WWE SummerSlam 2019 preview

Drew Gulak (c) vs. Oney Lorcan, for the WWE Cruiserweight Championship

The story: With Tony Nese out of the way, Cruiserweight Champion Drew Gulak is onto the next competitor. And that would be NXT’s (and also 205 Live’s, in case you missed it) Oney Lorcan, who won a Six-Pack Challenge this past week for the opportunity.

Prediction: If you’re familiar with Oney Lorcan, you know this is going to be a hard-hitting match. And like most 205 Live matches, even if it’s not on the main card, it’s going to steal the show and be hard to follow. But this is still Gulak’s championship for the foreseeable future, and while Oney has what it takes to win a big one, it might not be this big one.

Kevin Owens vs. Shane McMahon

The story: Kevin Owens has become a stone cold (get it?) kind of a guy lately in order to challenge Shane McMahon and his abuse of power and authority. So now they’re finally having a one-on-one match because Shane McMahon just constantly has matches on pay-per-view now. Also, Owens’ career is on the line.

Prediction: Hopefully Kevin Owens does just what he did to Dolph Ziggler at Extreme Rules and Stunners Shane McMahon to start and end the match immediately. Please. For the love of the wrestling gods. 

Goldberg vs. Dolph Ziggler

The story: So, um, it looked like Dolph Ziggler was setting up for a match against either The Miz or Shawn Michaels leading into SummerSlam. Instead, for some reason, Goldberg answered the call for a match—sure, a “match”—at “The Biggest Party of the Summer.”

Prediction: Wouldn’t it be hilarious if Dolph Ziggler ended up beating Goldberg? I mean, I know it should’ve been him, but this would be especially amazing. And it would completely ruin betting odds. And Ziggler would be even more annoying as a result of this. You know what? I’ve changed my mind on everything: My money is now 100% on Ziggler.  

Charlotte Flair vs. Trish Stratus

The story: This at least has more of a story than Goldberg vs. Ziggler… Charlotte Flair lost the opportunity to challenge Bayley for the SmackDown Women’s Championship, and then Trish Stratus showed up on King’s Court (which was, for some reason, on SmackDown) and Charlotte was able to goad her into having a match at SummerSlam. That’s it. That’s the story. Well, that and Charlotte’s desire to be considered the best of any era.

Prediction: Well, Natalya’s not going to win, so Trish might as well send the Canadians home happy. Wait, Kevin Owens is on the card! Okay, Charlotte can win this one. (Sure, I’m being blasé about it now, but I can’t deny what a dream match this is. Hopefully it delivers.) 

AJ Styles (c) vs. Ricochet, for the United States Championship

The story: The Club is now “The O.C.” and they’ve now got both the United States Championship and the RAW Tag Team Championship. And it all started when they targeted Ricochet, who AJ Styles eventually beat for the United States Championship. Ricochet just won a gauntlet match to have this championship match, but he still doesn’t have any back-up.

Prediction: Like I said: Ricochet doesn’t have any back-up, and AJ Styles has both Gallows and Anderson. 

Finn Balor vs. “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt

The story: After months of Firefly Funhouse segments and teases of “The Fiend” breaking out of that world, he is finally here. His first target? Finn Balor. It seems, specifically not “The Demon” too, which is a  bold choice on Balor’s part, isn’t it?

Prediction: They should have sent a Demon. 

Kofi Kingston (c) vs. Randy Orton, for the WWE Championship

The story: It was 10 years ago that Kofi Kingston looked main event-bound, only that came crashing down after a match against Randy Orton that ended with the infamous outburst from Orton: “Stupid! Stupid!” Now that Kofi’s the champ, he’s finally addressing this moment and how it has haunted him for those 10 years, which is a definitely a slippery slope—Orton has been living in Kofi’s head rent-free for 10 years.

Prediction: Kofi has to win this, right? Randy Orton can’t just prove that he was right that Kofi is “stupid,” right? Right?!? 

Bayley (c) vs. Ember Moon, for the SmackDown Women’s Championship

The story: This title shot actually came out of sportsmanship, as Bayley offered said shot to Ember Moon after they teamed together successfully on SmackDown. But while it started with respect, that doesn’t mean Ember Moon’s been a pushover about this, even hitting the Eclipse on the champ.

Prediction: Bayley will probably retain, but really, what would be the harm in Ember Moon defeating her for the title and finally becoming a champion on the main roster? Absolutely nothing.

Becky Lynch (c) vs. Natalya, in a Submission match for the RAW Women’s Championship

The story: Natalya won a Fatal-4-Way elimination match to become the #1 contender to the RAW Women’s Championship, and that apparently flipped the switch on Becky and Natalya being anything resembling cordial to each other. Natalya wants to prove she knows how to disarm an opponent too, while Becky’s no slouch in the submission game. So that’s how this match became a submission match.

Prediction: Sorry, but while this may Natalya’s home country, this is “The Man’s” world. Plain and simple.

Brock Lesnar (c) vs. Seth Rollins, for the WWE Universal Championship & the RAW Women’s Championship

The story: After getting cashed in on by Lesnar at the Extreme Rules pay-per-view, Seth Rollins won a battle royal to get this opportunity at Lesnar. (Funny how that works.) Since then, Lesnar has destroyed Rollins. It’s a WrestleMania rematch, and chances are this one won’t end as quickly as that one. At least, not in Rollins’ favor.

Prediction: Please, please, please—save us, Rollins.