Opinion

8 WrestleMania 34 Nightmares That Could Come True

Published

8 years ago

March 27, 2018

I love wrestling. It’s really very good isn’t it? What I don’t love, and quite often love to hate, is WWE. We find ourselves deep into WrestleMania season and WWE have presented to us one of the most star studded, dream match laden cards in recent memory. The trouble is, you can realistically see almost every match going completely the wrong way. This is WWE after all, a company who rely on the fans to keep them in business yet so often manage to alienate us and treat us as though we don’t matter. Will WWE continue to isolate their fanbase to further line their pockets? Or will they finally wake up and realise that giving us what we desire is best for business? Let’s take a look at some of the potential pitfalls we could see at The Showcase of The Immortals and how likely they are to happen…

Both Battle Royal’s Take Up Main Card Time

The concern here is that with so many matches already penciled in, WWE will try and force us to believe these matches are important enough to take a spot on the main card. WWE have been more than vocal in their attempts to push the Women’s Revolution, and rightly so, but this just raises concern that they will decide to go with the Women’s Battle Royal on the main show.

WWE really put their foot in it by naming this historic, first-ever match after The Fabulous Moolah, a move which was met with much derision and disgust. A quick name change isn’t going to help get them out of the hole they’ve dug for themselves, and the live crowd will likely shit all over this match still. Having it take place on the pre-show would be the correct move with less attention on it and have it serve as a warm up for the fans still turning up.

What if they don’t though? WWE are notoriously stubborn and painfully oblivious to what the fans desire. In an attempt to get as many superstars onto the match card we could well see both Battle Royal’s featured and take up a huge amount of time.

Will It Happen? Battle Royals are by no means bad matches, they just tend to be difficult for fans to get invested in. The fact that previous winners have gone on to achieve very little makes the match itself feel unimportant. The match needs to lead to some sort of opportunity, a title shot at the next PPV for example, rather than a trophy at ringside for the next month or so. WWE also need to look at the limitations for a match like this, throwing a bunch of mid carders and jobbers isn’t what we want to see on The Grandest Stage Of Them All. We certainly don’t want to see it twice…

“Why are you here? You aren’t a wrestler… go away!”

Shane McMahon Out Shane McMahon’s Himself And Robs The Spotlight

Let’s take a second to let it really sink in… Daniel Bryan has been cleared to return to in ring action. Daniel Bryan. Cleared. Return. In ring. DANIEL. BRYAN. This is monumental news that is likely to overshadow everything else on the card… and so it should! The going plan seems to be the pairing of Bryan and Shane vs Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn. Storyline wise this makes perfect sense. Bigger picture wise it makes none whatsoever. A return so important should’ve been showcased in a bigger and better match. Bryan v Owens? Bryan v Miz? Bryan v AJ? Nah… let’s use Shane McMahon, an aging, botch machine, ego maniac, glorified stuntman in worse shape than someone twice his age!

I hate Shane. I’ve made no secret of it and will continue to make no secret of it. WWE have known for a long time now that SDLive is slipping in quality, and they must know by now that the main reason is due to Shane’s continued, and unnecessary, on screen presence. He gets booed by live crowds despite his supposed babyface persona. Having him team up with Bryan is a cheap way of getting the fans back on side, and its guaranteed to work. Owens and Zayn should be top guys on the blue brand right now, and while I love them being involved in Bryan’s return it makes my skin crawl that Shane is going to go over them on the biggest night of the year.

My hope here is that Bryan at least gets to wrestle. WWE are likely to give him a reduced role in the main and let Shane the lead until Bryan eventually picks up the win by pinning Owens. He has picked up no ring rust whatsoever during his time away from the squared circle, proven by his retaliation against the heels on SDLive this past week, and we’ve waited so long to see him back that it would be a shame to see him sit out most of the match.

Will It Happen? Of course it will. It simply has to. Bryan is possibly the biggest fan favourite in WWE history, so he will under no circumstances be losing his colossal return. The beatdown that Shane took from Kevin and Sami was far too vicious for him to not gain a measure of revenge, especially considering he is a McMahon.

