SummerSlam 2023 Preview
Predictions for the WWE's Second Biggest Event of the Year
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This week, I’m doing a bit of a change of pace and turning away from politics. Earlier this year, I wrote a piece where I ranked the best WrestleManias of all time. Tonight, WWE will present its second biggest Premium Live Event of the calendar year, SummerSlam. This year’s SummerSlam emanates from Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan. This article will be a preview of each match on the card followed by a prediction of the result. As many casual viewers of pro wrestling know, this product is scripted. So, these predictions will be based on how I think WWE will “book” (script) these matches and the storylines/feuds that may come out of these results.
Here we go…
MMA Rules Match: Ronda Rousey vs Shayna Baszler
At the last WWE premium live event Money in the Bank, longtime friends and tag team partners and then Women’s Tag Team Champions Ronda Rousey and Shayna Baszler lost their tag team titles after Baszler struck Ronda Rousey from behind. The explanation, as best as I could tell, from Shayna was that Ronda wasn’t a good enough friend and that she used Shayna’s skills to lift herself up. Baszler argued that she helped bring Rousey into WWE but Ronda got a fast track to the top of the roster whereas Shayna had to fight her way to stardom. Ronda still feels betrayed by Shayna. In very good promo segments this last week on Raw, each women laid out their case for the dissolution of their friendship.
The stipulation for the match is MMA Rules - not necessarily a match in a UFC-style octagon, as I understand it. But it should be a more brutal affair. I expect a pretty even handed bout rated 3 out of 5 stars and one where Baszler emerges the winner. The rumor surrounding this match is that Ronda Rousey’s contract with WWE is up and it may be the time when Ronda leaves the organization. This would be a perfect send off for Rousey to give her real life close friend a big win on a big stage. Perhaps after the match, the two women reconcile to give the crowd a feel good moment.
SummerSlam Battle Royal
Battle royals are hard to predict as there are so many competitors but typically, when booked right, these matches are used to elevate a mid card wrestler who could use a big boost or push. Out of the competitors here, I think that means either LA Knight or Sheamus win here. I’m picking Knight because he is so incredibly over with the WWE fans right now. This, I believe, can push him the best way possible short of a title victory. Let’s hope the WWE “pulls the trigger” here and pushes LA Knight to the win here in a 3 star match, which can set him up for a feud for a title moving forward.
Ricochet vs. Logan Paul
In what I believe may be the show stealing match of the card, self-proclaimed mega star and social media influencer Logan Paul battles the high flying but often underrated Ricochet. In his short time in WWE, Paul has proven himself in some major events as an innovative and exciting performer in the ring. Ricochet, now having been on the main roster for about five years, hasn’t had as many moments outside of the Money in the Bank Ladder matches. In a one on one environment, I’m looking forward to see if he can provide the same excitement. Paul has said he wants some viral moments and I believe we will get them.
This match is really based on wanting to one up each other, with Paul playing the arrogant heel and Ricochet the likable babyface. I do expect Paul to win here as I see the WWE pushing him more in the future. He brings in the cash and casual fans. And I think he will go over clean in a 4 star match with lots of high-flying moves and near falls.
WWE Intercontinental Championship Match: Gunther (Champion) vs. Drew McIntyre
In one of the best matches of 2023, Gunther successfully defended his Intercontinental Title against Sheamus and Drew McIntyre at WrestleMania. The match was vicious and well paced and it really showcased power, brutality, and talent. After successfully defending his Intercontinental Title at Money in the Bank, Gunther was greeted by a returning McIntyre. Since then, the match has been made official for SummerSlam. McIntyre said he lost at WrestleMania because he and Sheamus were too focused on one-upping each other which allowed Gunther to take advantage and win the match. The build has been kind of weak honestly outside of an epic powerbomb to Gunther by Drew through the announce table.
Gunther is in the midst of an historically long Intercontinental Championship run. I think they want Gunther to break the record for longest Intercontinental Championship reign. He beats McIntyre in a 4 star match full of brutality. I think McIntyre loses cleanly here so not to tarnish Gunther’s seeming invulnerability. McIntyre may not take this loss well and his anger could be used after SummerSlam in a heel turn. Gunther, in my opinion, may be set up for a title loss eventually but now is not the time.
