WWE SummerSlam 2023 predictions: Is Roman Reigns’ historic reign in jeopardy?

SummerSlam feels notable this yr for who shouldn’t be on the cardboard as a lot as who’s.

Absent are Becky Lynch, Rhea Ripley, Trish Stratus, United States champion Austin Principle, Edge, Liv Morgan, undisputed tag champs Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn and girls’s tag staff champions Sonya Deville and Chelsea Inexperienced, simply to call a couple of.

Even with out them, the cardboard for Ford Area in Detroit on Saturday evening (8 p.m. ET, Peacock) provides WWE the prospect for main inventive pivot factors — ought to they take them. 

Roman Reigns’ standing as Undisputed WWE Common champion, his greater than 1,000-day reigns and his standing as Tribal Chief is on the road in opposition to cousin Jey Uso. 

Gunther’s 400-plus day reign as Intercontinental champ faces an enormous challenger in Drew McIntyre and Charlotte Aptitude may turn into a 15-time world champ.

Add to that the truth that each Cash within the Financial institution contracts are in play and you’ve got an evening the place loads of main inventive strokes may happen.

The Submit’s Joseph Staszewski does his greatest to foretell what’s going to go down at SummerSlam.  

L.A. Knight wins the SummerSlam Battle Royal 

If WWE is severe a couple of push for L.A. Knight, there solely might be one winner right here.

It is a excellent automobile to proceed to place Knight as a babyface, give him a notable win on main pay-per-view which you could open the present and juice up the gang with and instantly give one thing to position him in a premium spot heading into the remainder of the yr. 

Logan Paul over Ricochet

This looks like the beginning and never the tip of this program and Paul actually does want a win. The YouTube star has misplaced his previous 4 matches — when you rely the Royal Rumble — together with singles losses to Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins.

Ricochet will get his second down the highway as a result of it looks like that is the very best fan response he’s gotten in a very long time in WWE, however Paul sneaks out with a win right here.  

Shayna Baszler over Ronda Rousey (MMA Guidelines Match)

WWE solely will get one shot at this with Baszler, particularly if the report that Rousey is on her manner out of the corporate quickly is true.

The MMA Guidelines stipulation is unneeded however you need to now win by pass-out, knockout or tapout.

That is actually about Baszler being a greater professional wrestler than the UFC Corridor of Famer in Rousey 

There possible isn’t time for a right away trilogy and any goodwill round Baszler and the shine of beating the three-time world champion makes her viable for an additional fundamental event-level story and doubtlessly a shot at Ripley, the ladies’s world champion, sooner or later.

Perhaps Rousey will get her revenge years from now, however that is about elevating Baszler — who has had simply two singles title matches.

Gunther (c.) over Drew McIntyre to retain the Intercontinental championship

McIntyre is by far the largest and most reputable menace to Gunther’s title reign but, however have in mind two issues.

One, WWE is actively making an attempt and succeeding at rewriting its championship document e-book and Gunther is lower than 40 days away from breaking the Honky Tonk Man’s 453-day mark.

Two, this week on Uncooked WWE already laid the seeds for a possible Chad Gable-Gunther feud and the match they turned in ought to have greater than whet fan’s urge for food.

Whereas McIntyre beating Gunther for the belt is plausible, it doesn’t do something to additional elevate him.   

Finn Balor over Seth Rollins (c.) to win the World Heavyweight championship

Sure, Rollins has solely held the title for 3 months, however WWE has invested closely in The Judgment Day and the tales round it.

One of the best ways to show up the warmth on is for Balor to lastly finish his seven-year quest to avenge Rollins unintentionally injuring him at SummerSlam in 2016 and forcing him to right away finish his reign as the primary Common champion.

That story ends along with his win. Balor having the World Heavyweight championship offers a brand new story with Cash within the Financial institution holder Damian Priest eyeing the title that’s now held by a member of his personal faction — and one who already thinks he’s out to get him.

Perhaps Priest, who can be the one one with out gold, efficiently cashes in Saturday.

Charlotte Aptitude over Asuka (c.) and Bianca Belair to win the WWE girls’s championship

There’s a lot to think about right here as WWE is probably going making an attempt to get to Bianca Belair vs. Charlotte Aptitude sooner or later and there may be all the time the matter of Iyo Sky holding within the Cash within the Financial institution briefcase.

WWE could make a couple of issues occur right here.

Sky misses a cash-in try as a result of Bayley is distracted or attacked by Shotzi, who now going after Bayley with a razor to shave her head like hers.

All of that prices Belair an opportunity to win and Charlotte as a substitute swoops in for the victory — transferring her one title win away from her dad’s 16 world championships.

It solely drives the EST’s frustration larger and begins to get us to a long-awaited match between Asuka and Sky. 

Cody Rhodes vs. Brock Lesnar

WWE can’t deny Rhodes a signature victory on a big stage again, can they?

It’s onerous to see it taking place. Rhodes actually must move this hard-times trial and put a win over Mr. SummerSlam Lesnar on his resume as WWE builds him again towards a possible Roman Reigns rematch.

Rhodes has mentioned he’s going to embarrass Lesnar. Perhaps that is fast, however that’s onerous to think about.

The American Nightmare mentioned in a dialog with The Submit {that a} win over Lesnar would enable him to immediately start pushing for another world title shot.  

Roman Reigns (c) over Jey Uso in Tribal Fight for the Undisputed WWE Common Championship

This one stays so onerous to name as a result of having Jey defeat Reigns right here makes loads of inventive sense. The Bloodline story finally wants to come back to an finish and meaning somebody beating Reigns for the title of Tribal Chief.

Jey doing so would carry this full circle. However going that route ignores a couple of issues. 

There are delicate hits of Solo Sikoa eager to be Tribal Chief.

There may be the long-term Cody Rhodes arc of him needing to complete his story by erasing the sting of his loss to Reigns at WrestleMania 39.

There may be the query of does WWE have sufficient religion in Jey to have him be the one to not solely finish Reigns’ historic title run however pin him twice in a matter of months.

Jimmy Uso will return to assist his brother but it surely gained’t be sufficient as Sikoa or possibly even new Bloodline members deny Jey the win.

It may drive them to staff up with Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens in a brand new story arc as a result of they haven’t any different allies left.