Undisputed WWE Championship: Cody Rhodes (c.) vs. Solo Sikoa in a “Bloodline Rules” match The cards are stacked against Rhodes, more so than in any other match during his championship reign. There were several references to Roman Reigns on Friday’s episode of SmackDown, and turning this match into “Bloodline Rules” is just screaming for the return of the Tribal Chief. It’s going to be hard for this match to live up to the main event of WrestleMania 40 (it took place under the same stipulations), but it should be a great finale to the show, with a potentially massive return helping Rhodes retain the title. Prediction: Cody Rhodes retains the WWE Undisputed Championship
World Heavyweight Championship — Damian Priest (c.) vs. Gunther — Priest has had a solid reign, but it’s clear that Gunther has been groomed to take his place atop WWE by winning Raw’s top singles championship. This match has the potential to steal the show, with two relatively different styles squaring off in the ring. Gunther’s hard-hitting style and Priest’s faster pace should make this a match of the year contender, but the title will change hands. Prediction: Gunther wins the World Heavyweight Championship
WWE Women’s Championship — Bayley (c.) vs. Nia Jax — The big question here is whether Tiffany Stratton will cash in her new custom Money in the Bank briefcase. If so, she will walk away from Cleveland as WWE Women’s Champion. Otherwise, I think Bayley will retain her title and possibly face the soon-to-return Charlotte Flair. Prediction: Bayley retains the WWE Women’s Championship
Women’s World Championship — Liv Morgan (c.) vs. Rhea Ripley — Aside from the Rhodes vs. Sikoa match, no other match on the SummerSlam card has a more emotionally charged storyline than Morgan vs. Ripley. Morgan won’t win cleanly here, but she could unexpectedly retain thanks to a betrayal by Dominik Mysterio, which would add even more heat to their characters and protect Ripley in the process. On the other hand, Ripley could win and set up the next chapter of this story by trying to defeat Morgan and Mysterio stopping her. Either way, it doesn’t look like we’re done here. Prediction: Morgan retains the Women’s World Championship.
Intercontinental Championship – Sami Zayn (c.) vs. Bron Breakker We saw this match last month at Money in the Bank, where Zayn emerged victorious. Even though this is his first time appearing in a singles match at SummerSlam, I think Zayn will drop the belt to Breakker, who is clearly on the rise in WWE and has a very bright future. Plus, depending on the outcome of the Preist-Gunther match, we could see Zayn lose and have an almost immediate right to face a newly crowned Gunther. Win-win. Prediction: Bron Breakker wins the Intercontinental Championship.
United States Championship — Logan Paul (c.) vs. LA Knight — The opening match will likely be Paul and Knight. I expect both of them to put on a solid performance. Knight hasn’t held a championship in WWE for a long time, so rather than dwell on things too much, I’ll venture to say that ends tonight. Prediction: LA Knight wins the United States Championship.
Drew McIntyre vs. CM Punk, with Seth Rollins as special guest referee — Rollins will undoubtedly be involved here, and it will likely cost Punk a win over McIntyre. A McIntyre win keeps him in contention for the World Heavyweight Championship while we could get a brief feud between Rollins and Punk (with some real beef thrown in) before either of them make it to the top of the card. Prediction: Drew McIntyre wins.
