WWE Great Balls of Fire predictions

If SummerSlam is the biggest party of the summer, then this show may be the pre-drink before the party, because it is stacked from top to bottom. 

I have generally been impressed with the build for this show, and I admire the WWE for making every show since WrestleMania at least seem important. 

Here are my thoughts and predictions from start to finish...

​Seth Rollins vs. Bray Wyatt

Of all the matches on this card, this is the one that I feel has the weakest build. Wyatt's character has become incredibly stale, and it seems like every feud he's involved in start and end the same way. I hope this feud doesn't do too much damage to Rollins' momentum, but I don't see this lasting longer than this one pay per view. For what it's worth, Wyatt's promos are still pretty good, and the match should be decent, but I think this guy should take some much needed time off to sort of recharge his batteries, and then come back fresh in about a month, much like Rusev did, although under entirely different circumstances. The finish comes where Wyatt attempts Sister Abigail, but takes way too much time, allowing Rollins to counter, and hit his new finisher (whatever it's called), for the clean win.

[A WWE Network commercial airs next]

Alexa Bliss vs. Sasha Banks for the WWE RAW Women's Championship

This is a match that I think they pulled the trigger on way too early. I should be a good match, as both of these girls are talented both in the ring and on the microphone, but this is another one that I think is just going to be a one-off deal. Well maybe not one-off, but I don't see this feud dragging on until SummerSlam. As great a performer as Alexa is, I think this is where her luck runs out, as Sasha gets the clean win with the Bank Statement to claim the title. 

[Up next is a commercial for the next Smackdown! Live pay per view, Battleground]

[Charlie is backstage with Sasha Banks]

Charlie: Ladies and gentlemen, I'm here with the brand new Women's Champion, Sasha Banks. Sasha, it's been an incredible journey. This has to feel great.

Sasha: Are you kidding me? Charlie, it feels amazing! Now I've been sending Alexa Bliss subtle warnings of impending doom for the last few weeks, and it started and ended with a Banks Statement. But now, it's my time again, and unlike Miss Bliss, I am ducking no challengers. The Boss is back, and The Boss is the WWE Women's Champion!

[Sasha's eyes suddenly wander off screen, where she sees Bayley standing next to her. Bayley is smiling and trying to find the right words. Instead of saying anything, she simply just hugs the new champ.

Enzo Amore vs. Big Cass

Other than the main event, this is the match that I'm most interested in, particularly because unlike a lot of the matches on this card, I see this one continuing past this show, so it'll be interesting to see how it plays out. Enzo delivered the promo of his life on Raw this past week, and it was by far the best promo I've heard since CM Punk's "Pipe bomb" in 2011. Both of these guys are talented on the microphone, and they are both decent in-ring performers, so this has the potential to be a great feud, as it's very rare to see such a passionate and dramatic feud like this these days, within the WWE anyway. Enzo unleashes a flurry of offense in the early going, and plays a bit of hit and run, until Cass eventually catches him. From then on, the match is all Cass. Cass hits Enzo with a big boot, but wants Enzo to get up, so he can eat another one. Cass tries to pick him up, but Enzo keeps dropping back down. Finally, Enzo surprises Cass with a roll up for the quick win, as he was playing possum the whole time. I think ending this match like this would provide a reason for a rematch, since Cass can claim it was nothing but a fluke, while Enzo will try to prove that he can beat Cass straight up, so there are no excuses.

[A SummerSlam promo airs next] 

Cesaro and Sheamus (The Bar) vs. The Hardy Boys in a 30-minute Iron Man Match for the Raw Tag Team Championships

I don't think The Hardy Boys have been nearly as enjoyable as they were in TNA, and I can't believe I'm saying this. They clearly don't have as much creative freedom due to copyright restrictions, but they are still over with the crowd, and they are still great in-ring performers, so I think this should be a great match. Hopefully Sheamus will allow the brothers Hardy to at least keep some of their teeth after this one. I like the fact that this is an Iron Man match rather than a basic two out of three falls, which suggests to me that this is the culmination of this feud. I see Sheamus and Cesaro being up three falls to one in the last five minutes of the match. Sheamus and Cesaro inadvertently get themselves disqualified, earning The Hardys another fall, and then Jeff hits the Swanton on Cesaro in the last 10 seconds to tie it up, as the bell rings. The referee calls it a draw, but Kurt Angle comes out and restarts the match under sudden death rules, which leads to Matt hitting a twist of fate off the top rope on Sheamus, and Jeff following it up with another swanton to win back the titles.

​[Charlie is backstage with Finn Balor]

Charlie: Finn, after picking up a victory over Elias Samson on the pay per view kick-off show, many fans have been wondering what's next for you?

Balor: Well as I've said since I've come back, I want a shot at the title that I never lost. I want to be The Universal Champion again.

Charlie: With all due respect, Finn, Roman Reigns has already declared himself as the number one contender. What do you say to that?

Balor: Well the way I see it, Roman Reigns shouldn't be concerned with any title shot just yet. What Roman Reigns needs to worry about is a 6-foot-10, monster among men, who stands in his way. And even if Roman were to somehow overcome the monster, what exactly is that going to take out of him? What will be left of him to face either Brock Lesnar or Samoa Joe? Now I've beaten Samoa Joe already, and I've never faced Brock Lesnar, which I think gives me an advantage over Roman Reigns. While he and Braun Strowman are beating each other's brains out tonight, I'm as fresh as a daisy, and I'm twice as good today as I was yesterday, but still not as good as I will be tomorrow, and definitely not as good as I'll be at SummerSlam. Since the WWE is about equal opportunity these days, then throwing my name in the running. I want The Universal Championship, and I will go through anything and anyone to get it.

