First off, let's just say this: SummerSlam is the second biggest WWE pay per view of the year, and the second oldest (this is the 18th edition of the August classic). That being said, shouldn't all titles be on the line?Shouldn't ALL of the top stars that have been shoved down our throats this year be ON the show? As of the writing of this column, only three titles are on the line - all of them 'allegedly' World Titles. The WWE championship, The "SmackDown!" World Title and the ECW belt. Nowhere on this card do we see Angle, Carlito, Shelton, Lashley, Finlay, RVD, Nitro, Kennedy, Vito, London, Kendrick, The Spirit Squad, Kane, Terkay or even the guy who has been shoved down our throats the most - UuuuuuuuuuMAAAAGaaaaa. Hell, even the legendary Undertaker is off the show since The "Not-So-Great" Khali can't appear on a live broadcast. How embarassing is that? I mean they put Nathan freakin' Jones on WrestleMania, but they're worried about how bad Khali is? If he can't be seen on a live show - where all the big blow-offs take place - can his ass now!
But I digress. On to the SummerSlam '06 predictions...
Rey Mysterio VS. Chavo Guerrero
Big Daddy says: I hope Eddie is watching this from above and spitting on both of them. Michael Cole actually said this match is about one thing: "Eddie Guerrero". It's about a guy who died almost a year ago and the company hasn't finished squeezing every bit of rub out of him for these two ham and eggers. Rey is still a company darling, while Chavo will forever be a curtain jerker.
Winner: Rey
Dan-e-o says: It's crazy that Eddie Guerrero is still so much a part of the storylines on "SmackDown!" Even crazier is the idea that both Rey and Chavo are fighting in 'honour' of Eddie. During the time of his death, Chavo had forsaken the Guerrero name to become "Kerwin White" and Rey had just recently finished one of the most bitter feuds with Eddie ever. (Seriously, how dumb was it for Rey to be wearing an "I'm your Papi" t-shirt after Eddie's passing?). Either way, if they have nothing else going for them than to use Eddie as the centrepiece of thier feud, they better put on a hell of a match. I'm going to go out on a limb here and pretend as if the WWE writing team has some sense...and uses this match to "push" the "returning" Chavo to greater heights.
Winner: Chavo Guerrero
Ric Flair VS. Mick Foley
"I Quit" Match
Big Daddy says: I still remember Flair's last "I Quit" match very clearly. November of 1989, when he beat Terry Funk at Clash of Champions. Foley's last "I Quit" match was against The Rock with one of the most unusual, yet memorable finishes ever. Truly, they can go either way here. This match is going to be all about the "O" factor. Let's be honest, we're not looking to 'elevate' anyone and nobody is moving up the ladder of contention. More than likely, neither of these dudes will wrestle again for a long time. I'm going with Flair, since I still say Foley's is and always has been the company's top jobber.
Winner: Ric Flair
Dan-e-o says: This should be the O-fest of the evening. For their own varying reasons, Foley and Flair have been able to provide wrestling fans with some of the greatest performances ever to occur inside (and outside) the squared circle. So I'm expecting a culmination of craziness this Sunday at SummerSlam when these two lock up. With Flair taking the rare two wins in a row victory over Mick Foley during their Best 2 out of 3 Falls Match at Vengeance, I'm going with Foley on this one. If, for no other reason, he deserves it for being the "company's top jobber".
Winner: Mick Foley - yeah!!
Hulk Hogan VS. Randy Orton
Big Daddy says: I can't stand Randy Orton. He's a real life prick with nothing to offer this business. He looks and sounds like every dumb jock without a unique thought in his head. He's horrible on the mic, and brutal in the ring. His work rate must make his daddy say "Goddamm boy were you adopted?". His Diamond-Cutter rip off must make DDP say, "Are you f'n kiddin me?". That all being said, It looks like Orton will be the one to end Hogan's unbeaten streak (9-0) at Summerslam.
