt just to drop it back to Theory, who is feuding with other people—particularly since The All Mighty vs. Gunther seems like it's being set up for the traditional champion vs. champion matches at Survivor Series.

Unlikely: Raw Women's Championship

Credit: WWE

Surely, WWE couldn't book Bianca Belair to lose her title to Becky Lynch at SummerSlam two years in a row?

At least, that shouldn't happen, as it would be a statement that the company will always prioritize Big Time Becks over The EST of WWE.

These two have feuded for over a year and WrestleMania 38 should have been the end of it, but WWE looped right back around for yet another match. The theme of this is redemption, with Lynch trying to get back on track while Belair wants to offset last year's quick loss.

It is much easier for Big Time Becks to fail and still keep her credibility than for Belair to come up short and stay at the top of the food chain. That would be the right call, even though WWE could well revert back to Lynch if she's considered a bigger draw to bank on.

Unlikely, but Not Impossible: Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship

The whole hook of the tag team title match is that Jeff Jarrett will not only be a fair and unbiased referee, but he can also offset any potential cheating from The Usos.

At least, that is what WWE wants you to focus on to cast doubt the champions will retain.

The truth is that The Usos don't actively cheat as often as it may seem. It isn't their fault the referee at Money in the Bank didn't see Montez Ford's shoulder being up, as opposed to if they won by using a foreign object or having Roman Reigns interfere.

Jimmy and Jey have a historic reign going on. The more power they have over the tag team division, the more strength they give The Bloodline. Keeping the belts on them makes more sense than to give them to The Street Profits, who WWE keeps teasing might be having issues with each other (despite not showing any of that on screen).

There is more of a chance The Street Profits dethrone The Usos than some other titles on this card, but it is more likely Ford and Angelo Dawkins will break up within a month than be walking into Clash at the Castle on September 3 with these belts.

Unlikely, but Not Impossible: Undisputed WWE Universal Championship

Roman Reigns has been one of the most dominating WWE Superstars of the past decade, but no one has had his number more than Brock Lesnar.

Over the past seven years, the majority of wins have gone to The Beast Incarnate, although though The Tribal Chief has been more victorious recently.

The title would be in jeopardy as it is, but it is magnified by the looming threat of Theory's Money in the Bank cash-in. Reigns could retain the title and still have it stolen.

However, as much as that puts the titleholder in a tough position, there are still elements that offset this from being a certainty.

The Usos and possibly Sami Zayn will be there to support The Tribal Chief, and Paul Heyman can run interference, too.

Reigns has been the main investment for WWE in recent years, and a potential WrestleMania 39 match with The Rock is in everyone's mind for next year.

WWE has set up doubt that Reigns will leave with the title in his possession, but the safer bet is that it's going nowhere.

Possible: SmackDown Women's Championship

Liv Morgan is the sentimental favorite in her match against Ronda Rousey, but that won't mean much in her SmackDown Women's Championship clash.

The former UFC star is not only the bigger draw for mainstream audiences and casual viewers, but she's also several tiers above Morgan in terms of credibility.

Rousey's few losses have come with some asterisks, while Morgan has never been booked strong. Even winning the SmackDown title came via a Money in the Bank cash-in.

It would be a major disappointment for Morgan to lose the title so fast and reset everything. It would be WWE saying the experiment was just to get people talking for a few weeks, give them a happy pop and then go back to business as usual, rather than any progression in making a new star.

With that being said, those disappointments do happen. It would be foolish to go into this match saying Morgan is the safe bet, even though she's the champion.

Above all other titles up for grabs on Saturday, this is the one that is in most jeopardy and might be going back to Rousey.

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Anthony Mango is the owner of the wrestling website Smark Out Moment and the host of the podcast show Smack Talk on YouTube, Spotify and everywhere you find podcasts. You can follow him on Facebook and elsewhere for more.