This is (I think) the first time in over 25 years that SummerSlam has been held on a day other than Sunday. Back in the day, it was always the last Monday of August.
The card looks great; but I'm squeamish about some things....or at least ONE!
WWE Universal Championship - Roman Reigns (c) vs. John Cena; Reigns leaves WWE if Cena wins title: That stipulation just got added last night on Smackdown during another "face to face" promo. Cena has been pushing this whole narrative that no matter how much Reigns pounds him, all he has to do is roll him up for a cheap 1-2-3.
Reigns got tired of it and told Cena that he's smashed many of his opponents to the point where WWE has no use for them (i.e. Wyatt, Strowman, Bryan). Cena isn't that special; Reigns can do Hollywood; he can do TV. So, the Tribal Chief decided to raise the stakes in Vegas. "Either I'm leaving that stadium with my Universal Championship; or, I'M LEAVING WWE!".
PLEASE DON'T LET THAT HAPPEN!!! Reigns has been awesome this past year. Bringing Cena back to ruin this is LAME. But, I'm hoping for an "upset special" of sorts. Remember (per the storyline) who was supposed to face Reigns for the blue belt originally. A Finn Balor heel turn may come, one that costs Cena the match.
WWE World Championship - The Almighty Bobby Lashley (c) vs. Bill Goldberg. The mere fact that WWE is hinting at sacrificing its two best projects to a couple of over-the-hill guys who haven't wrestled in months or years is quite sickening. How does Oldberg get a title shot anyway? The last match he had, he LOST to Drew McIntyre, the same McIntyre that Lashley has owned for months.
The fact that WWE has to show Oldberg's OLD pics on the marquee when advertising this match tells you all you need to know. Oh, the angle is that he's doing it for his son..... the same lame reason they used to let him squash Lesnar nearly 5 years ago.
While I was shocked that both guys retained their belts at 'Mania, this just feels bad. Since I'm really pulling for Reigns to keep his gold, Lashley looks to be a casualty of this crap. I mean, he did get beat clean by Xavier Woods of New Day. Speaking of New Day, rumors were swirling that Big E was going to cash MITB on the WWE champion. But, this foolishness with Baron Corbin stealing E's case might put a damper on that.
WWE RAW Tag Team Championship - AJ Styles and Omos (c) vs. "RK-BRO" (Randy Orton and Matt Riddle): A classic case of school yard bullying gets told here. BTW, does WWE have tree from which they can pick 7-foot guys for mid carders? It's like Oprah: "YOU GET A SEVEN-FOOTER and YOU GET A SEVEN-FOOTER". Styles, Crews, Mahal, good GRIEF!!!
And while Orton doesn't play well with others (and doesn't like Riddle), he like Styles and his jolly black giant far less. SO why not take those straps away from those two goons, even if it means teaming with a twerp? Expect a big pop with Orton hitting Omos with an RKO....probably after a nut shot to the big guy.
WWE Smackdown Tag Team Championship - The Usos (c) vs. Dominik and Rey Mysterio: - As this match goes, so goes my heart rate as to whether Reigns retains later tonight. "The Bloodline" is dripping in gold. But, "Main Event Jey Uso" is slowing turning back into "Which one are you?". He got the greatest push of his life, fighting his cousin last year (even got that ATG trophy at 'Mania).
I'll cross my fingers and pick the Usos to retain.
RAW Women's Championship (Triple Threat) - Nikki A.S.H. (c) vs. Rhea Ripley vs. Charlotte Flair: Everyone has jobbed to everyone else in this match on Raw so many times that I've lost count. But, here's another Upset Special finish: Flair puts the Figure 4 on Ripley, after "injuring" Ripley's knee for the 37th time. When Flair bridges for the Figure 8 looking away from her opponent, ASH will stop Ripley from tapping out and simply cover her for the 1-2-3. What better way for a pint-sized princess who looks like Mystery Mix Now-and-Later candy to keep her title?
Smackdown Women's Championship - Bianca Belair (c) vs. Sasha Banks: I've had it with Miss Thang (Banks); Belair whipped her behind at 'Mania. I say she doubles up on it at SummerSlam.
WWE United States Championship - Sheamus (c) vs. Damien Priest: Even though he got shown up by Bad Bunny at WrestleMania, Damien Priest has been super-pushed. Plus, Sheamus (broken beak and all) is going nowhere fast. So, he may as well cough up that ugly-looking US title belt.
Seth Rollins vs. Edge: Apparently, Edge has decided to return to his Brood roots, using Gangrel's old music to give Rollins a "Broodbath" on Smackdown. Edge claimed that Rollins had made his blood turn BLACK; so the goo that got dropped on the Architect was black, not red. Edge even got to use his "Freaks come out at night" promo, the one that save the Brood, because Gangrel can't talk. Edge has taken too many Ls against Reigns; so, he'll beat Rollins tonight.
Drew McIntyre vs. Jinder Mahal: It's hard to believe that two-thirds of 3MB are former WWE champions (where are you, Heath Slater? You got kids!!). As mentioned earlier, Mahal got to pick his own 7-foot goon and had him and another lackey beat up McIntyre, costing him the MITB match. McIntyre just beat the henchmen on Raw, which means he gets Mahal one-on-one, and the henchmen banned from ringside. Unless the Maharaja brings Khali back, I think the Scottish Psycho gets it done.
Alexa Bliss vs. Eva Marie: I don't really care. But, since they went through the trouble of giving Bray Wyatt's gimmick to Bliss, she should beat Eva Marie, even with Eva's having Bertha Faye 2.0 in her corner.