WWE SummerSlam 2015: B/R Expert Match Predictions and Analysis
Brooklyn, New York, is the center of the sports entertainment universe this weekend, as WWE rolls into town for a weekend-long extravaganza.
WWE has pulled out all the stops for this weekend. Not only are there two massive events on back-to-back nights (NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn will be held in the Barclays Center the night before SummerSlam), but WWE has brought in big-name celebrities such as Jon Stewart and Stephen Amell to take part.
The WWE Universe will see the return of The Undertaker, and there is speculation that Sting and The Rock could make special appearances. That's all on top of a card that features 10 matches in a pay-per-view that's so big that WWE added an extra hour.
It's so big, in fact, that Bleacher Report has brought in an all-star team of its own to provide match predictions and analysis of The Biggest Party of the Summer. It's time to meet the group and get ready for SummerSlam on Sunday.
SummerSlam Panel of Experts
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We’ve compiled a great panel composed of members of the Bleacher Report WWE team to answer tough questions about each match on the SummerSlam card.
Additionally, they’ll give us their predictions on the Superstars they think will walk out of the Barclays Center as winners on Sunday.
Our panel consists of:
- Brad Jones (@beardjones)
- Aaron Bower (@aaronbower)
- Erik Beaston (@ErikBeaston)
- The Doctor Chris Mueller (@BR_Doctor)
So it's time to strap up the laces and get ready to rumble. The predictions start now.
Kevin Owens vs. Cesaro
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True or False: Neither Kevin Owens nor Cesaro will be WWE heavyweight champion in his career.
Erik Beaston (EB): False. Triple H has put so much effort into the Kevin Owens character down in NXT that it is incredibly difficult for me to see a scenario in which the former Ring of Honor star does not one day capture the big belt. Especially after Vince McMahon is out of the picture and the current COO has the opportunity to shape and mold the company in his vision. Unfortunately, I don’t think Cesaro has the support that Owens does.
Match Prediction: Kevin Owens
Aaron Bower (AB): False. Although it’s too early to determine whether Kevin Owens has got the potential to make the main event in WWE, all the signs point toward Cesaro being on the verge of a serious main event push. The similarities between the rapidly growing "Cesaro Section’" each week on Raw and the YES! Movement a couple of years ago are all too obvious, and hopefully it leads to Cesaro finally getting his shot with a major title. He’s got all the attributes required to be WWE world heavyweight champion, and he’s arguably WWE’s most popular babyface right now. If handled correctly, Cesaro could be champion within a year.
Match Prediction: Cesaro
Chris Mueller (CM): False. Based on how much WWE has changed over the past few years, it seems like it is willing to give the guys from the indy scene more exposure. Talents such as CM Punk, Daniel Bryan and Seth Rollins have ascended, and with much of the old guard being out of the picture, WWE has to start putting guys such as Owens and Cesaro in the hunt for the title. If anything, Cesaro’s recent performances prove that he’s ready.
Match Prediction: Kevin Owens
Brad Jones (BJ): False. Five years ago, that might have been true, but the landscape today is very different. There's no detriment to having earned your stripes on the independent scene—in fact, I imagine many of the veterans behind the scenes can see links to their own experiences touring the territories. Both men have all the tools they need to reach the very top; the only problem is the huge amount of talent in that same position.
Match Prediction: Kevin Owens
Ryback vs. Big Show vs. The Miz
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True or False: The wrestler to best elevate the WWE Intercontinental Championship is in this match.
AB: False. Sadly, having either of these three men in possession of the WWE Intercontinental Championship is a pretty worrying thought for the long-term impact of the title. That might seem a bit harsh on Ryback, who has been out of action and hasn’t had the chance to put some momentum together, but you just feel there are many other guys out there who would add some prestige to the belt. Stars such as Dolph Ziggler, Dean Ambrose and even someone like Rusev could give the title a real shot in the arm, and whoever wins this match at SummerSlam, they need to be put into a worthwhile feud.
Match Prediction: Ryback
CM: True. When it comes down to it, anyone can elevate a title’s reputation with proper booking. The wrestler is important, but it’s the storylines and the matches he wins that make the title look important. Ryback, if he can stay healthy, can do great things for the title. As can The Miz.