Winner: Randy Orton
Dan-e-o says: I'm liking this disagreeing streak I have with Big Daddy Donnie so far. I DO agree that Randy Orton is wack. Watching him wrestle reminds me of this scene from "Family Guy" when Stewie and Brian have a private underground business meeting with Kermit The Frog during one of their cutaway gags. After Kermit runs off, Stewie asks "What's his appeal?". Jokes. The only difference is watching Orton wrestle is not funny...it's mundane. Nothing he does is O-worthy and I too, think he's lucky to be experiencing the push he's having. However, my disagreement with Donnie will be in choosing Hogan the winner of this bout and STILL stay undefeated at SummerSlam. Like the bout with HBK last year, this is the "money match" of SummerSlam and the star of the show needs to have his hand raised in victory. Classic WWE.
Winner: Hulk Hogan - yeah brother!!
DX VS. The McMahons
Big Daddy says: I got two words for ya "Dx wins". And if you're not down with that, I really don't care. DX is tired, played out and stale. I'd love to see The McMahons take them down (maybe with help from Umaga or the cheerleaders) forcing a split. HHH's promo last week was good. Don't forget who we are - The Game Triple H and The Heartbreak Kid Shawn Michaels. The problem is, these two together are actually hurting each other's rep. Their goofball antics don't put them over as a legitimate force. They're just class clowns. It worked the first time around because Hunter was basically Shawn's bitch. Now, HHH is just as big a star as his old buddy. If they are working together they should be ROLLIN THROUGH people - not toying with the Spirit Squad or Shane or dropping pinfalls to Jamal. I'd love to see it end, but my thinking is, it'll end on a high note.
Winners: DX
Dan-e-o says: The disagreement streak ends here. DX will win and hopefully move on to bigger and better things than to pull pranks on the McMahons. This, however, should be an entertaining match as Triple H's in-laws are true O-champs at pay-per-view events. Never afraid to perform a high spot or get busted open, the McMahons always provide a lot of entertainment. And to their credit...not afraid to have their asses handed to them on live TV while doing it.
Winner: DX
Big Show VS. Sabu
ECW Title Match
Big Daddy says: Please put Angle in this match. Sabu is being exposed for what he is since joining the WWE. A spot monkey. He doesn't 'wrestle' and anytime he's in a non-extreme rules match (something that happens in the new ECW but didn't happen in the old) he is out of place. There's only so much he can do with a guy like Show. I sense a title change happening with a ton of outside interference. I'm assuming there will be at least ONE title change, and I don't want to see them happen in the other two matches!
Winner: Sabu
Dan-e-o says: Unfortunately (or fortunately depending on how you look at it) I've been unable to keep up with the ECW show. It bothers me, nonetheless, that proven WWE superstars seem to be the new face of ECW instead of the true extremists who deserve the spotlight in this environment. WWE has done a poor job in even making a casual wrestling fan believe that ECW is actually a brand on its own. Case and point: the ECW title is up for grabs at SummerSlam: WWE's second-biggest PPV of the year. I hope the ECW strap goes back to someone who truly represented what the company was all about and make some sense out of having the brand exist at all.
Winner: Sabu
King Booker VS. Batista
World Title Match
Big Daddy says: All hail King Booker. If Batista wins I'll be pissed. I mean really pissed. Booker is gold on the mic, still puts forth a solid effort in the ring and he has EARNED his spot. You can't say the same about Batista. I'm hoping the King takes out Ultimate Warrior 2K6.
Winner: King Booker
Dan-e-o says: I despise Batista even more than Randy Orton. Honestly, I LIKE Randy Orton in comparison to Batista! The most over-for-no-good-reason wrestler, perhaps, in WWE history, Batista BETTER not win the belt on Sunday. King Booker is pure entertainment. Witty, humorous and ever so arrogant, Booker is both an excellent character AND in-ring competitor. For some strange reason, this is rare in today's pro wrestling-world. And for some even stranger reason, Batista, who possesses neither on-the-mic prowess nor in-ring talent is a fan favourite. Even worse, he's a potential two-time world champion! I'm praying that doesn't occur as early as SummerSlam. I concur my good man, All Hail King Booker! And here's to Sharmell wearing something that compliments her luscious booty this Sunday!!
