NZPWI Roundtable: WWE SummerSlam 2019

by NZPWI

August 11, 2019

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter

WWE takes over Toronto, Canada for the biggest party of the American summer, SummerSlam 2019!

Seth Rollins doggedly challenges Universal Champion Brock Lesnar. Becky Lynch and Natalya meet in a Submission Match with the Raw Women’s Championship on the line. Randy Orton rekindles his rivalry with WWE Champion Kofi Kingston.

Join the NZPWI Roundtable as we break down the card for WWE SummerSlam 2019…

* * *

Universal Championship:
Brock Lesnar (c) vs. Seth Rollins

Mister J (87% accurate for 2019):
After seeing Cain Velasquez’s pro-wrestling debut at Triplemania, and seeing all the good press he garnered around it, I imagine Brock Lesnar is not in a good mood (though I guess, is he ever?). In that case, I would not want to be Seth Rollins.
Winner: Brock Lesnar

Grady Hooker (74% accurate for 2019):
As much as I hate it, there is no way that Brock Lesnar is going to lose. Seth is good and all, but he’s no Brock…
Winner: Brock Lesnar

Steve McCleary (71% accurate for 2019):
I don’t know what’s happened to Seth, but the man who used to be an architect is now broken down to nothing but a feed for The Beast.
Winner: Brock Lesnar

Sammy G (56% accurate for 2019):
Brock’s time away from the Universal Championship has only fuelled his fire for dominance. The Money in the Bank contract may have made him seem unfocused, but as we’ve seen, Brock’s more focused than ever, and will do what he must to keep the Beastslayer down!
Winner: Brock Lesnar

David Dunn (52% accurate for 2019):
It was uncomfortable watching Brock Lesnar attack Seth Rollins—again—on Raw. Even more so when Seth declared, “This is all I’ve got”. He’s clearly not at 100 percent, and even if he was, it feels very much like Lesnar is in Rollins’ head.
Winner: Brock Lesnar

Raw Women’s Championship, Submission Match:
Becky Lynch (c) vs. Natalya

Mister J:
The Man’s time in the spotlight may be drawing to an end, and her light diminishing… but come on, this is still a walk in the park, right?
Winner: Becky Lynch

Grady:
I know we are in Canada and all, but I still don’t think that will be enough for Natalya to overpower the most celebrated woman on the roster right now.
Winner: Becky Lynch

Steve:
Tap, Nattie, tap. Sure, it’s taking place in her home, but when you shake hands with The Man, you get your arm torn off.
Winner: Becky Lynch

Sammy:
Dis-Arm-Her versus Sharpshooter… this is what it’s going to come down to in the end. The Sharpshooter is historically recognised as a dominant submission manoeuvre, but I don’t feel it will be enough to stop The Man!
Winner: Becky Lynch

David:
Natalya has been pursuing the Sharpshooter at whatever cost this week – and it’s already cost her two matches. The Queen of Harts might not be able to adapt if Lynch can avoid her signature hold. The Man should find a way to Dis-Arm-Her.
Winner: Becky Lynch

WWE Championship:
Kofi Kingston (c) vs. Randy Orton

Mister J:
Wait… Randy Orton is still a thing? What year is this again?!
Winner: Kofi Kingston

Grady:
I love the throwback with these two. This time the shoe is on the other foot, and I think it will remain on that foot at the end of SummerSlam.
Winner: Kofi Kingston

Steve:
He’s been waiting a long time for this, and it’s time to prove he’s not the stupid, stupid, stupid man Orton thinks he is.
Winner: Kofi Kingston

Sammy:
It’s amazing how much can change in 11 years, but still feel the same. I’m still on the KofiMania train, and hoping it rides long beyond SummerSlam!
Winner: Kofi Kingston

David:
I wouldn’t be shocked if Kingston were to end 2019 still WWE Champion. This year is about righting the wrongs of the past, and while Orton was better 10 years ago, that doesn’t necessarily hold true any more.
Winner: Kofi Kingston

Charlotte Flair vs. Trish Stratus

Mister J:
I remember back when Trish Stratus first showed up in WWE – now when was that? Twenty years ago?! Sigh… For making me feel old, I’m going to go with Charlotte on this one.
Winner: Charlotte Flair

Grady:
Thanks for coming back, Trish. For once, I’m going to predict the legend going over The Queen.
Winner: Trish Stratus

Steve:
Now here’s where a hometown advantage could really come into play. Trish is a big match player and if she can shake ring rust, she’s got a chance. But her opponent is at the top of her game, and athletically superior.
Winner: Charlotte Flair

Sammy:
This is a match I’ve been excited about since it was officially announced! Trish has proven in recent years she can still hold her own in the ring among the next generation of Superstars in the women’s division!
Winner: Trish Stratus

David:
I’d love to see a Trish Stratus win—and so would Toronto, right?—but Charlotte is phenomenally good. She didn’t touch Trish on SmackDown, despite being slapped in the face. I imagine The Queen will unleash her fury at SummerSlam.
Winner: Charlotte Flair

SmackDown Women’s Championship:
Bayley (c) vs. Ember Moon

Mister J:
Remember when Bayley was one of the best things going in professional wrestling? Remember the charm and light she spread whenever she appeared? Remember how you felt when she would come out to wrestle? Here’s hoping this can start all that again… one way or the other.
Winner: Bayley