Match Prediction: Ryback
BJ: False. Ryback can elevate the title, but there are countless other wrestlers on the roster who could do a better job. However, if WWE is committed to Ryback—and he's not undeserving of that—then he deserves to exit this program with the belt and move on to something better. It's really not fair to critique someone's title run based on a lengthy, directionless feud with two opponents as tedious as Big Show and The Miz.
Match Prediction: Ryback
EB: True. Ryback has done a fantastic job as champion to this point, even after missing time due to the staph infection. He is clearly motivated and is getting the biggest pops of his career. If WWE Creative can back up the momentum he currently has behind him, Ryback has the potential to be one of the better IC champions in recent memory.
Match Prediction: Ryback
Bray Wyatt & Luke Harper vs. Roman Reigns & Dean Ambrose
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Of these four men, who do you think will be the first to claim any WWE title?
CM: Roman Reigns. Despite WWE’s failure to properly book him as a credible contender, Reigns has made great strides. The same fans who were booing him leading up to WrestleMania are now cheering for him every week, and there is no denying that he has improved in the ring and on the mic. Plus, Vince McMahon likes big guys, and Reigns fits the bill.
Match Prediction: Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose
BJ: Luke Harper. For the other three, anything less than the world title would be a step back. For Harper, however, there's plenty of opportunity to be had with the WWE Intercontinental Championship or even the United States Championship. Some people would see that as a negative, but Harper is a standout wherever he is on the card.
Match Prediction: Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose
EB: Make no mistake about it: Roman Reigns is still WWE’s man of the future. The company sees big money and great success in the second-generation star, and I would not think for a moment that any of the other three guys in this match has a chance of obtaining the WWE World Heavyweight Championship before he gets his hands on it.
Match Prediction: Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose
AB: Roman Reigns. Don’t get me wrong, I’d love Bray Wyatt or Dean Ambrose to be the answer to the question, but it seems as though WWE is still high on Reigns and will keep pushing him more and more. If something dramatic happens in this match, like Reigns turning heel, for example, then it will only serve as further proof that he is shooting up the card toward his first major championship win. But even without that dramatic turn, Reigns still looks the most likely.
Match Prediction: Bray Wyatt and Luke Harper
Bonus Question No. 1
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There’s been a lot of speculation about possible appearances by either The Rock or Sting at SummerSlam. Would such an appearance take away from the event?
BJ: It depends. If it's a meaty angle that sets up something for the future, there's value to it. If it's a cameo appearance that takes time away from another more deserving match, then it's really just a detriment to the show.
EB: If anything, I think an appearance by either Rock or Sting would add to the event. WWE has gone above and beyond this year to make SummerSlam feel more like WrestleMania. A memorable, surprise appearance by either of them would enhance the importance of the event and solidify it even further as one of WWE’s marquee extravaganzas.
AB: Given the amount of star power already on the card with the likes of Brock Lesnar, Undertaker and even actor Stephen Amell, it might not be the right time for someone like Sting to return to WWE. With a lean few months coming up as WWE approaches shows such as Survivor Series, those dormant shows would be a much better opportunity for a big name to return with much more of a bang. There’s a fear that a sporadic or random appearance by The Rock, for example, might not cause as much of a stir as if it was done at a show where his presence was really needed.
CM: Not at all. SummerSlam, like WrestleMania, is a spectacle. The more big names participate, the better it is for everyone involved. Anything that brings eyes to the product and creates interest and awareness will help the guys lower on the totem pole get more exposure. WWE may rely on the popularity of past talents a lot, but there is no denying that it works. All an appearance by The Rock or Sting will do is help in the long run.
Dolph Ziggler vs. Rusev
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Has WWE already given up on Rusev?
EB: It certainly feels like it at this point, but there is a glimmer of hope and that is the way he has performed in his current storyline. The Bulgarian Brute has demonstrated strong mic skills, comedic timing and an ability to generate heat without reverting to the one-note anti-American character that he was previously. He will get another shot at a sustainable main event push, but it just might take a bit of time for the opportunity to present itself.
Match Prediction: Dolph Ziggler
AB: No, they’ve just not known how to get him back on the horse after all those defeats to John Cena. There’s little doubting that Rusev has an interesting and unique gimmick, and when he was on that lengthy unbeaten run at the start of his time on the main roster, he had great potential. That potential has not completely disappeared, but it’s vital WWE put together some storylines that can help him find his niche again. Beating Dolph Ziggler could be a start, although WWE has to make sure it doesn’t make Summer Rae and Lana the dominant players in this rivalry.
