#LAWTAKE - WWE SUMMERSLAM 2024 PREDICTIONS

I’m live from the Law Lair whipping up the predictions for this Saturday’s SummerSlam event live from Cleveland and to be honest, this does not feel like the most exciting SummerSlam card in recent memory. Maybe I am just used to the top quality of these monthly PLE’s delivering even with minimal promo, but this SummerSlam just doesn’t jump off the page with me, even with weeks of promo since MITB earlier this month in Toronto. Below I’m dropping my specific predictions for each match and how I feel things will go as we roll into Bash In Berlin later into August…

WWE World Heavyweight Title - Damian Priest (c) vs. GUNTHER

It’s inevitable that GUNTHER becomes World Heavyweight Champion and the monster heel that the Raw brand hasn’t had in quite some time as the top dog. BUT, my thing is… Damian Priest has finally come into his own as Champion after a shaky start post-WM40. Hell, he’s getting babyface crowd reactions regularly now. Since the split from Judgment Day is looming, I just don’t see it imploding tonight whether Dom turns on Rhea or not in Rhea’s title match. It would just be too random. Damian just saved Finn after all from a massive choke out, beat down from GUNTHER on Monday’s main event of Raw.

If it’s not a screwy finish, it’ll be a DQ of sorts to allow Damian at least one more calendar month as Champion until Bash In Berlin come months end. From there, GUNTHER can truly be cemented as the Ring General by winning in his home country. GUNTHER vs Ilja in a World Title match at that PLE could “feed families” as Twitter would say, but Ilja is just so random of an opponent after suffering L after L and not even being on any PLE cards since making it to Raw, I can’t see him winning a random #1 contenders match and being a believable main event contender even for a one-off match. Damian/GUNTHER is getting a sequel in Berlin.

WINNER: DAMIAN PRIEST

WWE United States Championship - Logan Paul (c) vs. LA Knight

LA Knight has needed a big title moment since coming up obviously short in quest for the Universal Title against Roman Reigns last year. The time is now. No John Cena pun, it’s really his time or the ship will sail and the crowd will turn on LA slowly but surely as we all will believe he can never win a match that matters.

If it’s something Logan Paul can do, it’s put on a quality match in his own right. Logan has had all of under four title defenses since winning the belt over 200 days ago and right now he doesn’t need the belt. Even with Logan being a recurring character on any given Friday, him dropping the title to LA Knight, who should have been U.S. champion 365 days ago, is the best call and the way to pop the crowd. LA Knight can defend the belt and feud against a bevy of competition on Smackdown regularly for the Fall, even with a potential Logan rematch occuring in some type of non-pinfall gimmick. Its Knights time, YEAH.

WINNER: L.. A.. KNIGHT… (YEAH!)

WWE Women’s Championship - Bayley (c) vs. Nia Jax

It’s tough to see TWO K/QOTR winners losing their advertised-months-in-advance World Title matches on the same card. It could really diminish that stip moving forward. GUNTHER, though, could afford a screwy DQ finish of sorts for his inevitable rematch in Germany. Nia Jax… will be in a midcard blunder feuding with Naomi if she doesn’t win this belt on Saturday.

Art School Teacher Bayley has been on a spin cycle of nothing since winning the belt, rightfully so, at WrestleMania. Unfortunately, Nia Jax and Tiffy Time, hell even Michin, have had more time and spotlight on Smackdown regularly than she has. I think this is Nia’s time to shine. Although, if storyline history serves correct, this should be Bayley’s comeuppance against Nia as a callback from their NXT and 2017 days. Either way, I just think Bayley is better as the chaser. Even with Miss Stratton looming in the wings, her inevitable cash-in could work best when Bayley finally wins the belt back only to be thwarted. UBER heat for Tiffany and MUCH sympathy for Bayley.

I just see Bayley and Naomi paring up as the Booty Buddies and becoming Women’s Tag Champions sooner than later while Nia raises hell in the women’s division, squashing everyone on the roster that even thinks they stand a chance.

WINNER: NIA JAX

WWE Intercontinental Championship - Sami Zayn (c) vs. Bron Breakker

It’s inevitable Bron Breakker wins the IC Title on this card, as him having a third match for this belt would just be pointless considering how much other talent is floundering around in the upper Midcard. If last years Tag Title run has shown us anything, it’s that this is about the time Sami will lose his belt after having his big WrestleMania moment.

