Turning Up The Heat-Predictions For Sunday

Hey all,

Crowd Coach here with my first WWE related article in quite some time, so let's get to it. Sorry about having to use the SummerSlam poster as a pic, Getty gave me nothing, and I couldn't use the original SummerSlam logo due to the wideness of it. In any event, the body is more important than the picture. So here we go.

It's about 3 hours before I get going to the theatre, and I have to say a few storylines this year have me waiting on SummerSlam as if it were Christmas. Something that is hard to do for a fan like me who's pretty crass towards some of the WWE's creative decisions lately, having started watching when Hulkamania was running wild, and SummerSlam was presenting its second installment. But as I said, I am really looking forward to everything this year, and hope my record ends well.

PREDICTIONS BEGIN BELOW:

1) Divas title: Alecia vs. Melina

I still love Melina's entrance and her primal scream, but we likely won't hear it tonight. Have to say, kissing Edge has passed some talent to Miss Fox, at least on the mic. Fox will likely have all she can handle with the wily veteran, but in the end, this reign will continue with either a roll up with Alecia holding the tights, or a DQ win for the challenger. She's home you know. Anyhoo, I'm picking Alecia to retain.

2) SES vs. Big Show

So, they're all baldies, including Serena. I feel like watching that Whose Line episode where Ryan Stiles is "rounding up the Bald gang" in a playing of Let's make a Date. But I digress. I think the point of this match is to make Big Show look solid, but to also resolidify the SES and Joey Mercury's place in the group. Having said that, this old school Giant vs. team match will end differently than the TV productions where it was enhancement talent losing to the big guy. Mercury will likely set up the pin/submission, and Punk will swoop in with a cover or maybe even lock in the Anaconda Vice on Show's injured hand. See, I still watch. SES win it.

3) Miz's decision

I can see this happening a few diff ways, which is what makes things more exciting. Either Miz will accept, and be attacked by members of Nexus. Then, during the match, with WWE in a hole, "I came to Play" will hit, and the hometowner will emerge and go crazy on Nexus, with a few elims. Another way is that Bret or Cena already have a replacement (e.g. Triple H, who is in town or can you imagine, Jim Neidhart?? That would make me mark out for sure) and Miz is turned down. He'll take his aggression out on Team WWE at the worst time, costing them the match, or will decide to beat down one of the two men in the WWE title match. However, I don't see him cashing in tonight...I think Night of Champions would be a much better fit. I would love to see him interject himself in a one on one, making it a triple threat match. His mic skills and increasing ability between the ropes can definitely make up for his heelishness, and make the idea of him not just attacking and cashing in work. We'll have to see what happens.

4) IC Title: Ziggler vs. Kingston

This will likely be the opener, to get the crowd hot. All I can say is, it's about damn time!! Do you realize it took Ziggler 31 IC title contests to finally win it?? Even worse, had it not been for Vickie Guerrero, he'd still be chasing it. Ziggler now has been given a ball. It's his turn to run with it. I predict a good 20 min match with Ziggler retaining, possibly even cleanly. There was a rumor this would be changed to a 6 man. While I'd love to see that, it might make things a bit too crazy for an opening contest. Let's stick to this feud. So yes, Ziggler is my pick.

5) World Heavyweight Title: Kane vs. Rey

In short, Rey doesn't need the win and Kane really deserves to retain. The big Red Monster and the Master of the 619 will likely have an entertaining bout, but in the end, whether they have Kane go over and THEN open the casket, or just have it end with a double countout or something of that nature is irrelevant. The end result will have Kane with the title, and the Undertaker hot on his heels. The only question is...is there any conceivable way they could top Taker's return last year, replacing the body of Jeff Hardy in mid ring?? My jaw is still on the floor from that. Kane retains, Taker returns, SD gets another hot feud to work with.

6) WWE Title: Sheamus vs. Orton

This one is wayyyyyy too close to call. I have prided myself on predicting the career, win for win, loss for loss of the Celtic Warrior, dating back to the battle royal where his won his first title shot. Not many had him winning the match, let alone the title weeks later, but I got em both. But this match is much different than it was at the Royal Rumble the next month. Instead of Sheamus being a bit more under the gun, he now has Orton all to himself...and yet, with no backup, The Viper is now more dangerous. I want to say Sheamus will keep the gold, as this is the 100th reign, and I'd like to see them really milk it for all it's worth. But, then there are those who say Orton is so white hot at the moment, that anything less than a title victory would be failure. I tend to agree. At the risk of ending of 8 month streak betting with the Celtic Warrior, I'll have to go with Orton. Unless this Nexus/Sheamus truce thing has anything to do with the future plans. I'm just really excited to see this match, maybe even a bit more than the next one.

MAIN EVENT: Team Nexus vs. Team RAW

Notice I didn't call them Team WWE...yes Bret is on the team, and he's not exactly a RAW superstar, but his last job was as the brand's GM, not to mention he has NEVER appeared on SD! So, really, this is Team RAW, cuz no blue brand talent are on the team.

On to the pick. The smart money is on Nexus. The reason isn't so much cuz everyone I talk to have someone turning on the team. It's more about the fact this is a crossroads...and Nexus needs to win to keep things looking good. Maybe they'll have another at Survivor Series, which was brought back just for this year, likely to give Taker his 20th anniversary proper. But tonight, Nexus will reign supreme. Oh, you want to see if I think Cena will be the turncoat or not?? Will it be the 7th man?? Could be him. But Cena?? While I believed it would be before, with a double turn (Miz-Cena), I don't now. After all, from a business standpoint, it would be death. My pick, if anyone turns is....

John Morrison.

Yes, I said Morrison. It worked for Miz, and we know he can pull it off, so why not give him his Rick Rude-like gimmick and throw him into the fire?? Maybe the Nexus didn't want to serve the old guard. Maybe, as Nexus is about youth, Morrison can say he was tired of being under the glass ceiling created by Cena, Batista, Orton and Undertaker. So, what better way to break it, and make youth served than to give Morrison what he deserves-a hot storyline. Oh, yeah. JoMo is also from LA.

There's no way to know if you can do it unless you put yourself in the position to do it yourself. So, let's let go of Morrison's hand and let him cross the street. Plus, that slow mo entrance is just cool.

So, there is my look at SummerSlam 2010. Let's see how I do later tonight, when WWE presents the 23rd annual event from Los Angeles at 8 p.m. Eastern. You know I'll be watching.

Till next time,

This is your Crowd Coach, signing off.