Grady:
I’m going with my heart over my head on this one and picking Ember Moon to take it out.
Winner: Ember Moon

Steve:
The kindling’s been lit, it’s time for the fire to rise until the sky is… Eclipsed.
Winner: Ember Moon

Sammy:
Moon’s theme says it perfectly, “One Ember sparks a fire, one Ember feeds the flames!”. If Ember brings her A-game to SummerSlam, she’ll have what it takes to overthrow one of the Horsewomen. Free the fire, take the gold!
Winner: Ember Moon

David:
Bayley’s certainly looking forward to showcasing Ember Moon – but she must have been confident of a win to pick her own challenger.
Winner: Bayley

Kevin Owens vs. Shane McMahon [If Owens Loses, He Quits]

Mister J:
Oh, come on now.
Winner: Kevin Owens

Grady:
Kevin Owens is hot right now and Shane McMahon can afford many losses before he falls from grace. This seems like a nice and easy win for Kevin, even though Shane’s stooges will likely find a way into it.
Winner: Kevin Owens

Steve:
Stun, Owens, Stun. Save us from the Shane Show. Please.
Winner: Kevin Owens

Sammy:
I wish the names in that stipulation were reversed, but alas, here we are. The history between Owens and Shane-O will one day make for a Blu-ray box-set or WWE Network Special. But it won’t end with this match, at least not for KO!
Winner: Kevin Owens

David:
Owens couldn’t goad McMahon into putting his in-ring career on the line, which is both a smart decision from Shane and one that makes me wonder whether he believes he can beat KO?
Winner: Kevin Owens

Dolph Ziggler vs. Goldberg

Mister J:
Oh, come on now!
Winner: Goldberg

Grady:
Okay, maybe twice I’ll back the legend. His last result was so bad that I think Goldberg is going to try his absolute best to go out on a high with this one.
Winner: Goldberg

Steve:
Um…
Winner: Goldberg

Sammy:
Just when I was preparing myself for The Miz vs. Dolph Ziggler… Swerved! Both men need the big tick in the win column at SummerSlam. I can’t help but feel Goldberg may have a few performance anxiety issues that Dolph can exploit to defeat the Hall of Famer.
Winner: Dolph Ziggler

David:
Ziggler really should have been more thorough with his contract. And he’s still got to face The Miz on Raw!
Winner: Goldberg

United States Championship:
AJ Styles (c) vs. Ricochet

Mister J:
As a kid, I always loved Ricochet Rabbit. And AJ Simon was my least favourite Simon brother in Simon and Simon. As such, using my brilliant and infallible predictive methods… I’m picking Ricochet for the win.
Winner: Ricochet

Grady:
The OC exists, and that’s going to make it hard for Ricochet from the start. Add the fact that AJ Styles is one of the best, and Ricochet’s odds don’t look very good.
Winner: AJ Styles

Steve:
Without a club of his own to bounce off, I fear Ricochet gets grounded.
Winner: AJ Styles

Sammy:
No disrespect to Ricochet, but AJ brings a bit more weight and prestige to the US Championship that the belt needs right now. Ricochet will be US champ again, but not while AJ Styles has the gold around his waist – and The OC in his corner!
Winner: AJ Styles

David:
I’m concerned about the impact of The OC. AJ Styles is a concern at the best of times, but with Anderson and Gallows there to tip the scales if need be, it’s an uphill climb for Ricochet.
Winner: AJ Styles

“The Fiend” Bray Wyatt vs. Finn Balor

Mister J:
After all the vignettes, after all the videos, after all the time away, one would hope Bray Wyatt can muster the win here, or we may just see the return of Husky Harris instead.
Winner: “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt

Grady:
No way in whatever hell The Fiend is from will Bray Wyatt lose at SummerSlam.
Winner: “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt

Steve:
Yowie Wowie, what a show! Finn’s going to find out that unless he unleashes his own demon, that he’s no match for an unhinged Fiend.
Winner: “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt

Sammy:
Since the first episode of Firefly Fun House, I’ve been fully invested in this all-new Bray Wyatt! His secret has taken over him, and the path of destruction caused by “The Fiend” is beautiful. Sorry Finn, but, Yowie freakin’ Wowie!
Winner: “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt

David:
It’d be one thing if we were talking about The Demon versus The Fiend, but with Balor not willing to go where Wyatt will, this could be over in a hurry.
Winner: “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt

Cruiserweight Championship:
Drew Gulak (c) vs. Oney Lorcan

Mister J:
At some point 205 Live went and became WWE’s most consistently watchable TV show, and the series you can most rely on to deliver great matches week in, week out. This match should be no different, but I don’t believe Gulak is ready to give up the gold just yet…
Winner: Drew Gulak

Grady:
This match could probably go either way, but I’m going to stick with the current champion.
Winner: Drew Gulak

Steve:
Oney Lorcan is my current favourite wrestler, but can he withstand the onslaught of an on-point Gulak? Eh, probably not.
Winner: Drew Gulak

Sammy:
I’m coming into this match slightly blind, I’ll be honest. But, still looking forward to seeing an awesome contest, with two awesome competitors for the Cruiserweight Championship!
Winner: Drew Gulak

David:
Gulak won’t be buoyed by a partisan crowd like in Philadelphia, but he showed the WWE Universe what he can do at Extreme Rules, and Lorcan’s in line to find out first-hand.
Winner: Drew Gulak