Braun Strowman Makes The Bar Look Weak

WWE struck gold with The Bar but look determined to reduce them to dirt. Another wonderful example of how successful the odd couple pairing can be, Cesaro and Sheamus have gone from bitter rivals to arguably the best runs of their respective careers. The due have had nearly two years invested into them, more than most teams get, and have been transformed into RAW’s premier ass-kicking destruction crew. God forbid WWE should buck the trend of great tag teams being split up too early though, as will be proven at WrestleMania when their chemistry and talent are usurped by WWE’s need to push Strowman as an unstoppable monster.

At time of writing, Braun will be taking on both men for the Raw Tag Team Titles, and despite Kurt Angle instructing him to find a partner I would imagine WWE will go with the spectacle of seeing one man demolish an established and strong team. Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely LOVE Strowman and desperately want him to be successful… just not at the expense of RAW’s best tag team. It would cause irreparable damage to the champions if they’re beaten by one man, regardless of how much of a fight they put up, and would make an already weak tag division lose any remaining credibility.

Will It Happen? My gut feeling is telling me yes. It’s very hard to see Strowman not winning this one after the way he has been so strongly built, plus we’ve seen The Bar lose on quite a few occasions recently. Strowman winning would be fun to see and he certainly deserves to hold a title (or two) considering how much he has improved, it’s just a shame that his victory would likely lead to Sheamus and Cesaro will splitting up post WrestleMania. Could it mean Cesaro switches shows and goes after singles gold on SDLive? Hopefully. What does it mean for the RAW Tag Title scene though? A post Mania call up for Authors Of Pain to take the belts back from Strowman would be incredible and shake up the division. Every cloud…

No Follow Up For Asuka’s Big Title Win

WWE may have backed themselves into a corner regarding Asuka. On one hand they could completely shock the world and book Charlotte to win, thus ending Asuka’s incredible undefeated streak, but this would undoubtedly lead to a lot of fan backlash. On the other hand, where can Asuka possibly go if she gains a clean victory over Flair at ‘Mania and becomes the new SmackDown Women’s Champ?

There is simply no better competition than Charlotte on the blue brand. The whole division has frankly been absolute trash for months now and no-one on the roster can hold a candle to Charlotte. Sure, we will get one more month of the rivalry while the obligatory rematch is sorted out, but then what? Carmella is almost certain to cash in at Mania, but I strongly believe it’ll be on the winner of the RAW Women’s Championship match as seeing her take on Asuka sounds… well quite frankly it sounds awful.

Will It Happen? WWE really need to put some serious thought into this with at least a couple of long term plans for Asuka, otherwise her long awaited title victory runs the risk of feeling like it has no substance. Most fans will be pleased to see Asuka’s dominance rewarded with her first main roster championship, but interest and appeal will likely fade away afterwards. An Ember Moon call up from NXT makes the most sense, renewing their fantastic rivalry from 2017, with maybe someone like Becky Lynch thrown into the mix. Her stock has dropped big time within WWE, rather bizarrely, but she is still a red hot fan favourite who has shown her worth many, many times before.

AJ Styles vs Shinsuke Nakamura Being Lost In Mid Card Hell

Here it is ladies and gentlemen… the ‘dream match’. That term is thrown around a lot these days, unjustly in a lot of cases, but this one could be a real showstopper which is spoken about for years to come. WWE have something really special on their hands here. A long rooted rivalry which started in Japan finally making its way too the mass audiences, between two of the most naturally gifted superstars of this generation.

This could be, and should be, Nakamura’s true arrival to the big leagues. He has flattered to deceive since his main roster call up, largely thanks to WWE’s poor handling of him, but a rivalry with AJ is guaranteed to bring out the best in The King Of Strong Style. The problem is that this match doesn’t feel very important right now, and with only 2 weeks before Mania that’s quite worrying. The rivalry has taken a backseat to the ongoing turmoil between Shane McMahon, Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn and Daniel Bryan. Bryan’s miraculous return certainly deserves a huge spotlight and fanfare, but not at the expense of the blue brands two ‘top guys’. The sheer amount of screen time for the supposed ‘management’ has really taken away some of the shine from this ultimate showdown, leaving it feeling no more relevant than the United States Championship mess.