WWE Women’s Championship Match: Asuka (Champion) vs. Charlotte Flair vs. Bianca Belair
At Night of Champions in May, Asuka managed to use her patented mist and brutal kicks to beat Bianca Belair and end the longest women’s championship reign of the modern era. A few weeks later, as Bianca was in the midst of negotiating a rematch with Asuka for the title she lost, Charlotte Flair returned to challenge Asuka for the Women’s Championship. Bianca interfered in the Charlotte-Asuka title contest after Charlotte accidentally hit her, causing a disqualification and Asuka to retain the belt. In the midst of all of this, Iyo Sky won the Women’s Money in the Bank ladder match, giving her a year-long chance to “cash in” and challenge a women’s champion for the belt. Multiple times in the last few weeks, Sky has tried to cash in but the cash in was never officially started, mostly due to her Damage CTRL leader Bayley trying to help but either hesitating or getting beat up before giving the referee the Money in the Bank briefcase.
The build to a triple threat between Asuka, Charlotte, and Bianca has otherwise been not so great. But the three women are tremendous athletes, three of the best women to ever compete in WWE. So, I expect a 4 star match. Because of the weak build failing to give me clues as to who should be booked as the winner, this may be the hardest match to predict on the card.
Here’s my thought on what will happen. While Asuka has mostly been booked as a short-term champion to build better booked women such as Flair and Belair, I think Flair and Belair fall short here. My prediction is actually for a later feud between Bianca and Charlotte leading up to a match at next year’s WrestleMania. Belair has beaten three of the best women of the modern era the last three WrestleManias and Charlotte is the greatest of the modern era and so I think they are eventually setting up Bianca to beat Charlotte next year. I do think Asuka retains the title. But I think after the match, Iyo Sky cashes in her Money in the Bank contract and pins Asuka, giving the show a big time moment. This result preserves an eventual Flair-Belair feud and can start a long anticipated feud between Iyo and Asuka over the title, with Bayley ultimately out of jealousy turning on Iyo and setting up their feud.
Cody Rhodes vs. Brock Lesnar
After coming up short in the main event Undisputed WWE Universal Title match at WrestleMania, Cody Rhodes was set to team with Brock Lesnar against Roman Reigns and Solo Sikoa. Before the match began, Lesnar delivered an F-5 to Rhodes and beat him up mercilessly. This led to a match at Backlash in early May between Lesnar and Rhodes in which Cody barely beat Brock by pinning Brock’s shoulders to the mat as Brock had Cody locked in a submission hold. Angry over the loss, Lesnar assaulted Rhodes on Raw two days later after costing him a win in a World Heavyweight Championship tournament match. This led to a rematch at Night of Champions where Lesnar emerged the victor after causing Cody to pass out in his submission hold (Cody never submitted, mind you). In the Raw after Money in the Bank, Rhodes appeared ready to challenge Seth Rollins for the World Heavyweight Championship, but not before Lesnar interrupted and a fight between the two men ensued. Since then, Lesnar has brutalized Cody, even in front of Cody’s family.
I do wish there was a stipulation for this third Brock-Cody encounter since it has been so vicious and personal - a Last Man Standing match maybe would suffice. I think that would have elevated the match to a higher level than just a rubber match. For the prediction, the match itself will likely be very intense. It should last longer than the typical shorter Lesnar match, as the two matches with Rhodes have been longer matches.
I think Cody emerges the winner and has a cleaner and more definitive win via a pinfall in a 3.5 star match. Lesnar is more of a part timer now and Cody will need to emerge the winner to redeem himself after being brutalized by Brock for most of the leadup to the match. I think the feud ends here and Cody moves on to another feud. Who that may be with, I’m not sure. One possibility is a feud with a returning Randy Orton. Orton and Rhodes go way back to Cody’s early days in WWE over a decade ago, when Orton began the Legacy faction with Cody and Ted DiBiase Jr.
World Heavyweight Championship Match: Seth Rollins (Champion) vs. Finn Balor
At Money in the Bank, Finn Balor challenged World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins for the title. Balor looked poised to win the match, perched on the top rope set to deliver his Coup de Grace finisher to Rollins. But outside the ring, his Judgment Day faction mate and Men’s Money in the Bank winner Damien Priest emerged at ringside, distracting Finn and allowing Rollins to move out of the way and Curb Stomp his way to title retention. Tensions began to boil over between Balor and Priest, with Balor thinking Priest is trying to take away his title opportunity.
