NZPWI Roundtable: WWE Super Show-Down 2018

by NZPWI

October 6, 2018

NZPWI Roundtable: WWE Super Show-Down 2018

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Saturday, October 6, promises to be an historic night as the superstars of Raw and SmackDown Live venture “down under” for WWE Super Show-Down.

Triple H meets The Undertaker for the “last time ever” in a match-up that will see both Shawn Michaels and Kane in their respective corners. The Shield go to war with Braun Strowman, Dolph Ziggler, and Drew McIntyre. AJ Styles puts the WWE Championship on the line in what has become an intensely personal bout against Samoa Joe.

With these, and so many more, matches going down at the iconic MCG, join the NZPWI Roundtable as we break down the card for the biggest WWE event in Australian history, Super Show-Down.

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Triple H w/ Shawn Michaels vs. The Undertaker w/ Kane

David Dunn (@david_dunn):
Triple H and The Undertaker know each other just about as well as any two WWE Superstars can. And more often than not, when they’ve met one-on-one, it’s been Undertaker who walks away with the victory. For the last time ever, I see the result being the same.
Winner: The Undertaker

Grady Hooker (@GradyHooker):
I refuse to admit that this match exists because if this match exists then HBK will be coming out of retirement for a tag team match, and that isn’t happening – ever!
Winner: Triple H

Mister J (@misterjcomics):
D-Geriatric X vs. The Deadman and his slightly less-dead civil servant brother. Well, kind of anyway. Has anyone really looked at The Undertaker’s win/loss record for this type of big show? No? Well, to be honest, I haven’t either, but I’m still backing him.
Winner: The Undertaker

Richard Butler:
That last time ever… until the next time. I don’t see this match being a clean contest; I’m expecting both HBK and Kane to be involved in some way. I think Triple H will get the win after interference.
Winner: Triple H

Steve McCleary (@SJMcCleary):
It’s the End of an Era 2: Geriatric Boogaloo! But as the old, old saying goes – always vote for Kane. Or his brother.
Winner: The Undertaker

Braun Strowman, Dolph Ziggler & Drew McIntyre vs.
The Shield (Dean Ambrose, Roman Reigns & Seth Rollins)

David:
I don’t think Dean Ambrose has been rattled by McIntyre, Strowman, and Ziggler’s mind-games. If anything, he’s still the member of The Shield who cares the most about the trio. And with Ambrose still on side, The Shield is truly something special.
Winners: The Shield

Grady:
It feels too early for The Shield to explode, so they will probably overpower the shoved-together team. We know Strowman and Reigns are still on a collision course after this match, so I look forward to seeing how battered the two powerhouses get ahead of the triple threat with Brock Lesnar at Crown Jewel.
Winners: The Shield

Mister J:
I’m going to go with The Shield here. The Agents of Shield will easily have the measure of their opponents… but will still only dream of one day getting to team with Captain Marvel.
Winners: The Shield

Richard:
These guys have been trading wins and losses in singles and tag matches on Raw recently and I’m really looking forward to this one. I don’t think Dean will turn on his brothers just yet but I think this might be a tipping point.
Winners: Braun Strowman, Dolph Ziggler & Drew McIntyre

Steve:
Dean deserves his time to shine, and if the other hounds are going to hold him back… well… maybe he’d be better off running with the dogs.
Winners: Braun Strowman, Dolph Ziggler & Drew McIntyre

WWE Championship, No Disqualification, No Count-Out Match:
AJ Styles (c) vs. Samoa Joe

David:
If things weren’t personal already, Samoa Joe has really turned the volume up to 11 in the lead-up to Super Show-Down. And what a showdown this match will be! I wonder whether Joe’s attempt at psychological warfare has only served to give Styles added motivation, though.
Winner: AJ Styles

Grady:
By the end of the match, Samoa Joe will be calling AJ Styles “daddy”.
Winner: AJ Styles

Mister J:
Surely, in front of a crowd this size, we are going to see both men at the top of their game. And at the top of his game, I’m not sure there is a man alive better than AJ Styles… is what I might have said a few years ago. It is, however, still relatively true.
Winner: AJ Styles

Richard:
I would love to hear the MCG explode for a WWE title change, and for that reason alone I’m going with Samoa Joe.
Winner: Samoa Joe

Steve:
Never rub another man’s rhubarb, as Jack Nicholson once said. I don’t know what that means, but I know it spells disaster for Samoa Joe at Show-Down.
Winner: AJ Styles

The Bella Twins (Brie Bella & Nikki Bella) & Ronda Rousey vs.
The Riott Squad (Liv Morgan, Ruby Riott & Sarah Logan)

David:
Sometimes a team – like The Shield – will be greater than the sum of its parts. While The Riott Squad are definitely better together, they still don’t rise to the level of Ronda Rousey.
Winners: The Bella Twins & Ronda Rousey

Grady:
I’m hoping for a Riott Squad win here, especially after all they have taken in the lead up to the match. I still expect the personalities on the Rousey/Bella team will clash, possibly leading to the quick win for Riott and the gang.
Winners: The Riott Squad

Mister J:
Ronda Rousey will beat the Riott Squad, with one arm tied behind her back… possibly Ruby Riott’s. The Bellas will show up because it will look good on Total Divas.
Winners: The Bella Twins & Ronda Rousey

Richard:
I don’t see anyone beating Ronda Rousey at this point.
Winners: The Bella Twins & Ronda Rousey

Steve:
Should be a cracker of a match, especially if Brie gets to kick anybody in the face. But the smart money is always on proper teams.
Winners: The Riott Squad

SmackDown Women’s Championship:
Becky Lynch (c) vs. Charlotte Flair

David:
Is Becky Lynch overlooked and underappreciated? However Becky feels, there’ll be no denying her if she overcomes Charlotte Flair in front of 70,000-plus people at the MCG.
Winner: Becky Lynch