Match Prediction: Rusev
CM: I don’t think WWE has given up on him. His career is just following a certain path. Everyone who comes in with a big push eventually has to step back and take some losses before they can be built up again. With the exception of Goldberg, just about everyone who has ever debuted with a lot of momentum has had their push stalled within the first year of their run. Rusev will eventually be one of the biggest heels in WWE.
Match Prediction: Dolph Ziggler
BJ: Not at all. Rusev has a long career ahead of him, and despite the low points of this feud, he's going to come out of it stronger than ever. He'll beat Ziggler, and I wouldn't be surprised if he wins Lana back in the process—whether it's at SummerSlam or at a later date.
Match Prediction: Rusev
Sheamus vs. Randy Orton
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On a scale of 1 to 10, how excited are you for this match?
AB: Three. I should be more excited, but there’s nothing even remotely interesting about either the feud or the match itself that gets me pumped for what is likely to be one of the first few matches on the card. WWE should be playing much heavier on Sheamus’ Money in the Bank briefcase and even having Randy Orton attempt to wrestle that away from him. It would have at least created an interesting subplot and gave something for fans to be bothered about. As it is, the biggest priority now is starting to build Sheamus into a potential world champion with some impressive wins.
Match Prediction: Sheamus
CM: Maybe a five at best. Sheamus and Orton have built up an amazing chemistry over the years, but the number of times they have fought each other is ridiculous. The roster is huge, but somehow these two end up fighting each other several times per year. It will be a good match, but it won’t be anything we haven’t already seen.
Match Prediction: Randy Orton
BJ: One. Sheamus vs. Randy Orton sits at the middle of a Venn diagram also featuring Sheamus vs. Alberto Del Rio and John Cena vs. Randy Orton that charts matches that I have no interest in seeing again. Both men can do great work with the right opponent, but there's no zest to this bout to elevate it from filler.
Match Prediction: Sheamus
EB: Can I dip into the negatives here? The fact of the matter is that Randy Orton and Sheamus may both be extraordinary workers, but they have wrestled each other so many times over the last three years that it is difficult to get excited for another showdown between them when you know you’re likely to witness it again. Like so many other rivalries on WWE television, it has been overexposed, and the overwhelming apathy that fans approach this rivalry with is proof of it.
Match Prediction: Sheamus
Stephen Amwell & Neville vs. Stardust & King Barrett
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What is your all-time favorite celebrity appearance at a WWE event?
CM: It’s a tie between Jon Stewart’s segment with Seth Rollins earlier this year and Mike Tyson during the Stone Cold Steve Austin vs. Shawn Michaels feud. Stewart came to play and put his wrestling knowledge on display during his appearance, but nobody can match the level of entertainment provided by Tyson’s appearance and subsequent betrayal of DX in favor of joining Austin.
Match Prediction: Stephen Amell and Neville
BJ: Drew Carey at Royal Rumble 2001. Absolutely ludicrous, but very amusing.
Match Prediction: Stephen Amell and Neville
EB: WrestleMania VII is one of WWE’s most underrated events and, fittingly, Regis Philbin’s role as backstage interviewer is one of the most underrated and underappreciated celebrity appearances ever. The comedic timing he shows while interviewing some of the top stars of the time is fantastic. Even better is the segment in which he is trying to interview Paul Bearer but is constantly interrupted by Undertaker, who is measuring him for a coffin. Great stuff.
Match Prediction: Stephen Amell and Neville
AB: I wasn’t old enough to witness it live, but looking back at Cyndi Lauper’s infamous altercation with Roddy Piper with fondness seems poignant given Piper’s recent passing. It was a time when wrestling and music seemed to go hand in hand, and Piper’s brash arrogance in the face of Lauper solidified him as one of the strongest heels about. You can even flash forward to Lauper’s appearance on Raw a couple of years ago where she bashed Heath Slater over the head with a guitar. She always seemed to make an impact whenever she stepped in a WWE ring!
Match Prediction: Stephen Amell and Neville
Fatal 4-Way for Tag Team Championship
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What booking decisions would you make to change the course of the WWE tag team division?
