WWE SummerSlam 2012: Predicting the Outcome of Every Match

Caution: This article contains minor spoilers from this week's SmackDown tapings.

SummerSlam is just days away, and that means we know the entire planned card.  Whether or not more matches will be added on the fly is still up in the air.

As of now, we have eight planned matches, counting the pre-show match, and this card is looking like it could be a very entertaining lineup, to say the least.

In this slideshow, we will take a look at every match, and I will try to predict the outcomes using what we know about each feud.

Antonio Cesaro vs. Santino (Pre-Show) US Title Match

Antonio Cesaro holds two wins over Santino already.

Things certainly look bright for Cesaro's future and the US Title will help push him to a point where people will get a chance to see just how good this guy really is.

Cesaro winning the title would accomplish two things: Give a deserving superstar a mid-card title as well as taking it off of a champion who has been less than acceptable as champion.

I see Cesaro getting the win and then entering into a feud with Christian over the belt on SmackDown the following Friday.

Christian is obviously not being looked at as a top guy judging from losses and him holding the IC title shortly after returning from injury. This is why I see him feuding for the US title with Antonio Cesaro.

Kane vs. Daniel Bryan

Daniel Bryan is finally getting the heel reactions WWE has wanted from fans since WrestleMania, which means Kane is the good guy in this equation.

Or is he?

We last saw Kane attacking Daniel Bryan after AJ gave him a very suspicious wink after asking the two to shake hands.

Are Kane and AJ planning some kind of screw-job or is this all just part of the unpredictable direction of AJ's character?

What I do know is this—Bryan is in need of a PPV win after failing to capture the WWE title from Punk on numerous occasions, which is why I think he will win.

The win will not come easy, but a win over Kane never does. I see this match going in a more violent direction due to Bryan's recently increased anger and Kane's already established anger issues.

Seeing if the sub-6'0" vegan can match angry determination with the nearly 7'0" Kane will be interesting, but I see him getting the win in the end.

Dolph Ziggler vs. Chris Jericho

This match really seems to be more of a way to write Jericho off TV for a while and push Ziggler, which is why I feel it is obvious that Ziggler will come away with the win.

Jericho is at a stage in his career where he is looking to help those making their way to the top, and no one is more deserving of a win over Jericho than Dolph Ziggler.

The MITB winner has yet to cash in, but a win over Jericho could give him the confidence he needs to cash in at SummerSlam.

Only time will tell, but this match seems destined to end in Ziggler having his hand raised.

Kofi/Truth vs. Prime Time Players Tag Title Match

With the recent departure of AW from the company this match has become a lot less predictable than it was when PTP won the chance to face the champions.

Without a manager spouting heat-seeking comments from ringside it is going to be interesting to see if WWE still thinks of the PTP as a valuable commodity.

AW added some much-needed heel heat to the team, but now they have to rely on their talent alone, which could mean WWE wants to wait a bit longer to put the belts on them.

I predict they will win the belts from Kofi and Truth, but I would not be surprised one bit to see Kofi and Truth retain the titles either.

These are four talented individuals who will be looking to show everyone that the tag team division can be just as exciting as the singles division, which means they will probably surprise a lot of people and pull out a 4-star match.

Miz vs Rey Mysterio IC Title Match

This match seems like it is just filler. There is no real feud between the two and Miz just won the title a few weeks ago.

I will keep this one short and sweet. Miz will cheat and win to retain his title. Rey will take him out after the match to keep the younger fans happy.

Just because it has no storyline does not mean the match won't be good. These are two highly capable performers and they are no strangers to each other.

This match will be good, but will not be likely to steal the show.

Brock Lesnar vs. Triple H

Brock Lesnar needs this win. It is really as simple as that.

He came into WWE to face Cena and lost, and with the situation being that he is likely to have just one more match after this event he needs to come away with the win.

Triple H can get in the ring any time he wants because he works for the company, but Lesnar has a limited contract and WWE is not likely to pay him as much as they are and then have him lose twice in a row.

Lesnar will win this match, but I have a feeling both men will not walk out of the arena under their own power, setting up the next few months where we are not going to see Lesnar until the build up for WrestleMania begins.

Look for this to be a brutal match with someone bleeding before it is all said and done.

Alberto Del Rio vs. Sheamus

In case you were wondering, this is where those spoilers I was talking about come into play.

Booker T made the match again on this week's episode of SmackDown, which will air Friday night two days before the big event.

These two have faced off so many times in the past that this feud is becoming very stale at this point. The car theft injected a little excitement, but that cooled off quickly.

If WWE were smart, and they did not become a billion dollar company by being stupid, then they would just pull the trigger and give Del Rio the belt.

We need a heel champion after so many months of SmackDown being ruled over by a really tall leprechaun.

I like Sheamus, but he works better as a heel and since WWE seems intent on keeping him as the Irish John Cena then I think Del Rio will come away with the belt.

Giving the World Title to a heel will only make things more interesting in WWE. Miz is the only truly heel champion we have right now and CM Punk is still walking that edge between face and heel.

Del Rio could be what WWE needs to spice things up, which is why I predict he will come away with the gold on Sunday.

CM Punk vs. John Cena vs. Big Show WWE Title Match

Here is the match I am the most unsure about. There is no reason any one of these men could not walk out as Champion.

CM Punk winning would extend his title reign a bit longer and possibly help facilitate the rest of his heel turn.

Cena winning would put him back on top and give us the possible rematch from WrestleMania 28 between himself and the Rock when Rocky faces whoever the WWE Champion is at Royal Rumble.

Big Show winning would be the big swerve, and right now WWE really needs a big swerve.

Just because I have to predict a winner I am going to say CM Punk, but I may as well have flipped a three-sided coin because this match could go in any direction.

This is the match I am most interested in personally because I think WWE has the chance to really shake things up.

Thanks for reading and please feel free to leave your own predictions for the event below.