Previously in Glitter and Slam we looked at a moment from Summerslam's past. Now we'll lay down predictions and explore the field for the women this Sunday – as well as predictions for the entire card.
NAOMI (C) vs. NATALYA – Smackdown Women’s Championship
The big question in this match isn't who will win the title, but if Carmella will cash in her Money In The Bank contract. Signs indicate that it is likely she will.
(Princess Mella has been the focal point amidst otherwise lackluster booking through the summer for Smackdown's women. Source: WWE.com)
First, Baron Corbin's failed cash-in attempt on Smackdown Live eliminates a one-or-the-other scenario. At the second biggest show of the year, it's a great time for a cash-in, as Summerslam is the event WWE hopes to expand its audience the most, aside from Wrestlemania. Fans would have a built-in feud to connect with. A sneaky little opportunist who gets by with her pet flunky James Ellsworth as a Get Out of Trouble Free card could draw great heat whether she steals the title from Naomi or Natalya. It would jumpstart the division ever since they lost lightning in a bottle, when internet backlash compelled WWE to redo the MITB ladder match, after Ellsworth handed a barely concious Princess Mella the case the first time around. The move was bold, but with a knowing hand. She was riding a mountain of heat, but the fact that Ellsworth physically handed her the case caused outrage across social media apparently gave WWE brass cold feet, and the do-over became reality – even though his interference was on par with anything Maryse has done for The Miz.
(Naomi's feel–good story lost some glow when she was stuck in a trio of matches with the woefully inadequate Lana. Source: WWE.com)
After that, all we had was Lana forced upon viewers in a trio of lackluster title bouts against Naomi that she obviously did not earn, which hurt the reign of this year's most poignant rise to prominence. Naomi is exciting, genuine and athletic, but she is not the ring general to get a great match out of a green talent like Lana, who should have been in the ladder match in June, rather than fighting for the belt just because Vince McMahon will have his femme fatale at all costs. This match with Natalya will be the first since her abbreviated bout with Charlotte Flair post-wrestlemania that has a compelling energy about it.
(The Queen of Harts has been booked strong in recent months, especially in her rivalry with top face and technical equal Becky Lynch. Source: WWE.com)
Natalya is a veteran of bad storylines, underutlization and sometimes misdirection. Only after the original Divas Revolution did she begin getting a chance to remind the world that she is one of the finest female wrestlers in the world. That energy picked up. Even though Nattie is a heel, the feel—good moment a title win would bring is palpable. If she holds the belt high, WWE is basically saying "hey, sorry for that whole Khali/Midget thing and the farting gimmick, plus all the other crap we put you though." What better time to ignite audience fury then to have Carmella and her pet slimebucket come down to the ring to take theirs.
PREDICTION: Natalya wins. Carmella cashes in and becomes champion.
ALEXA BLISS (C) vs. SASHA BANKS – Raw Women’s Championship
(Don't you just hate the fact that you love to hate her? Source: WWE.com)
2017 has been Alexa Bliss's year. Yeah we all thought Hugamania would engulf the globe, but weak booking and a creepy segment with Bayley and Corey Graves ended that in a hurry. An apparent heel turn for Sasha Banks was scrapped, and while Bliss made history swapping one show's title for another, the Boss never lost a step.
As Little Miss Bliss became the clear darling in booking, Banks was used to give a rub to Alicia Fox and Rich Swann on 205 Live, keep Bayley afloat as long as possible, and help the world see Nia Jax as the rampaging beast with big warm brown eyes that she needs to be. This match gives us a return bout with the top heel and the top face among all of WWE's women. The Boss has surprisingly become an even better wrestler than she was last year during her hallmark feud with Charlotte Flair. The energy she could bring was obvious in their previous title bout, in which she made Bliss pay dearly for getting herself counted out. The crowd rumbled as she took to the air from the announce table and laid the champ out flat with her trademark double knees.
(Banks used Jax as her personal climbing wall en route to earn her title shot against Bliss. Source: WWE.com)
After teasing a rematch with Bayley, injury (perhaps kayfabe) launched Banks back into the title picture to give fans the women's fight they want the most. After a seesaw battle with Nia Jax, The Boss is dialed in and primed for a fourth title. Given the deeper roster, the possibilities of a feud with a game Emma, as well as Jax and a deepening feud with Bliss, a title win eight months removed from her last reign is a great way to keep eyes on the Raw women going into the fall.
PREDICTION: Sasha Banks becomes a four time champion
AND THE REST...
KICKOFF SHOW
Jason Jordan and The Hardy Boyz vs. The Miz, Curtis Axel and Bo Dallas: The Miz and the Miztourage win. This feud is just beginning. Look for Matt Hardy to get more broken. Ready those "fuck that owl" chants, folks.
Cruiserweight Title: Akira Tozawa (c) vs. Neville: tough call but Tozawa wins because of WWE's current highlighting of Asian and Indian talents. The company wants to seriously draw the eye of the eastern markets.
Smackdown Tag Championship: The New Day (c) vs. The Usos. The Bootyos are too tasty. New Day wins, but this feud isn't over yet.
SUMMERSLAM 2017
Big Cass vs. Big Show w/ Enzo above the ring in a shark cage: Enzo isn't the sexy pinata Jericho was. Look for the trashtalk to entertain, but for Cass to win and continue to establish his power as the next angry big man.
Randy Orton vs. Rusev: Not sure how long WWE wants to roll with this. Orton wins, but we still don't find out why we should hate Bulgaria.
John Cena vs. Baron Corbin: I say Corbin wins, but losing a cash-in didn't bode well for the career Damien Sandow. Going over Cena would be a great rub and negate the failure, although there was no reason Corbin wouldn't be angry enough to destroy Mr. Nikki Bella anyway.
Raw Tag Championship: Sheamus and Cesaro vs. Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins. You saw it coming after the reluctant fistbump and all the "I got your back, but I don't really mean it" moments. Shield Lite wins in one of the most compelling tag title bouts in recent years.
Finn Balor vs. Bray Wyatt: Metaphysics dominates this bizarre feud. Balor wins, returning the Demon.
United States Championship: AJ Styles (c) vs. Kevin Owens: Shane McMahon is the guest referee. Owens owns as the "face of America." Plus, Styles provides star power for the world title scene. Owens wins, Shane kicks somebody in the face and/or takes a nasty bump.
WWE Championship: Jinder Mahal (C – it's still all too surreal, you know?) vs. Shinsuke Nakamura. Nakamura went over Cena, the prospect of an AJ Styles dream match on a future Far East tour makes Nakamura the favorite here. He'll raise the title high.
Universal Championship: Brock Lesnar (c) vs. Roman Reigns vs. Samoa Joe vs. Braun Strowman. Hard to call, except Lesnar dropping the title, given the stipulation he will leave WWE if he loses. I'm going with the upset special, because Strowman vs. Reigns for the title has more of a Wrestlemania feel. Samoa Joe wins.
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