Will It Happen? It really comes down to what WWE allow these two to do during the match. If they are left to their own devices and can show us what we all know they’re capable of then this match will steal the entire show, but so far Nakamura has seen his move set restricted and his character development held back. That’s where the real issue with this rivalry lies… the quality of promo has been below par. A great promo can create a great rivalry, and as good as Styles is on the mic he is really struggling to make this feud entertaining against a man who can still barely speak English. At this moment in time I’m actually more interested in Roman Reigns vs Brock Lesnar purely based on how good the back and forth has been.

Roman Reigns Given The Daniel Bryan Treatment

Here we go again folks! It’s the Roman Reigns show! Another WrestleMania and another main event for ‘The Big Dog’. While the build up to this match has been great, don’t let WWE try and fool you by making out that Reigns is cutting shoot promos here. It’s just another way to try and convince us that Reigns is worthy of being the top guy and poster boy worthy of our adulation. We aren’t stupid Vince. We know these promos are heavily scripted and rehearsed. Roman made it very clear he can’t cut a good promo during his embarrassing exchanges with John Cena last year.

Reigns is 100% winning this match. It was decided a full year ago, if not even further back. The worry here is that WWE will treat this as a huge deal, as if we wanted to see it and will be overjoyed when it happens. Reigns isn’t the worst wrestler in the world, he’s just not what the majority of fans want to see as their champion.

Will It Happen? Absolutely guaranteed I’m afraid. WWE clearly hasn’t learned their lesson with Reigns despite growing fan discontent. He will stand tall on April 8^th as the all conquering, untouchable, Vince McMahon Wet Dream Machine and we have no choice than to suck it up and take it. I fully expect a ticker tape laden celebration to really kick us in the teeth. WWE truly believe they can convert us to viewing Reigns in the same way we do Daniel Bryan. Its bordering on psychotic. Somebody fetch Vince a large dose of Valium…

Undertaker Struggling Through Yet Another WrestleMania Match

Call me an old romantic, but I remember a time when The Undertaker was a king among men. A master of his craft. A regular 5 Star main eventer. A focal point of the Attitude Era… what the hell happened? This living legend has been reduced to a hollow shell of his former self through WWE’s insistence to not let him retire peacefully. Last year this enduring icon, who has given so much of his life to the company and Mania itself looked like a broken down, frail old man as he struggled his way through the main event with Roman Reigns.

It’s unrealistic at this stage of his career to expect Taker to keep up with the younger talent and put in match of the year performances. He isn’t aging as you would expect one to do so, and despite seeing him every year he always seems to have become 5 years older in that short space of time. If you have any respect for the man who so many believe to be the greatest of all time, you should be ashamed for wishing him to enter into a situation where he is forced to push himself beyond his limitations and end up looking like a fool.

Will It Happen? Let’s be honest, we all know John Cena will be doing almost all of the work here. Big Match John has his doubters but over the last two years he has pulled off some terrific performances and will be expected to make Taker look good in this bout. If WWE are clever, which so rarely happens anymore, they’ll let this be a short match so Taker can look strong and pick up a convincing and entertaining win. If they expect an epic encounter that can go the distance, like they expected when he faced Roman, then this could be once again very difficult to watch. There’s no way of avoiding it. Taker lost it years ago. Let it go, and let him go.

The Authority Beating Ronda Rousey And Kurt Angle

We all know how the finish to this match should go down, and it’s exactly what every fan wants to see. Rousey and Angle should pick up the victory, Rousey’s first inside of a WWE ring, by locking in a double submission, a Rousey armbar and Kurt’s ankle lock, on Stephanie and HHH to have the pair tap out in unison.

This is WWE though, and they’re well known for not always playing by the rules in terms of giving the fans what they want. With this in mind, would anyone honestly be shocked to see HHH pin Angle to pick up the win for two of the world’s biggest ego maniacs? I can certainly see Rousey getting in lots of offence to please the fans, most likely on both Steph AND Hunter, but a cheap distraction and dirty heel finish would certainly be befitting of the power couple and help them to stamp their Authority (pun intended, so what… sue me!) on the

The fans would hate it. It would make no sense. It would be a strange way to round off all the Rousey hype and build. It would frankly be ridiculous. Therefore, it’s going to happen. Fuck you WWE!

