WWE SummerSlam 2016: Full Breakdown, Predictions for Entire Match Card

Big matchups, new champions and one final pay-per-view before WWE heads into brand-exclusive shows. WWE SummerSlam 2016 is shaping up to be one of the most exciting pay-per-views in years.

With a stack of intriguing and fascinating matches to run through as the event nears, there is plenty to be excited about for WWE fans.

Will Finn Balor cap off his impressive start on the main roster with gold? Will we see new midcard champions? Can the company's newest tag team defeat one of the hottest on the roster?

All of these questions and more will be answered conclusively this Sunday, but for now, here's a look at all the matches that are taking place, as well as some early predictions.

Undercard Matches

Kevin Owens and Chris Jericho vs. Enzo Amore and Big Cass

WWE's newest tag team will take on arguably the most popular duo in the entire company in a match that will likely take place early on at SummerSlam.

The most intriguing aspect of this contest is how long Kevin Owens and Chris Jericho will last as a duo. Will they implode immediately, leading to a feud between the two men? Or will they prove to be a great pairing and even threaten a run at the tag titles?

The obvious scenario is the former, with Owens potentially turning on Jericho following a defeat to Enzo and Cass. More importantly, it would be strange to pin a loss on such an over pairing like The Realest Guys in the Room.

Prediction: Enzo Amore and Big Cass

The New Day vs. The Club (Tag Team Championships)

Will the WWE Tag Team Championships finally change hands on Sunday? The New Day has held the belts for nearly a year, but that could come to an end this weekend.

With Big E absent, this seems like the time for Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows to strike and cement themselves at the head of the tag division.

This could also tie in with a long-term breakup of The New Day. With Big E injured and Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods dropping the straps, he may return frustrated at what has happened while he has been gone.

Prediction: The Club

Carmella, Becky Lynch and Naomi vs. Natalya, Eva Marie and Alexa Bliss

A mixture of experience and new blood will team up on both sides of this divide for what feels like a hastily arranged women's division match.

Who will win? That is anyone's guess. The only real storyline fans have to go on is the constantly delayed debut of Eva Marie.

The babyface wrestlers have been taking serious exception to Eva Marie's excuses for failing to compete, and the same may happen again this weekend.

With Natalya and Alexa Bliss finding the numbers game against them, expect the babyfaces to score a win.

Prediction: Carmella, Becky Lynch and Naomi

Midcard Matches

Roman Reigns vs. Rusev (United States Championship)

Will Roman Reigns prove to be the man who ends Rusev's lengthy and impressive reign with the United States Championship?

WWE fans will hope that isn't the case. Rusev has been a fine custodian of the championship since he won it at Extreme Rules, and his run as champion shouldn't end any time soon.

Although Reigns is a sound bet to win the title at some point, SummerSlam is too soon for him.

There's still some ground to cover in this rivalry, so ending it now with Reigns winning the United States Championship makes little sense.

Prediction: Roman Reigns

The Miz vs. Apollo Crews (Intercontinental Championship)

There has been precious little of The Miz when it comes to in-ring action of late, so it's difficult to gauge how he will fare this weekend.

That said, the challenge posed by Apollo Crews should not be sufficient enough to take the Intercontinental Championship away from The Miz.

Crews is not yet ready for a run with a midcard championship, and this feud should be one that helps him get over and lets WWE fans buy into his character more.

As things stand right now, it should be a comfortable victory for The Miz.

Prediction: The Miz

Sasha Banks vs. Charlotte (Women's Championship)

All things considered, Sasha Banks' defense of the WWE Women's Championship against Charlotte could be one of the matches of the night.

Banks and Charlotte have had some great back-and-forth moments throughout this feud since the former claimed the title a few weeks ago, and they should deliver a standout bout this weekend.

But who will win? It's a delicate matter, as pinning another defeat on Charlotte would do her future title prospects no good. 

But if Banks lost the strap so soon after winning, that would have a detrimental impact on her own career.

In this instance, it's probably best handing Banks the win.

Prediction: Sasha Banks

Finn Balor vs. Seth Rollins (Universal Championship)

Can The Demon King silence Seth Rollins at SummerSlam and win Raw's hottest and newest prize?

It's one of the toughest matches of the night to call, as victory for either man seems to make sense.

On one hand, having Rollins win the WWE Universal Championship and become that title's first holder would be fitting, given the impact he has had both since his return from injury and during his run with the WWE World Heavyweight Championship in 2015.

But Balor's explosion on the main roster has been so impressive, with his promo work matching his in-ring ability, that it's hard to imagine him losing this weekend.

That suggests WWE may go down the controversial route, with neither man scoring a clean victory. 

So will it be Balor or Rollins? It's difficult to predict, but to keep Rollins' pursuit of The Demon King going, perhaps the Irishman may just edge out a victory. 

Prediction: Finn Balor

Dean Ambrose vs. Dolph Ziggler (WWE World Championship)

The final edition of SmackDown prior to SummerSlam suggested the WWE World Championship contest between Dolph Ziggler and Dean Ambrose may be better than most suspected.

They both cut great promos at the beginning of the show on Tuesday night, and with Ziggler laying out the champion, it creates a genuine possibility he could well go over.

But will Ambrose's title run end at the hands of Ziggler?

In this instance, probably not. There are other men breathing down the neck of the champion, and in the grand scheme of things, it makes more sense for him to be dropping the title to someone such as Bray Wyatt.

Ziggler will put on an incredible showing that should leave him in a great position, but The Lunatic Fringe has to retain.

Prediction: Dean Ambrose

John Cena vs. AJ Styles

SmackDown's two biggest names will settle their rivalry once and for all at SummerSlam, and logically, there can only be one winner.

John Cena's career is moving in such a way that it seems rational for him to be putting over future main event stars in WWE.

And although Styles is no rookie in terms of age, he has all the credentials to ascend to the main event scene with a crucial victory over Cena.

Once again, they will put on an incredible match for those watching SummerSlam, but unlike the last time, when Cena scored the win at Battleground, Styles should be the victor.

If he goes over clean, the sky is the limit on the blue brand for The Phenomenal One.

Prediction: AJ Styles

Randy Orton vs. Brock Lesnar

When Randy Orton invaded Raw and Brock Lesnar followed suit on SmackDown the following night two weeks ago, fans looked set for a huge interbrand war.

There has been precious little interaction between the two since then, leaving doubt over who the victor will be at SummerSlam.

Does Lesnar's huge unbeaten streak continue at the expense of The Viper? That seems to be the safe bet, but with Orton's standing and reputation in WWE, it's impossible to rule out a shock win for the master of the RKO.

There is plenty of potential for WWE to have a controversial finish, but all the signs suggest it will be Lesnar winning by whatever means possible.

That would keep The Beast as a heel and cement Orton as a babyface following his return from injury.

Prediction: Brock Lesnar