Winner: King Booker
Edge VS. John Cena
WWE Heavyweight Title Match
Big Daddy says: If Cena wins, we riot. Man, I really really hope this is the end of the Cena / Edge feud. I want Edge to retain and for Cena to start climbing the ladder again as a full fledged heel. Unfortunately, there are those within the company - most notable being Vinnie himself, that see Cena as a major draw and the second coming of Hulkamania. Personally, I don't get it. His delivery in his promos has become forced and unnatural. His ring work is clumsy and awkward. He never sells. Ugh. Like Booker, Edge has EARNED his spot. He's been with the company EIGHT freakin' years. He's got history at Summerslam. He's wrestled for tag titles, IC titles, and a lot more. Cena is an over pushed juice bag that is being cheered because the sheep (aka WWE marks) are told to cheer him. These are the same people who love Batista, but didn't know who he was three years ago.
Winner: Edge
Dan-e-o says: I totally agree with Donnie again. The first thing that makes John Cena suck so bad as that he THINKS he can cut a promo. They DO sound forced and unnatural and UNLIKE King Booker (and Edge for that matter) Cena is SO unfunny! The second thing that makes Cena suck is that in the ring, he makes Randy Orton look like Chris Benoit. Boring, same ol', same ol' completely O-less moves that somehow get crowd pops...Cena's wrestling holds are nothing short of Scotty 2 Hotty-ness. (The Worm and The 5 Knuckle Shuffle are equally shitty ass moves...and yes, The Rock's People's Elbow, as corny as it was, was both more entertaining and more convincing). With Cena releasing a new movie shortly, I worry WWE may feel he needs his title back to promote it...similar to when his album dropped. But I PRAY the strap stays with our Toronto bredren so that we can watch a champion who's actually entertaining week after week on "Raw".
Winner: Edge
6 comments: on "SummerSlam Predictions"
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My Predictions and Why:
1.Rey Mysterio vs. Chavo Guerrero
Winner - Chavo
Chavo just returned off of a long hiatus that has been a long time in the making. Him quitting RAW was to position him for this feud with Rey over the Guerrero name. Rey hasn't won a high profile match in a very long time, and this will be no different. This is the time to establish "the other" Guerrero. If he loses, he is worthless to the brand. A win could build a potential top heel.
2. Ric Flair vs. Mick Foley
Winner - Flair
Foley got the win in the battle of who's the best talker. Flair won't do the J-O-B on the mic and in the ring. Flair has shown a passion for beating Foley... Foley has shown that he doesn't even want to fight Flair. With Flair being a full time wrestler, and Foley being a special attraction, Flair will bleed like he's never bled, and pull some sort of questionable win over Foley.
3.Hulk Hogan vs. Randy Orton
Winner - Hulk Hogan
Brooke Hogan turning on her father makes sense in wrestling terms. It does not however make sense in life terms. Brooke is not going to have a career as Randy's valet. She wants a career as a musician. Turning against the most popular wrestler ever will do nothing for their reality show, her music career, or the WWE in general. Brooke will be the reason Hogan continues his Wrestlemania win streak, despite the torn meniscus.
4. DX vs. The McMahons
Winners - The McMahons
This is my darkhorse pick, but with Shawn needing to go out of the picture and with the DX storyline needing to come to an end, I think that the McMahon's will pull this off. I liken it to how Yoko beat Taker with the help of every midcard guy at the time. The McMahon's have resources, and DX has run it's course.
5.The Big Show vs. Sabu
Winner - Big Show
Sabu did get caught with shit, same as RVD. WWE doesn't have the faith in Sabu yet to put a major title on him. They know he will appease the old school fans and put on something different, but they aren't putting a belt on him. RVD will be the one to drop the Big Show.
6. King Booker vs. Batista
Winner - Booker
Somehow Booker pulls this off. It's money to run with King Booker, and to screw Batista and keep him chasing...
7. Edge w/Lita vs. John Cena
Winner - John Cena
DQ's cause Edge to lose his belt? The odds are too highly stacked. Cena will get his belt back tonight, despite how entertaining Edge is at the moment.
Mediocre yes ... but BOTH BOOKER AND EDGE RETAINED!!!!!!!!!!
Mext PPV is Unforgiven STARRING Tha O Show!!
I sure am glad that all I had to pay was $5 for some pizza and not anything to watch Summerslam, or i'd be pissed off. But look at the bright side....it was a lot better than last year.
I never really saw Summerslam as a big event, rather just another program to set up Survivor Series. But to appease the topic, i'd have to go as saying that Summerslam 89 was my favorite. Mainly because it was my first ppv and it introduced me to the two face painted freaks known as Demolition.
But I look back at the card and realize how much good talent was on it.
Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard def. The Hart Foundation
Dusty Rhodes def. The Honky Tonk Man
Mr. Perfect def. The Red Rooster
Rick Martel/The Fabulous Rougeaus def. Tito Santana/The Rockers
Ultimate Warrior def. Rick Rude for the IC belt
Jim Duggan/Demolition def. Andre the Giant/The Twin Towers
Hercules def. Greg Valentine
Ted DiBiase def. Jimmy Snuka
Hulk Hogan/Brutus Beffcake def. Randy Savage/Zeus
After last night, I made myself go back and watch the Brainbusters/Hart Foundation match after the dissapointing three hour sleep fest last night.
I really thought that the Rey/Chavo match was going to be the best match on the card...Jesus H. Christ was I wrong. Once again, Vicki Guerrero had a spot in a otherwise good match. Last year it was the Eddie/Rey ladder match (which was THE best match) and she completely ruined the match due to the ending. Same thing this year. Like Big Daddy said "I hope Eddie is watching from heaven and spits on both of them." It was a crappy match and shouldn't have even been the first match, much less be on Summerslam at all. I would've gone for seeing a Highlanders/Spirit Squad match.
Big Show vs Sabu. I was able to call this match as it progressed because it was the same effin match that I saw a month and a half ago at a house show. And from what I hear, that same match has been going on since Show got the title. Thankfully I wasn't expecting much out of those two other than a few bumps and a few botched spots. When Sabu knocked over the table that Show had setup, I was expecting Senshi to show up and start beating Sabu senseless.
I didn't see the entire Hogan/Orton match. I fell asleep. Then I woke up to take a smoke break right as Hogan won appearently.
The best match of the night belonged to Foley and Flair. When Flair started bleeding like a pig, the thought going through my mind was, "Somewhere, a Von Erich is smiling cause Flair is bleeding." Flair took some effin sick bumps, even rolling in the thumbtacks. Foley did a phenomenal job as well. And in the spirit of having a great match, the ending has to suck balls. I'm going on the record now by saying that the ending to the match sets up another match between the two at either Survivor Series or the Royal Rumble and it'll be a "Falls count anywhere" match.
I didn't watch much of the Batista/Booker T match. I knew Booker was going to win because there wasn't enough build up for Batista to win the title...shit, he spent one week on Mark Henry, three weeks on Ken Kennedy, and maybe a week and a half on Booker.
And the match that brought back old memories (for some odd reason), DX vs the McMahons. Lets look past the Spirit Squad getting beat like a government mule, Finlay/Regal/Show/Kennedy beating on DX, or Kane coming out to help DX...the best part of that match was when Vince & Shane started using all the old-school tag finishers, Demolition' "Demolition Decapitation", The Hart Foundation's "Hart Attack", and the Road Warriors' "Doomsday Device". That also was probably the only period of time during that match where I marked out.
I wasn't suprised at the finish of the Edge/Cena match. I knew going in that Edge would retain the belt, it was just a matter of how. I was looking more towards seeing Lita hit Edge with something and get Cena dq'd. But what do I know right? Let's use the most time honored way to win a match where if you get caught, you'd get dq'd and lose your belt...brass knuckles. Best part of that match were the fans with the "If Edge Wins, We Riot" sign. Of course there were a few Cena marks at the place where I was watching SS and I turned around and told them, "If they were in South Boston and the crowd was mostly Irish, it would happen."
Grade: D+
I started the night off hot..
Chavo over Rey, check...
Show over Sabu, check...
Flair over Foley, check...
Hogan over Orton, check...
Then fell off hard.
Booker did retain his title in a DQ loss, and I was more looking at the outcome of the program than the outcome of the match...
The McMahons did not vanquish DX, but good lord, someone needs too...
I didn't watch the PPV, but what I've read has them basically put under the midcard of both shows, and ECW's champion. Weak.
I am happy Edge retained, but I thought this PPV would want to send people home with a warm fuzzy feeling. That, however, did not occur.
I am happy Chavo, Flair, Big Show, and Hogan went over. I am happy that Edge and Booker retained titles. I am sad that they are not doing anything to build anyone for the future on Pay Per View.
I am sad that McMahons/DX happened... Vince needs to get off TV, and Shawn needs to move to Smackdown!
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