Will it Happen? WWE have a habit of making shock, last minute decisions without taking the fans opinions or feelings into consideration. But HHH has turned a corner in recent years where he is all about putting the talent over, evident from his amazing NXT product, and would likely rather put Rousey over than himself. WWE make silly mistakes sometimes, but they’re not stupid. Taking a loss here would be a humongous anti-climax considering the months of mainstream coverage which WWE have received. The last thing they would want to risk is losing the potentially colossal amount of income generated from a Rousey victory.

Though it may be difficult for even the most cynical anti-WWE fan to admit, there is a fair chance that WWE will make the right call and let Rousey have her moment on the biggest night of the year.

Fingers crossed…

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Launched in 2017, the Chairshot Radio Network presents you with the best in sports, entertainment, and sports entertainment. Wrestling and wrestling crossover podcasts + the most interesting content + the most engaging hosts = the most entertaining podcasts you’ll find!

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Opinion

DeMarco: Eric Bischoff, Vince Russo, or Jim Cornette?

Greg DeMarco evaluates a $10 million dollar question (literally) – who would you choose if you were starting a new wrestling company?

Published

4 months ago

November 21, 2025

Greg DeMarco

Greg DeMarco evaluates a $10 million dollar question (literally) – who would you choose if you were starting a new wrestling company?

Social media has flipped the script on pro wrestling. The fans have more power than ever before—booking is done in real time, buzz is built or buried in seconds, and no one waits until Monday to cut a promo anymore.

Social media is also a place where ideas are shared and discussion takes place. The basis for this article was a question posted on social media, using this image:

It’s the Ten Million Dollar Question: If you are handed $10 million to start a wrestling company, and you have to pick one of the following as your partner, who do you pick? Eric Bischoff, Vince Russo, or Jim Cornette.

Ten Million Dollars?

Ten million dollars sounds like a lot—until you start pricing out weekly production, talent contracts, live event logistics, licensing, digital, and TV. That money will go fast when you realize you’re competing with billion-dollar conglomerates that can lose money just to win the culture war. To truly break through in today’s wrestling economy, $10 million is your entry fee, not your war chest.

You do have options, such as Roku TV (similar to the NWA), YouTube, and more. This should ABSOLUTELY factor into your decision–distribution is key. And all three options do have some connection, and that needs to be considered.

You already know the options…

You’re reading this article, so you already know all about Eric Bischoff, Vince Russo, and Jim Cornette.

Eric Bischoff broke all the rules—and made it work. He launched Monday Nitro, flipped the industry upside down with the nWo, and forced Vince McMahon to innovate. Bischoff turned WCW into a legit number one brand and changed the entire TV presentation of wrestling forever. Without him, do we have the Attitude Era? There’s no way to be certain.

Vince Russo brought the chaos—and a whole lot of ratings. He gave us Crash TV, blurred the lines between fiction and reality, and wasn’t afraid to throw the whole format into a blender. While the long-term storytelling often suffered, the shock factor he brought drove eyeballs and made every segment feel like “can’t miss” television. But you can argue that, without Eric Bischoff, there’s no Vince Russo.

Jim Cornette is wrestling tradition personified. He’s protected the business with his life, shaped generations of talent behind the scenes, and built up territories when no one else could. Cornette’s strength lies in his psychology, heat-building, and his unapologetic belief in what wrestling should be—even when the industry moves past it. Does that play if you’re starting a brand new company in 2025? In my opinion, the jury is still out.

But who do you choose?

To be fair, you can’t just pick someone and go. You need to pick someone who aligns with your vision.

If you’re trying to focus on “old school” and nostalgia, Jim Cornette is your guy.
If you plan to build on shock value, your product going viral, and outlandish reactions, you pick Vince Russo.
If you think distribution is important, and need to get your product out there, you choose Eric Bischoff.

For me? I am a business guy. It’s called “the wrestling business,” and your $10 million investment needs to see a return.

