WWE Great Balls of Fire 2017: Updated Match Card and Early Predictions

Despite its unorthodox name, WWE Great Balls of Fire 2017 has shaped up to a strong show on paper with several matches promising to be blockbusters, including the Universal Championship main event between Brock Lesnar and Samoa Joe.

Those two behemoths have been delivering one of the best builds to a pay-per-view match in several years on WWE TV, and it's anyone's guess what will ensue during their epic encounter. However, it is far from the only match fans are looking forward to on Sunday night.

The inaugural installment of Great Balls of Fire will also see the Ambulance match return as Roman Reigns and Braun Strowman rekindle their rivalry. They have been on a collision course for months, and violence is virtually guaranteed in a match of that extreme nature.

Additionally, several other championships will be contested while more heated feuds will reach their boiling point as well. With SummerSlam right around the corner, now is the prime time for Superstars to start making their mark on the Raw roster in an attempt to earn themselves a spot in August 20's loaded lineup.

Days ahead of the anticipated event, let's look at the updated card for Great Balls of Fire and predict who will reign supreme in each matchup.

Neville vs. Akira Tozawa (WWE Cruiserweight Championship)

Credit: WWE.com

Neville has had a stranglehold over WWE's Cruiserweight Division as well as its Cruiserweight Championship since taking the title at the Royal Rumble in January. Month after month, he has overcome every obstacle put in front of him with no end to his ruthless reign in sight.

Meanwhile, Akira Tozawa has been building a stream of momentum for himself as well in recent months, stacking up several victories over the best the division has to offer at the moment. Although The Brian Kendrick and Tony Nese are credible competitors, however, they were nowhere near Neville's level.

I surely thought Austin Aries would win the championship from Neville at some point, and when that didn't happen, it became a question of who would ultimately be the one to dethrone The King of the Cruiserweights. Tozawa quickly came to mind, considering he is one of the few wrestlers in the division who is at least somewhat over with the audience right now.

Furthermore, he's a tremendously talented wrestler and there is no doubt that he and Neville could contest a classic match if allotted the time. I hold out hope that will be the case, but either way, the timing doesn't feel right for Neville to be defeated.

After chasing the champion a little longer, Tozawa just might be ready to replace Neville as the face of 205 Live, but at this point, Neville is better off in possession of the prestigious prize.

Prediction: Neville retains the WWE Cruiserweight Championship.

Enzo Amore vs. Big Cass

Credit: WWE.com

It was pretty apparent from the start of the storyline that Big Cass was the one who had been attacking Enzo Amore for all those weeks, and in the end, that was exactly what happened. It wasn't the predictability that bothered me but rather the idea that it was time to split the two up after only one year on the main roster together.

Mind you, they never had a single run as tag team champions, either on Raw or in NXT; hence why I thought they had a longer shelf life as a tandem. Nevertheless, WWE went through with the split on the June 19 edition of Raw, and they have been forced to make the most of it.

Much to my surprise, both Enzo and Cass have really risen to the occasion in their respective roles as of late, especially Enzo with his emotional promos and much-needed character development. It remains to be seen how Cass does on his own as a heel, but he has all the tools to be a star in WWE.

For now, they will do battle for the first time ever at Great Balls of Fire, and I'm not sure how you go with Enzo over Cass here. The size difference is too significant to justify Enzo scoring the "upset" victory, not to mention it is way too early in the angle for Cass to be getting his comeuppance.

Instead, Cass should ruthlessly beat down on Enzo and cause the contest to be thrown out that way.

Prediction: Big Cass wins.

The Miz vs. Dean Ambrose (Intercontinental Championship)

Credit: WWE.com

First and foremost, this long-running rivalry between The Miz and Dean Ambrose over the Intercontinental Championship needs to reach a definitive conclusion at Great Balls of Fire. Admittedly, I have enjoyed almost everything they have done together as opponents, but it's high time they moved on to fresh feuds.

As Miz has said himself, no one is better in the role of Intercontinental champion at the moment than him. In addition to looking and playing the part to perfection, he has helped raise its stock more than anyone else has in a long while.

Ambrose, on the other hand, did nothing of note while champion and has been better off without the title. Granted, he's still goofing around as much as he was before, but at least he has shown a desire in attempting to regain the gold.

Either way, this feud must end at the pending pay-per-view with Miz decisively defeating Ambrose. The victory may not be 100 percent clean, but it would be ridiculous for the match to conclude with a count-out or disqualification since that was the same story they told at Extreme Rules.

Beyond Great Balls of Fire, perhaps a Shield reunion will finally be in Ambrose's future.

Prediction: The Miz retains the Intercontinental Championship.

Sheamus and Cesaro vs. the Hardy Boyz (Iron Man Raw Tag Team Championship Match)

Credit: WWE.com

It isn't often we see Iron Man matches in WWE, but this feud pitting Sheamus and Cesaro against The Hardy Boyz has escalated to a point where it is the only stipulation that makes sense for them to blow their feud off in. Once those 30 minutes are over, it will be the team with the most amount of victories that walks away as Raw Tag Team champions.

Enzo Amore and Big Cass as well as The Golden Truth splitting up has left the Raw tag team division in dire straits, but these two tandems have been carrying the load with their terrific matches since the spring. Sheamus and Cesaro turned heel at just the right time, while The Hardy Boyz are among one of the most over acts in the entire company.

Their last three title matches have been excellent, so it's safe to say they will once again create magic at Great Balls of Fire in their Iron Man match. It's a stipulation that could favor Sheamus and Cesaro more given their stamina, but The Hardys have held their own exceptionally well in all of their outings.