Since then, the tensions have simmered and the Judgment Day compatriots have largely been on the same page. At the contract signing for the match, Balor warned Rollins that the Judgment Day really runs the show and the other members of the faction surrounded the ring and ultimately beat the champion pretty badly. Last week though, it looked like Priest was going to try to cash in his contract on a damaged Rollins but Balor hesitated to hand him the briefcase he needed to hand to the referee and the cash in was never initiated. Judgment Day lost the tag match they were in with Rollins. So is the tension back? Unsure. But Balor has pledged to beat Rollins as he feels Rollins cost him his world title seven years earlier at SummerSlam, which Balor believes set him back in his career trajectory.
This is a hard one to predict too, but this is my prediction: I think Balor emerges the winner after interference from The Judgment Day, including from Priest, who ultimately costs Rollins the match. Balor gets what he feels like is redemption for seven years ago in a 4 star match. Judgment Day celebrates in the middle of the ring. Priest doesn’t cash in on Balor here because they need to draw out the story - Balor will be constantly looking over his shoulders afraid that Priest will cash in on him and dethrone him. That eventually leads to tension that results in Balor losing to Priest and the collapse of the Judgment Day faction.
Tribal Combat for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship: Roman Reigns (Champion) vs. Jey Uso
The Bloodline storyline has been the best storyline WWE has produced in years. Roman Reigns, the master manipulator and world champion for nearly three years, has gaslighted his cousins The Usos and previously Sami Zayn. But Roman’s gaslighting and paranoia has led to Zayn turning on him at the Royal Rumble earlier this year, to Jimmy Uso costing Reigns the Undisputed Tag Team Titles at Night of Champions in May, and finally to Jey Uso super kicking his way out of the Bloodline faction in June. This led to the Bloodline Civil War match at Money in the Bank last month with the Usos facing off against Reigns and the Usos’ younger brother Solo Sikoa. Reigns had not been pinned since December of 2019 until Jey pinned him to win the Civil War match. This infuriated Roman to the point of him and Solo assaulting the Usos on the following SmackDown and putting Jimmy Uso on the shelf. Seeking revenge for his brother, Jey challenged Reigns to defend his title against him. Reigns accepted.
The rules are Tribal Combat (I assume this is a no holds barred type of match) and Roman has agreed to put his Undisputed WWE Universal Championship on the line but also put his title of Tribal Chief on the line. In the setting of this match, Jey Uso said “The Elders” of the family have agreed to these rules. Jey has proven himself in strong promos and in getting some good licks in on Reigns and Reigns’ “Wiseman” Paul Heyman. Who the Elders are here is interesting and the fact that they’ve been mentioned means they may play a role in the outcome of this match.
I expect a brutal 4 star match and one where Jey has taken all the arrows Reigns and, most likely, Solo have thrown at him. Jey seems ready to overcome it and dethrone Reigns. But I think one of the Elders gets involved. And I think that Elder is hall of famer and Jey’s own father, Rikishi. I think the best script would be Rikishi costing his son the biggest match of his life. This could bring Reigns’ power moves to a whole new level- he has turned their brother (Solo) against them and now their very own father against them. In fact, I can see the argument that Reigns manipulated the Elders to persuade Jey to agree to a no holds barred match to allow for interference from Rikishi. Rikishi could be a new heel manager for The Bloodline who will say Jey is disrespecting the family and needed to be “taught a lesson.” And I believe this ultimately leads to the return of The Rock in the next several months to set up a much rumored Rock-Reigns match at next year’s WrestleMania.
Final Thoughts…
Overall, I think the 2023 SummerSlam will be a highly rated show and one of the better SummerSlams in years. Nearly all of the matches look strong, many of them four star matches in my predictions.
Of course, time will tell and it may not be as good as predicted. But I am excited for this event. And if the match results pan out right, this could be a show that not only provides fans memorable moments but also develops fantastic storylines throughout the next several months.
I expect an overall 4 out of 5 star rating for this event. I do hope my expectations do pan out!
Hope you have a great rest of the week, friends!