SummerSlam 2016 predictions

SummerSlam 2016 predictions

It’s almost here. After a long, hot summer of anticipation, SummerSlam is finally going down, this Sunday, Aug. 21, live on WWE Network. The card is stacked, and the event has the potential to be the year’s best, but which Superstars are walking out of Brooklyn with their heads held high? Let us know what you’re thinking in the comments, and check out predictions from a few of WWE.com’s editors below, presented by Cricket Wireless.

Brock Lesnar vs. Randy Orton

SummerSlam 2016 predictions

GREG ADKINS: At this point, Brock Lesnar’s path of destruction is the stuff of legend — and he knows it. That cocksure attitude will cause The Beast Incarnate to let his guard down and allow a reinvigorated Randy Orton to hit a fateful “RKO outta nowhere.” 

WINNER: Randy Orton

RYAN PAPPOLLA: It all comes down to hierarchy. Vipers are vicious, relentless and can strike out of nowhere. But a Beast is a Beast is a Beast ... and beasts eat snakes. Brock Lesnar will conquer Randy Orton at The Biggest Event of  the Summer. 

WINNER: Brock Lesnar

SCOTT TAYLOR: Randy Orton better run for cover, because there’s an F-5 set to hit Viperville at SummerSlam. 

WINNER: Brock Lesnar

 

Finn Bálor vs. Seth Rollins to crown the first WWE Universal Championship

SummerSlam 2016 predictions

GREG ADKINS: The opponents for the first-ever WWE Universal Championship Match promise both spectacle and athleticism. And though Finn Bálor will be a champion someday soon, Seth Rollins’ experience will prove invaluable.

WNNER: Seth Rollins

RYAN PAPPOLLA: It’s a new championship for a New Era — it would only make sense for a new leader to emerge. How about a Demon King?

WINNER: Finn Bálor

SCOTT TAYLOR: Seth Rollins is as clever a competitor as there is in WWE today, and he definitely has a plan in place to walk out of SummerSlam as the first-ever WWE Universal Champion. 

WINNER: Seth Rollins

WWE World Champion Dean Ambrose vs. Dolph Ziggler 

SummerSlam 2016 predictions

GREG ADKINS: Few Superstars have shown more heart more consistently than Dolph Ziggler. Unfortunately for him, reigning WWE World Champion Dean Ambrose will make certain The Showoff gets shut down.

WINNER: Dean Ambrose

RYAN PAPPOLLA: In the weeks leading up to this match, Dolph Ziggler has been displaying serious focus and determination that will be tough for Dean Ambrose to stop. I’m showing my hand and rolling with Ziggler. 

WINNER: Dolph Ziggler

SCOTT TAYLOR: Dolph Ziggler will no doubt put on a show-stealing performance, but it’s going to take more than that to steal the WWE World Championship from Dean Ambrose. 

WINNER: Dean Ambrose 

John Cena vs. AJ Styles    

SummerSlam 2016 predictions

GREG ADKINS: In their only singles match on pay-per-view at WWE Money in the Bank, AJ Styles bested John Cena with the help of his henchmen, Karl Anderson & Luke Gallows. Don’t look for Cena to tolerate such hijinks yet again. 

WINNER: John Cena

RYAN PAPPOLLA: As confident as AJ Styles has sounded in the lead-up to this mega return contest, you can hear a hint of self-doubt if you listen closely. It makes sense that Styles would be intimidated. They don’t call him “Big Match John” just for funzies. 

WINNER: John Cena 

SCOTT TAYLOR: Is there a word that describes someone who is better than phenomenal? Well, that’s John Cena.

WINNER: John Cena

United States Champion Rusev vs. Roman Reigns    

SummerSlam 2016 predictions

GREG ADKINS: Has married life with Lana softened The Bulgarian Brute? Not a chance. Despite Roman Reigns’ fully stocked arsenal, Rusev will remain United States Champion.

WINNER: Rusev

RYAN PAPPOLLA: As the Olympics rage on the primary question becomes this: Does Roman Reigns surprisingly burn out like the U.S. women’s soccer team or patriotically flourish like he’s Michael Phelps? I see Rusev standing atop the medal stand at night’s end. 

WINNER: Rusev

SCOTT TAYLOR: Roman Reigns has had Rusev’s number in past battles, but The Super Athlete is on an unstoppable run since recapturing the United States Championship.

WINNER: Rusev

WWE Women’s Champion Sasha Banks vs. Charlotte    

SummerSlam 2016 predictions

GREG ADKINS: With Dana Brooke out of the picture, WWE Women’s Champion Sasha Banks is guaranteed to show the world just who’s Boss.

WINNER: Sasha Banks

RYAN PAPPOLLA: Resilience builds strength and helps breed the clutch gene. Sasha Banks’ journey to the WWE Women’s Championship was long and tenuous, and she’ll come through in the clutch here in her first title defense.

WINNER: Sasha Banks 

SCOTT TAYLOR: Dana Brooke may be barred from ringside, but don’t underestimate Charlotte’s resourcefulness. 

WINNER: Charlotte

WWE Tag Team Champions The New Day vs. Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson    

SummerSlam 2016 predictions

GREG ADKINS: After suffering a case of “ringpostitis,” as diagnosed by Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson, will Big E be fully recovered to help his New Day brethren defend the WWE Tag Team Championships? C’mon, do Booty-O’s come in a box?