Looking ahead, there isn't a whole lot of competition for either duo coming out of the event. Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson as well as The Revival are waiting in the wings for tag title shots, so that means it makes more sense to have The Hardys take back the titles on Sunday.

From there, Sheamus and Cesaro can stick together if they'd like, but their second stint as tag team champs was fun while it lasted.

Prediction: The Hardy Boyz win the Raw Tag Team Championship.

Seth Rollins vs. Bray Wyatt

Credit: WWE.com

One night removed from Extreme Rules, Bray Wyatt vowed to exact revenge against each of his opponents from the pay-per-view, first falling to Roman Reigns. Later that evening, he resurfaced and cost Seth Rollins a match against Samoa Joe, kicking off their recent rivalry in the process.

That's the only real reason I could think of why Wyatt is targeting Rollins because nothing else he has talked about lately has made the slightest bit of sense. Even Rollins has felt like he has been treading water in this rivalry because there isn't much substance to it and none of his promos have come across as special.

As a result, it virtually doesn't matter who wins their upcoming battle at Great Balls of Fire. It's extremely likely we will see a rematch regardless at SummerSlam, so whoever loses here is bound to pick up a victory next month.

That is a bad way of booking because once the program runs its course, nothing is accomplished. Wyatt hasn't been much more than a punch line in WWE for many months, and I honestly don't think this feud with Rollins will do anything to breathe new life into his persona.

WWE will throw him a bone with a victory versus Rollins on Sunday, but expect some sort of shenanigans to play a factor in the finish.

Prediction: Bray Wyatt wins.

Alexa Bliss vs. Sasha Banks (Raw Women's Championship)

Credit: WWE.com

For as horrible as WWE has handled Bayley these past few months, they deserve just as much praise for how they have been able to translate the success Alexa Bliss had on SmackDown Live over to Raw. Already, she comes across like the biggest star in the women's division.

With Bayley forced to work her way back up the card, that has allowed Sasha Banks to step in as the next challenger to the Raw Women's Championship. She was hardly handed the opportunity, though, winning a Gauntlet match in the main event of Raw on June 26 to earn her shot at the strap.

Bliss and Banks have worked very well together up to this point and their match at Great Balls of Fire should be one of the night's better bouts. It will also be interesting to see who walks away with the title so close to SummerSlam, where Banks was once widely rumored to face Bayley for the belt.

There has been no official word on whether those plans have changed or not, but one would have to assume Bliss will be involved in SummerSlam in some form or fashion. This program has just gotten underway, and to cut it short any time soon would be a waste.

With Bayley vs. Banks best saved for WrestleMania 34, Bliss should hold onto the gold for at least another month before The Boss inevitably recaptures the championship.

Prediction: Alexa Bliss retains the Raw Women's Championship.

Roman Reigns vs. Brock Lesnar (Ambulance Match)

Credit: WWE.com

Unlike Dean Ambrose vs. The Miz, this is a feud that has run on and off for almost six months, yet I have yet to grow bored of Roman Reigns and Braun Strowman going to war on a weekly basis. They certainly bring the best out of each other and their matches have been proof of that.

Strowman's presence was missed when he sat on the sidelines with an injury during the month of May, going to show how big of a priority he is. He has built up an incredible following as one of Raw's top heels, and having him lose to Reigns would ruin any momentum he has had going.

With it being an Ambulance match, Strowman wouldn't be pinned, but the end goal should be getting him in the Universal Championship picture in time for SummerSlam or beyond. He won't look like much of a threat to the champion if he is reeling from a loss to Reigns at Great Balls of Fire.

As for Reigns, WWE should stick with their supposed original plan of having Reigns contend for the Universal title at WrestleMania 34, according to Wrestling Observer Newsletter (h/t Wrestle Zone). There is plenty of time for him to pick up key victories between now and then, and his gradual rise should not come at the expense of Strowman.

This Ambulance match will be Strowman's time to shine and lead to his becoming an even bigger star than he already is.

Prediction: Braun Strowman wins.

Brock Lesnar vs. Samoa Joe (Universal Championship)

Credit: WWE.com

There truly has not been a more anticipated matchup in recent WWE history than Brock Lesnar vs. Samoa Joe, a blockbuster bout many years in the making. At Great Balls of Fire, it will finally come to fruition and hopefully live up to the lofty expectations fans have set for it.

Fans have every right to set their standards high for this championship clash because the build has been so brilliantly executed. From the get-go, Joe has been positioned as an equal to Lesnar, taking the fight to him at every turn and establishing the Coquina Clutch as a lethal maneuver.

The only issue the feud has faced is, as previously noted, Lesnar dropping the Universal Championship to Roman Reigns is rumored to be the endgame, whether it be at SummerSlam or WrestleMania 34. However, WWE has to realize how hot Joe has gotten in such a short time and at least consider giving him a run with the title.

Realistically speaking, if anyone on the active roster could beat The Beast, it's Samoa Joe, and now would be the time to pull the trigger on that. Unfortunately, that doesn't look like it will be the case, and Lesnar will emerge with his title intact.

If nothing else, let's hope we get one more match out of them after Great Balls of Fire because this program has revitalized Raw when nothing else could.

Prediction: Brock Lesnar retains the Universal Championship.

Graham Mirmina, aka Graham "GSM" Matthews, is an Endicott College alumnus and aspiring journalist. Visit his website, Next Era Wrestling, and "like" his official Facebook page to continue the conversation on all things wrestling.