WWE’s biggest showcase of the summer will take place. I’m sick this Saturday as SummerSlam heads to Cleveland. This presentation represents the thirty-seventh annual installment of one of WWE’s most important events.
In accordance with what is at stake at SummerSlam, WWE has loaded the card. There are seven fights prepared for the card, six of them championship fights. The only non-title match will see CM Punk in his first singles match broadcast on WWE since 2014, when he will face Drew McIntyre. That adjustment has a lot at stake, as Seth Rollins will serve as the visiting referee.
Major identity adjustments can also make for fascinating theater. WWE Undisputed Champion Cody Rhodes is ready to take on Solo Sikoa. Rhodes was goaded into a second “Bloodline Rules” match after addressing the cases against Roman Reigns at WrestleMania. But this generation could also be different, as Bloodline’s version of Sikoa is apparently meaner. Additionally, World Heavyweight Champion Damian Priest appears to show an immense challenge to reigning Intercontinental Champion Gunther. There are a lot of ways you can progress, including the kind of support Priest will receive from his Logic Beyond peers.
Additionally, there is the emotional triangle between women’s world champion Liv Morgan, Dominik Mysterio and Rhea Ripley. When Ripley suffered a severe shock and was forced to abandon the name, which was due to Morgan, the wave champion began plotting advances against Mysterio. With Ripley off television, Morgan and Mysterio appeared to begin a relationship, but once Ripley returned, Mysterio swore that he hated Morgan and was unbreakable with Ripley. Now the two will meet on Saturday and Mysterio will surely be added to the mix.
Let’s see who the CBS Sports experts pick to win in each game on Saturday’s card.
WWE SummerSlam 2024 predictions
Undisputed WWE Championship: Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Solo Sikoa
The Bloodline 2.0 was rejuvenated with the addition of Jacob Fatu, but Solo Sikoa cannot be WWE Champion. Especially when Rhodes has been billed as the celebrity who will carry WWE to this day. Sikoa could have a powerful look in defeat, or an inconclusive ending, as the start of a civil conflict begins with Reigns and the Bloodline intact. Either way, Rhodes will escape Cleveland with the name undisputed. Select: Cody Rhodes maintains identity — Shakiel Mahjouri (plus Brent Brookhouse)
World Heavyweight Championship: Damian Priest (c) vs. Gunther
There’s a way of thinking that Gunther doesn’t succeed here for several reasons, including the old college idea that a wrestler destroying a remaining opponent diminishes the achievement of defeating him to win a title. If you say your opponent sucks and then you beat him to win the title, have you ever done anything else? I just don’t think that holds in this case. Gunther’s entire gimmick has been to restore the status of wrestling and its ruling championships. Priest has managed to surpass any generation throughout his reign thanks to Gunther working for him. I am sick not only as a champion but as an individual. However, Priest no longer feels (and has failed to) feel like “the guy.” WWE may try to extend this over one or two more tournaments, but this seems to be the best generation to take the belt from Priest, who still has a negative playing field as a face or heel, and Gunther to establish status . The local faces are chasing a heel for the ruling belt on Raw. Select: Gunther wins the title — Brookhouse (also Mahjouri)
CM Punk vs. Drew McIntyre (special visiting referee Seth Rollins)
I honestly don’t know how this adjustment plays out. The easiest way for WWE to escalate the feud is for Punk to destroy McIntyre’s night once again. But McIntyre actually needs to beat Punk. Rollins’ position as special visiting referee further complicates matters. Rollins has issues with both men and his inclusion in the match suggests that WWE will pivot towards a match involving all three of them. Not knowing where WWE is taking this storyline, and considering we won’t immediately get a rematch between Punk and McIntyre, I expect McIntyre to get his revenge, probably due to some friction or miscommunication between Punk. and Rollins. The most appropriate thing is that Punk gets screwed. Select: Drew McIntyre wins – Mahjouri
Chances won and lost aren’t really a thing in WWE and the promotion has spent many years clearing up the concept and I’m sick of cardboard having constant on-screen effects, Punk hasn’t had a fit in WWE since. 2014 (except two area exhibition wins over Dominik Mysterio). Yes, he’s bulletproof enough that a loss to McIntyre doesn’t really do anything more destructive to him, and Rollins’ concern gives both guys an outlet to not suffer any damage from a loss. But why would WWE make Punk lose his first singles match since an “impossible” reconciliation in the past between the wrestler and the promotion? McIntyre is too much in the position of continually getting angry “fucked up” to end that in the first meeting with Punk. Select: CM Punk wins – Brook House
Women’s World Championship: Liv Morgan (c) vs. Rhea Ripley
Ripley coming back from the shock and instantly defeating Morgan seems like an overly reasonable strategy to advance this story. Things were a little moot with Morgan’s constant sexual advances against an unwilling Dominik Mysterio, but it went from a plan to steal Ripley’s things to having Morgan burst into tears when Mysterio finally snapped. It doesn’t make sense without any other twist. I think all of this is key to Mysterio betraying Ripley and ending up with Morgan, especially since Ripley is obviously not hidden as a face (despite her ties to Judgment Beyond), while Dominik is a natural heel for now. Perhaps Mysterio strives to transform into his “own man,” but before that happens, he will align himself with Morgan. That probably starts with him “accidentally” costing Ripley the attack on Saturday, if it doesn’t go any further. Select: Liv Morgan maintains identity — Brookhouse (also Mahjouri)
WWE Women’s Championship: Bayley (c) vs. Nia Jax
Bayley’s reign as champion hasn’t set the arena ablaze, but Jax winning the name isn’t an exciting opportunity either. It feels like the name is being stored hot for Cash inside deposit winner Tiffany Stratton. Generally, this will be the best option for Stratton to mint his cash in the deposit briefcase. But the women’s briefcase has a history of painfully minor gains and I expect perseverance from today’s WWE. Bayley must progress in a duel between David and Goliath to improve her reign. Select: Bayley maintains identity – Mahjouri
If you’ve been paying attention over the past few months, Jax has quietly become a reliable, flawless performer and one of the most interesting women on the SmackDown roster. Load up Tiffany Stratton’s alignment with Jax and the most fascinating recipe for perfect television is for Jax to have the name here and have the tension between her name and Stratton’s money in the word Deposit. Select: Nia Jax wins the title – Brook House
WWE Intercontinental Championship – Sami Zayn (c) vs. Bron Breakker
Breakker has a charisma that can’t be manufactured, as much as WWE likes to simply make these things come to life. Having Zayn secured in their first meeting was a sure thing, but Breakker wants the win here. He’s just plain, or should be, at this level and any further loss will be a fallacious path for the type of person Breakker is. Zayn had a good career, but even he will be beautiful without the name because he has great skill. Select: Bron Breakker wins the title — Brookhouse (also Mahjouri)
WWE United States Championship: Logan Paul (c) vs. LA Knight
This must have happened in the past. Arguably, crowning Knight United States Champion would have been easier when SmackDown had a part-time World Champion in Reigns. It could have made Knight the brand’s singles champion week-to-week. Unfortunately, beating Paul’s name at a pivotal PPV is nothing to write home about. A reign of identity comes too late for Knight and precisely what should validate his overdue occupation is standing. Select: LA Knight wins the title — Mahjouri (also Brookhouse)