WINNERS: The New Day

RYAN PAPPOLLA: The New Day’s WWE Tag Team Championship run has been historic, but all legendary reigns eventually become history. It’s Gallows & Anderson’s time now — no Booty-O’s allowed. 

WINNERS: Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson

SCOTT TAYLOR: The New Day’s WWE Tag Team Championship reign will go down as one of the greatest ever, but without Big E, they are a missing a big part of their recipe for success. 

WINNERS: Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson

Enzo Amore & Big Cass vs. Chris Jericho & Kevin Owens    

SummerSlam 2016 predictions

GREG ADKINS: Chris Jericho & Kevin Owens are brash brawlers with choice words for their foes, but Enzo Amore & Big Cass enjoy home-field advantage with SummerSlam going down in NYC.

WINNERS: Enzo Amore & Big Cass

RYAN PAPPOLLA: Is it a trash-talkathon? Because if so, then man, this is a dead heat. Yet, I’m pretty positive it’s a wrestling match and one team has a pretty sizable experience edge as a unit — and you can’t teach that. 

WINNERS: Enzo Amore & Big Cass

SCOTT TAYLOR: On paper, the team of Jeri-KO should be unstoppable, but Chris Jericho & Kevin Owens’ egos are too big to work cohesively as a tag team.

WINNERS: Enzo Amore & Big Cass

Intercontinental Champion The Miz vs. Apollo Crews 

SummerSlam 2016 predictions

GREG ADKINS: Apollo Crews is ready for his close-up. The brick-house bruiser has prevailed in a 14-Man Battle Royal and bested the likes of Sheamus and Baron Corbin. Time to roll the credits on The Miz’s Intercontinental Title reign.

WINNER: Apollo Crews

RYAN PAPPOLLA: With every New Era comes a new rising star. SmackDown Live has already seen glimpses of Apollo Crews’ potential. At SummerSlam, he’ll actualize it with some hardware. 

WINNER: Apollo Crews

SCOTT TAYLOR: The sky’s the limit for Apollo Crews, but The Miz is as shrewd as they come and will find a way to sneak out of SummerSlam with his title in tow. 

WINNER: The Miz

Becky Lynch, Naomi & Carmella vs. Natalya & Alexa Bliss

SummerSlam 2016 predictions

GREG ADKINS: Watch for trickery from Natalya & Alexa Bliss as they willingly connive their way to victory over Naomi, Becky & Carmella.

WINNERS: Natalya & Alexa Bliss

RYAN PAPPOLLA: As it stands today, there are no other active female Superstars on Team Blue to help out Natalya and Alexa. I give Becky Lynch, Naomi and Carmella the edge simply because they, more than likely, will actually  have one. 

WINNERS: Becky Lynch, Naomi & Carmella

SCOTT TAYLOR: With Eva Marie out of the picture, I don’t see Natalya and Alexa Bliss being able to overcome the talented trifecta of Becky Lynch, Naomi & Carmella. 

WINNERS: Becky Lynch, Naomi & Carmella

Cesaro vs. Sheamus 

SummerSlam 2016 predictions

GREG ADKINS: Endurance favors the fit. And in this Best of Seven Series opener, it will be “The Swiss Superman” Cesaro who prevails over the brute strength of his Irish opposition, Sheamus

WINNER: Cesaro

RYAN PAPPOLLA: The old adage in sports is the best team always wins a Best of Seven Series. Considering Cesaro beat Sheamus twice prior to the series getting underway, I’m pretty convinced I know who the better man is and I like him in the opener. 

WINNER: Cesaro

SCOTT TAYLOR: Heading into this Best of Seven Series, Cesaro’s defeated Sheamus twice in a row, but The Celtic Warrior is too good to lose three straight to anyone. 

WINNER: Sheamus

Sami Zayn & Neville vs. The Dudley Boyz

SummerSlam 2016 predictions

GREG ADKINS: The Dudley Boyz have known each other for 20 years, which makes for a tenacious bond and innate team work. Their opponents, Neville & Sami Zayn, however, are certainly no strangers either. That familiarity combined with the pair’s aerial aptitude should propel them to victory.  

WINNERS: Sami Zayn & Neville

RYAN PAPPOLLA: Momentum is everything. Fresh off Sami Zayn's monumental win over Kevin Owens at WWE Battleground last month and the incredible wave Neville has been riding since his return from injury on Team Red, it's hard to imagine them taking an L ... even if they are staring down the greatest tag team of all-time.

WINNERS: Sami Zayn & Neville

SCOTT TAYLOR: With The Dudley Boyz appearing to be out of sync recently, look for Sami Zayn & Neville’s fast-paced aerial attack to overwhelm the ECW legends.

WINNERS: Sami Zayn & Neville

The Usos, American Alpha & The Hype Bros vs. Breezango, The Ascension & The Vaudevillains

SummerSlam 2016 predictions

RYAN PAPPOLLA: We're a year off from a "Justice League" movie hitting theaters, but we have this blockbuster of a rematch from SmackDown Live this past Tuesday. Some say the sequel is never good as the original, I think you'll find these 12 men disagree, especially its stars, American Alpha. 

WINNERS: American Alpha, The Usos & The Hype Bros

SCOTT TAYLOR: Fast, athletic and hyped, The Usos, American Alpha & The Hype Bros are a potentially dominating combination that will prevail in this Kickoff contest. 

WINNERS: The Usos, American Alpha & The Hype Bros

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