I choose Eric Bischoff.

Many of you will scoff at this, thinking Jim Cornette was the right choice. He has a brilliant mind, and he has a following to help get you started. Hell, its enough for me to second-guess myself. Cornette is a close second. Vince Russo? Not a fan in this scenario.

But my perspective is different. I am a wresting promoter–I book and promote successful wrestling events. Our biggest weakness? Distribution. Among the three options, Eric Bischoff is far stronger.

How do you leverage Eric Bischoff?

Remember how the table was set – you’re given $10 million dollars to start a wrestling company. THAT is the hook. To me, that sounds like two things: a wrestling promotion AND a reality show. Even if the wrestling portion is on a streaming platform, or our own distribution like YouTube–the behind the scenes content is what Eric can start shopping. That can give us more resources in terms of budget and production. He also has the connection to Conrad Thompson, which helps with the online community.

If Bischoff gets us a distribution deal, even if it’s for the reality show portion, we have more budget for talent. Two people I can hire? Jim Cornette and Vince Russo. They are reality show GOLD.

Do I have to pay Eric Bischoff? Sure, but he’s not a “salary guy.” You want to motivate Eric Bischoff to perform, appeal to his competitive side. Give him a piece of the business–when the business grows, so does his piece. That’s one of the biggest advantages to having the former head of WCW.

Welcome to the team, Eric! Now let’s to get ourselves a deal!

About Chairshot Radio Network

MONDAY - Bandwagon Nerds (entertainment & popular culture)

TUESDAY - Musical Chairs (music) / Hockey Talk (NHL)

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THURSDAY - Keeping the news ridiculous... The Oddity / Chairshot NFL (NFL)

FRIDAY - DWI Podcast (Drunk Wrestling Intellect)

SATURDAY - The Mindless Wrestling Podcast

SUNDAY - The Front and Center Sports Podcast

CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS

Attitude Of Aggression Podcast & The Big Five Project (chronologically exploring WWE's PPV/PLE history)

TheChairshot.com PRESENTS...IMMEDIATE POST WWE PLE REACTIONS w/ DJ(Mindless), Tunney(DWI) & Friends

Patrick O'Dowd's 5X5

Classic POD is WAR

Chairshot Radio Network Your home for the hardest hitting podcasts... Sports, Entertainment and Sports Entertainment!

All Shows On Demand

Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!

Opinion

Greg DeMarco’s WWE SummerSlam 2025 Preview, Betting Odds, & Predictions

Are you ready for WWE SummerSlam? Greg DeMarco makes sure are with his official preview & predictions!

Published

8 months ago

August 2, 2025

Greg DeMarco

Are you ready for WWE SummerSlam? Greg DeMarco makes sure are with his official preview & predictions!

August 2–3, 2025 • MetLife Stadium

WWE is turning SummerSlam into the biggest blockbuster of the summer with a two‑night extravaganza, packing in title bouts, and celebrity surprise appearances. Let’s dive into the matches, the action that led us here, and the betting lines that tell us who the bookies think bets on.

And of course, the pièce de résistance, my predictions done in true form: Who Should Win? Who Will Win?

And as an added bonus, PC Tunney has sent along his picks, which will be included with each match!

WWE SummerSlam 2025 – Night 1 – Saturday, August 2

World Heavyweight Championship – CM Punk vs. Gunther (c)

Odds: CM Punk (−180), Gunther (+140)
Punk is favored at about a 64% win probability

Punk earned his shot in a gauntlet match, but remember that he came in last to beat a man in Bron Breakker who came in first. Regardless, the tension has been simmering ever since. Gunther’s technical dominance will test Punk’s recklessness, making this a high-stakes and high strikes match. Expect close calls, but if Punk pulls this off, he reestablishes himself at the very top of WWE’s hierarchy (although he doesn’t need it).

Who Should Win: Gunther
Who Will Win: Gunther

Look, I know CM Punk is the sentimental pick to win, but Gunther NEEDS to win here. Otherwise, what is he? Gunther is the type of wrestler whose character thrives on wins and losses, whereas CM Punk is a made guy.