BJ: I'd announce on the SummerSlam pre-show that Los Matadores have been injured and are unable to compete, but a mystery tag team has been chosen to take their place. That team would be announced as Enzo Amore and Colin Cassady from NXT, who would be given plenty of mic time ahead of the match to ingratiate themselves with the Brooklyn crowd. The New Day would win by a hair on the night, but a lengthy tournament starting from Raw would see Amore and Cassady climb the ranks step by step.
Match Prediction: The Prime Time Players
EB: Personally, I think the talent is there. Right now, the belts are on the wrong team. New Day never should have lost the titles, especially considering how over they were just two months ago. As the heels the division is built around, WWE Creative could have milked that reign for months, simultaneously building up a babyface team to eventually beat them. Instead, they hot-shotted the titles, and now we have a match no one cares about at SummerSlam.
Match Prediction: The New Day
AB: First and foremost, I’d pin the belts on The New Day for a long, long time. They’re by far the strongest team in the division and are the only stars who really seem to be connecting with fans at the moment (with perhaps the exception of Titus O’Neil). They’ll be great champions and flag-bearers for the entire tag division, and beyond that, you can get creative. When The Usos return, bring them back as heels to add depth to that side of the roster and immediately set Luke Harper and Erick Rowan on a destruction path toward the titles when Rowan is back.
Match Prediction: The New Day
CM: None. I think the division is on its way back to being one of the better in the company. The New Day, The Prime Time Players, The Lucha Dragons and some of the teams in NXT have proved themselves to be very capable, and management has done a good job of creating teams that work together well. At this point, it’s just a matter of time.
Match Prediction: The New Day
Bonus Question No. 2
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Do you think WWE’s decision to extend SummerSlam to a four-hour event is the right call?
EB: No. Sure, it gets more acts on the card, but at the same time, fans are already asked to sit through three hours of Raw and two hours of SmackDown on any given week. Add to that the NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn special and you have an ungodly amount of wrestling that WWE is asking fans to dedicate their time to. For those of us who are admitted wrestling nerds, that’s fine. For everyone else, especially those kids going back to school the next day, it is far too much.
AB: No way. WrestleMania should be the only show (if any should be at all) to go four hours; there’s just not enough depth on the card. Having Brock Lesnar vs. The Undertaker as the main event is risky because it could be a complete disaster, and you’re looking at some matches and thinking there’s going to have to be some long bouts on there for it to work. Right now, it’s hard to see where you get four hours of quality entertainment from looking at the show.
CM: Absolutely. If WWE wants SummerSlam to be viewed as the second-largest show, then it has to be set up that way. Four hours is a long time to watch wrestling on a Sunday, but the extra hour will make it so WWE doesn’t have to rush everything. Big moments can sink in properly and putting a few more matches on the card will only serve to help those who get a spot. If anything, SummerSlam should have been extended to four hours the same year WWE made WrestleMania four hours.
BJ: Yes. Now that WWE is in control of its own broadcasting for these events, there's really no reason not to go all-out. Between NXT TakeOver and SummerSlam, this feels like a huge event, which is obviously preferable to one of their most historic PPVs just feeling like any other show.
Team Bella vs. Team B.A.D. vs. Team PCB
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Forecast the WWE Divas division six months from now. Who are you buying and who are you selling?
AB: I’m seeing Sasha Banks as a dominant Divas champion of the future, although the belt might be passed around like a hot potato in the interim given the strength of the division. It’s a fairly obvious answer to the question, but the likes of Banks, Becky Lynch, Charlotte and Paige stand out as the strongest competitors by far. Alicia Fox and Tamina Snuka in particular don’t really seem to fit in at the moment, and Naomi looks like she has work to do to solidify herself as a real threat in the division.
Match Prediction: Team B.A.D (Sasha Banks scores winning pinfall)
CM: Most of the Divas involved in this storyline will still be featured prominently in six months, but some will take a step back. Alicia Fox and Tamina have been given chances to succeed before and fallen short, but Naomi, the Bellas, Charlotte, Banks, Lynch and Paige will still be going strong. Charlotte is being portrayed as the next big thing in the Divas division, but Banks and Lynch are just as talented, if not more so. By WrestleMania 32, one of those three women will be Divas champion.