The Miz vs. Dean Ambrose for the Intercontinental Championship 

I must admit that I'm a little shocked that the cruiserweight match got bumped to the kick-off show instead of this one, since we've seen this so many times, and there isn't really anything new that's been added to this feud, other than the "Miz-tourage." I can only speculate that this match wasn't bumped because the title is going to change hands, but I doubt that anyone will care either way, as these two have really been lost in the shuffle since moving to Raw, especially Ambrose. I see Ambrose going after Axel and Dallas immediately, just to get them ejected, as he will make it look like they attacked him (these two are totally going to be future endeavored this year). Moments later, Ambrose gets Maryse ejected as well, leaving The Miz by himself. Eventually, Ambrose gets the clean win with the Dirty Deeds, but the replay shows Miz's leg clearly under the bottom rope, which leads to Miz protesting until Angle gives him a title rematch, which Angle agrees to, but says it will be in a steel cage on Raw.

Roman Reigns vs. Braun Strowman in an Ambulance Match 

This feud has actually been one of the pleasant surprises of 2017, and I have to say that it's been mostly Strowman, although Reigns has done some fantastic selling lately. I think this will be a decent match, as these two guys typically shine in these types of matches, where they can just brawl, and beat the hell out of each other. I see them fighting near the ambulance, with Reigns eventually getting the upper hand. Just as it looks like Reigns is going to put Strowman in the ambulance, Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson come out of the ambulance and attack Reigns. They assist Strowman, who powerbombs Reigns off the stage, and then they help Strowman put Reigns in the ambulance to win the match.

[The pay per view panel provide their thoughts on the night thus far, and predictions for the main event. 

Brock Lesnar vs. Samoa Joe for The Universal Championship 

I have enjoyed everything about this feud, and they have really done a tremendous job of making Samoa Joe look like a serious threat. Having said that, they've also kind of subtly turned Brock Lesnar without turning him, if that makes any sense. I'm expecting this to be a very stiff match, and these guys will definitely be at their best in this one, especially Joe, who has more to lose. I see Joe getting the early advantage, with Lesnar eventually mounting a comeback, and taking Joe to Suplex City. The end comes where Joe applies the Coquina Clutch, but Lesnar miraculously breaks the hold, and then drills Joe with an F-5. However, the damage that the submission hold did to Lesnar prevents him from capitalizing. As both men struggle to their feet, Braun Strowman suddenly storms the ring and attacks both Joe and Lesnar, hitting both guys with his reverse chokeslam move, ending the match in a no contest, as Strowman stands over the bodies of both champion and challenger, and lets out a roar to close the show. 

So there you have it.

Here are my match predictions for SummerSlam (Even though the Smackdown pay per view hasn't happened yet, I will book the show for now, and make the necessary changes following both this pay per view and the next one, when I do my Battleground predictions at the end of the month):

Brock Lesnar vs. Samoa Joe vs. Braun Strowman in a triple threat match for the Universal Championship

Jinder Mahal vs. John Cena for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship

Randy Orton vs. Shane McMahon - Orton loses the title match at Battleground and accuses Shane of favouritism when Shane gives Cena the title match over Orton.

The Shield (Reigns, Rollins and Ambrose) vs. The Club (Finn Balor, Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson) in a six-man tag team match - Roman Reigns accuses Finn Balor of being in cahoots with Anderson and Gallows, especially after Balor's comments at Great Balls of Fire. Balor denies this, so he doesn't necessarily turn heel, but partners with Gallows and Anderson out of necessity, since Gallows and Anderson keep insinuating that their attack on Reigns at Great Balls of Fire was Balor's idea. 

AJ Styles vs. Shisuke Nakamura 

Kevin Owens vs. Chris Jericho for the United States Championship with Jericho's career on the line - Following Battleground, a battle royal is held on Smackdown! Live to determine the new number one contender for the U.S. Title, which is won by a masked participant, whom Owens argues is AJ Styles, but is actually revealed to be the returning Chris Jericho. Since Jericho's contract had already expired prior to the battle royal, Owens agrees to put the title on the line, but only if Jericho agrees to put his career on the line. I think if Jericho is going to retire, he needs a proper send-off, and this match will mean a hell of a lot more than just some random opponent for Owens.

Enzo Amore vs. Big Cass in a Sicilian Street Fight

Sasha Banks vs. Bayley for the Raw Women's Championship - Even though I believe they should hold off on this match until WrestleMania, I don't think that a rematch between Banks and Bliss, or even Banks vs. Jax would be big enough for a pay per view like this.

Becky Lynch vs. James Elsworth in a Steel Cage Match - I've heard discussions of this match, based on Becky's recent tweets. I'm not sure if they'll actually go through with it, but it could be interesting, and reminiscent of the match between Beulah McGuillicutty and Bill Alfonso in ECW many years ago.

The Hardy Boys vs. The Revival for the Raw Tag Team Championships

The New Day and Jon Stewart as guest hosts

Kick-off show:

Neville vs. Cedric Alexander for the Cruiserweight Championship
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