Sami and Jey will eventually move over to Smackdown to align with OG Bloodline because fuck the draft at this point. Bron has a plethora of meals to chow down on as the PLE card moves into the winter - Sheamus, Bronson Reed, Ilja D, hell even Pete Dunne and Otis if you wanted to go that route. The time is now to elevate one of Raw’s brightest stars.

WINNER: Bron Breakker

WWE Women’s World Heayweight Championship - Liv Morgan (c) vs. Rhea Rhipley

In one of the majority’s favorite storyline (and not really mine), Liv Morgan will finally defend this World Title of hers. No seriously, finally she will defend this damn belt. Rhea is back from injury and hopefully is in good shape to compete. From a size standpoint, Rhea should just demolish Liv and win this belt back with ease. From a creative standpoint, this feud will most likely go on and go until Survivor Series.

I don’t think ANY of Judgment Day turn, on this PLE at least. It’s too obvious and also too random. What I do see is yet another company copying the other company. A returning Raquel Rodriguez emerges to cost Rhea this match and help her former Tag Champion partner Liv retain. Not only does this buy time in the feud as predicted, but it’ll allow Liv to not defend the belt for more weeks on end while Rhea and Raquel compete against each other in 50-50 style matches, DQ finishes and all.

WINNER: LIV MORGAN

Grudge Match: CM Punk vs. Drew McIntrye (w/ Seth Rollins as Special Guest Referee)

Luckily for this match, there isn’t enough bodies to be Special Guest Enforcer, Special Guest Commentator, or Special Guest Timekeeper. Expect Seth’s referee outfit to attempt to steal the match and the show. This feud has been one of the highlights of the entire company for months on end and seeing as it’s the only non-title match for the night, this could end up being a real street fight with Seth turning the cheek to the chaos.

Drew doesn’t need the win here, although logic would suggest a heel win would keep this feud going. Punk hasn’t won a single thing besides microphone time since returning at Survivor Series and a brief stint in the Royal Rumble before his half-a-year injury occured via Drew. The crowd could use a simple GTS to Drew and a happy ending even with Seth looking on in disgust as he slowly counts the three. This match is going to a Hell In A Cell at Badd Blood in Atlanta in October. It’s only right as it’s PPV tradition and really one of the only true blood feuds in this company that deserves that gimmick match.

Where Seth goes from here? My guess is as good as yours, besides being included in some type of 3-Way #1 Contendership dance to determine who gets to fight GUNTHER once GUNTHER disposes of the Priest feud a month or two from now.

WINNER: CM Punk

WWE Undisputed Championship - Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Solo Sikoa

In one of the least exciting WWE Title main events in some time, Cody Rhodes charity defenses continue as he fights against Solo Sikoa and the entire Bloodline 2.0 with no help. I know Cody will bring this match to some decent levels, but I don’t expect a clinic. Hell, I don’t expect this match to even go 20 minutes. Ain’t no way, ain’t no fucking way.

Okay, Solo ain’t winning. That’s for sure. No way. Not a cheap heat pop, a cheap heat silencing moment, nothing. Not a chance. BUT, I do see the entire Bloodline knocking the mess out of Cody following the match. From there, R-KOwens return as a tandem to make the save… but the numbers games will be too much. That is until… the beautiful sounds of the OG Tribal Chief hit.

That’s right… The Rock. I think Rock makes his return at this PLE now that the movies are all done being filmed for now. I could be out of my mind, but I think a Roman return is too obvious.

Or is it? Because once Rock returns, next we get the beautiful sounds of the former Universal Championships theme song… Roman Reigns actually returns. A two-for-one will pop this crowd and this potentially underwhelming promoted PLE. From there, we see Roman clean house with a swerve on the entire Bloodline to send the fans home in excited confusion as we are all forced to tune into Smackdown moving forward.

WINNER: Cody Rhodes

In a perfect world, I will be correct with all my predictions. Otherwise, I’ll be tapped in live on Saturday night for this Cleveland-based showing and hoping to see some genuine twists and turns along with some quality graps. Agree, disagree? Leave a comment or hit me on Twitter!