Match Prediction: Team PCB
BJ: I think Naomi, Paige, Charlotte, Becky Lynch and Sasha Banks will still be the backbone of the division. The other competitors in the Triple Threat, I'm 50/50 on. However, I predict that Natalya will play a bigger role than she is doing at present. There are a lot of great matchups that she could be a part of, and it would be unwise not to take advantage of that.
Match Prediction: Team PCB
EB: Six months from now, Nikki Bella may still be the Divas champion if management has its way. In all seriousness, I don’t think you can sell any of the new call-ups. Charlotte, Lynch and Banks have been fantastic and have changed perceptions of women in the sport. If I had to sell anyone in this match, it would unfortunately be Naomi, who has fallen into the background since the NXT women debuted.
Match Prediction: Team Bella
John Cena vs. Seth Rollins
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True or False: John Cena will break Ric Flair’s record for most WWE world title reigns by the end of 2015.
CM: False. Cena will definitely get to 16 reigns and beyond, but it won’t happen this year. WWE wants to get as much out of Cena as U.S. champion as possible, and putting the WWE title on him right now would be a mistake. WWE needs to bring Ric Flair into the storyline as someone who either wants to help Cena beat his record or stop him by any means necessary.
Match Prediction: John Cena via DQ (no title exchange)
BJ: False. There will be plenty of time for Cena to do that, but now just isn't the right moment. His challenging Flair's record has so much potential, so executing on it at a time when there are so many other moving parts seems like a waste. Down the line, it's an exciting prospect though, and I'm no great fan of Cena.
Match Prediction: Seth Rollins
EB: False. Management's panicked reaction to focus on Cena in the midst of a ratings downturn was understandable, but so much effort has been put into the Seth Rollins character that having him lose the WWE World Heavyweight Championship to Cena Sunday, or anytime afterward, would be a mistake. Cena may be the franchise player and the No. 1 draw, but at some point, the company must sacrifice a few weeks, a few months or even a year of television ratings in order to build the stars of the future that will carry them into the next decade. Keep the title on Rollins or focus on building Reigns to take it off him.
Match Prediction: Seth Rollins
AB: False, although he might tie it. It’s tough to imagine Cena winning the WWE World Heavyweight Championship twice between now and the start of 2016, although one win could well be in the offing in the coming months. Whether it happens at SummerSlam is probably unlikely, given how Seth Rollins doesn’t look like dropping the title in the coming weeks. Expect a controversial and unclean finish to the match at SummerSlam, which will naturally leave the door open for Cena to go again at the next pay-per-view.
Match Prediction: Seth Rollins
Brock Lesnar vs. The Undertaker
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How much confidence do you have in The Undertaker headlining SummerSlam?
BJ: A great deal of confidence. He hasn't had a great match since he met CM Punk at WrestleMania 29, but there's been a different energy to his appearances in the last few weeks. He looks ready to give 100 percent against Lesnar, and given the history between the two, we might be looking at an instant-classic main event.
Match Prediction: Brock Lesnar
EB: It is popular to look back at the last two WrestleManias and say that The Undertaker is done or washed up. In both cases, though, there were outside forces that determined the quality of his last two matches. He suffered a severe concussion against Lesnar, and opponent Bray Wyatt was working with an injured ankle when they clashed this past April. Undertaker would not have come back, nor would he risk his legacy, if he thought he could not be the guy he used to be. Barring injury, expect a much better match than the last war with the Beast.
Match Prediction: The Undertaker
AB: Toughest question of the bunch until the end. Undertaker’s prestige and reputation make him a worthy main event star for a show like SummerSlam, but question marks remain over what sort of performance he can bring to the table when closing such a major show. He looked jaded against Bray Wyatt (although admittedly, he looks in better shape here), and Lesnar is a notoriously tough worker who could inflict a few bumps on Taker throughout the course of the match. Should Taker’s fitness hold through (there’s no reason to suggest it won’t), then yeah, he’s a great guy to have in the main event. But don’t expect a winner.
Match Prediction: No-contest
CM: The Undertaker is more than capable or headlining SummerSlam because he is working with an opponent that can mask his shortcomings. At his age, Taker can’t do what he once could, but he is still the man who has exceeded expectations in more big-match situations than anyone else on the roster. It might not be a classic encounter, but his match with Lesnar is about the story, not the match itself.
Match Prediction: The Undertaker
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