Grady:
Last time I bet against Becky and said she didn’t have a chance in hell, so now she’d better keep a hold on the championship.
Winner: Becky Lynch

Mister J:
I think it was Mark Twain who said, “when red-headed people are above a certain social grade, their hair is auburn, and when red-headed wrestlers finally get their due, and will do anything to keep the momentum going, they’re called Becky Lynch”. I may be paraphrasing though.
Winner: Becky Lynch

Richard:
This match will be straight fire! I’m looking forward to this and to seeing the Lass Kicker retain her title.
Winner: Becky Lynch

Steve:
Queenie, you don’t want any more of this fire. Let it go. The rightful ruler is on top of her throne.
Winner: Becky Lynch

Bobby Lashley & John Cena vs. Elias & Kevin Owens

David Dunn:
Can you imagine this team in 2007? Cena and Lashley are absolute juggernauts, and I’d back them against nearly any possible combination of WWE Superstars – especially Elias and KO.
Winners: Bobby Lashley & John Cena

Grady Hooker:
John Cena wins.
Winner: Bobby Lashley & John Cena

Mister J:
John Cena back in the limelight. Donald Trump’s favourite wrestler Bobby Lashley. Their chance of winning is so high, we should just nominate them for the Supreme Court.
Winners: Bobby Lashley & John Cena

Richard Butler:
It’s an unusual match, this one, seeing as Cena hasn’t been on TV for weeks. We know he’s in great physical shape for his movie but is he in ring shape? That’s my biggest question. I can see Elias and Owens take this one out.
Winners: Elias & Kevin Owens

Steve McCleary:
While it’s hard to bet against BobbyJohnny, I feel it’s time for… eh, nah.
Winners: Bobby Lashley & John Cena

#1 Contender’s Match to the WWE Championship:
Daniel Bryan vs. The Miz

David:
The Miz has been an essential part of the Daniel Bryan story, and foiled Bryan nearly every step of the way. Now, in front of 70,000-plus people, it must finally be time for Bryan to put The Miz behind him.
Winner: Daniel Bryan

Grady:
The Miz has been able to come up with the victory by any means possible twice now. This time Bryan has the added fuel of a WWE Championship match and should be able to counter all the dodgy things Miz will be attempting.
Winner: Daniel Bryan

Mister J:
Daniel Bryan must have a win coming, surely. And who doesn’t want to see a rabid Australian crowd, beer in one hand, Four’n Twenty meat pie in the other, gesticulating wildly into the air, shouting “Yeah! Yeah! Yeah” with a nasal twang? (This isn’t read in Australia, is it?)
Winner: Daniel Bryan

Richard:
I love how this feud keeps going yet doesn’t feel like it’s dragging. I’d love to see Daniel Bryan win and have a series of matches against Samoa Joe.
Winner: Daniel Bryan

Steve:
I mean, The Miz has beaten him every time. Learn, Danny.
Winner: The Miz

SmackDown Tag Team Championship:
The New Day (c) vs. Cesaro & Sheamus

David:
I don’t think enough has been said about The New Day’s element of surprise. You never know which two members you’ll be wrestling until the bell rings. And what happened the last time Cesaro and Sheamus didn’t know their opponents on a big stage? They lost to Braun Strowman and Nicholas…
Winners: The New Day

Grady:
Time for two of my favourite guys to be on top of the tag team division again.
Winners: Cesaro & Sheamus

Mister J:
I don’t like Sheamus, but I do like Cesaro. Do I like him more than all the members of New Day combined though?
Winners: The New Day

Richard:
Sheamus and Cesaro may be called “The Bar but in reality, The New Day has been the most consistent and complete team we have seen in a long time.
Winners: The New Day

Steve:
I hope they just decide to have pancakes at the bar instead.
Winners: The New Day

Cruiserweight Championship:
Cedric Alexander (c) vs. Buddy Murphy

David:
Buddy Murphy will have to come up with a new moniker after Super Show-Down because the “Best Kept Secret” will be well and truly out. With any luck, the title of Cruiserweight Champion should be his for the taking.
Winners: Buddy Murphy

Grady:
There is no way Murphy wins because of the hometown curse, but I’m going to pick him anyway as Kiwis on the main roster are thin so we have to take victories when we can.
Winner: Buddy Murphy

Mister J:
I think my “buddy”, Murphy (see what I did there?) has this won. (Note: I actually only met Buddy Murphy once, and accidentally got his name wrong on a live mic.)
Winner: Buddy Murphy

Richard:
Gotta pick the hometown boy for this one. What better story would there be than Buddy Murphy winning cruiserweight gold in his home country?
Winner: Buddy Murphy

Steve:
Murphy’s Law states that my Bud’s got this one in his home country.
Winner: Buddy Murphy

Asuka & Naomi vs. The IIconics (Billie Kay & Peyton Royce)

David:
With Asuka on her biggest stage since WrestleMania 34, perhaps it’s time to reclaim some momentum and return to her devastating ways?
Winners: Asuka & Naomi

Grady:
No question, an easy win for The IIconics.
Winners: The IIconics

Mister J:
Surely we can’t have two wins from the home-country wrestlers? And surely, the IIconics are going to insult the Melbourne crowd anyway, who will then want to see them lose? As delightful as they are, and as iconic as wearing Ugg boots while shopping at Coles might be, I don’t see Royce and Kay walking away with the win.
Winners: Asuka & Naomi

Richard:
I’m picking the hometown girls. It’s a lot of pressure to go all the way home to Australia and not take out the victory.
Winners: The IIconics

Steve:
Peyton’s Law states that my Bill’s got this one in her home country.
Winners: The IIconics