PC Tunney’s pick: “CM Punk – If Seth isn’t hurt we likely see a cash in. I’ll stick with he’s hurt and Punk captures gold.”

Roman Reigns & Jey Uso vs. Bron Breakker & Bronson Reed

Odds: Reigns & Uso (−1500), Breakker & Reed (+600)
Roman & Jey are favored at about a 94% win probability

The Bloodline team is an iron-clad force, backed by legacy and brutal efficiency. Breakker and Reed bring raw power and youthful fury, aiming to shock the world. This will hinge on teamwork vs. dominance—do the underdogs coordinate enough to upset the odds? The wildcard in all of this is the WWE’s efforts to build Heyman’s duo, and establish Bron Breakker as a leader, and a star for the new generation. Does that swing the booking? I think it might.

Who Should Win: Roman Reigns & Jey Uso
Who Will Win: Bron Breakker & Bronson Reed

Given the betting odds, it might actually be worth dropping a few bucks on this one (I won’t). I don’t think Seth Rollins appears here, but might we see a new member? I think we could. As far as my pick of Breakker & Reed, I’ll go a step further: Bron Breakker pins Roman Reigns. It won’t be clean, but it’ll be forever etched in history.

PC Tunney’s pick: “Roman & Jey – I don’t see Roman losing much.”

Randy Orton & Jelly Roll vs. Drew McIntyre & Logan Paul

Odds: Orton & Jelly Roll (−500), McIntyre & Paul (+300)
Randy Orton & Jelly Roll are favored at about an 83% win probability

Jelly Roll’s wrestling debut has added real unpredictability, while Orton’s veteran savvy balances McIntyre’s muscle and Paul’s sheen. Expect social‑media chaos with a strong element of violencem This match plays to spectacle far more than to wrestling acumen.

Who Should Win: Randy Orton & Jelly Roll
Who Will Win: Randy Orton & Jelly Roll

Don’t overthink this one. Play it safe, go with the babyface celebrity.

PC Tunney’s pick: Orton & Jelly Roll – RK… Roll

WWE Women’s Championship – Tiffany Stratton (c) vs. Jade Cargill

Odds: Jade Cargill (−600), Tiffany Stratton (+350)
Jade is favored at about an 86% win probability

Cargill has steamrolled challengers on her way to this pinnacle moment, while Stratton has proven she can hang with the elite (get it?). Will Stratton’s athleticism and swagger crack Cargill’s aura—or will Jade’s debutante dominance silence the critics?

Who Should Win: Tiffany Stratton
Who Will Win: Tiffany Stratton

I’m probably stupid, but I don’t think we’re done with Tiffany Stratton as WWE Women’s Champion just yet. Maybe Bianca Belair costs Jade, maybe it’s someone else.

Actually, I’m positive I’m wrong.

PC Tunney’s pick: Jade Cargill – Time to see what Jade’s got!

See, even Tunney knows that I’m wrong!

The Judgment Day (Raquel Rodriguez & Roxanne Perez) (c) vs. Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss – WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship

Odds: Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss (–400), Judgment Day (+400)

Charlotte & Alexa are an 88% favorite to win here

Rodriguez and Perez have held the titles well through their title defenses, but Charlotte and Alexa bring star power, chemistry and a storyline deeply rooted in reluctant alliances. If Flair & Bliss click at the right moment, they could steamroll Judgment Day’s dominance. But if the champions have hidden synergy? This could be their breakout moment.

Who Should Win: Roxanne Perez & Raquel Rodriguez
Who Will Win: Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss

It makes WAY more sense for Roxanne & Raquel to retain, but the star power and fan-pleasing title change has to be hard for WWE to pass up. That’s okay, The Judgment Day duo can regain the titles in a TV match that leads to the inevitable split for Flair and Bliss.

PC Tunney’s pick: Charlotte & Alexa – I want to see this happen, I really want to lol

I have no clue why!

Sami Zayn vs. Karrion Kross – Singles Match

Odds: Sami Zayn (–250), Karrion Kross (+180)
Zayn is favored with a 71% win percentage.

Zayn’s momentum has been on a roller coaster ride for, well basically his entire WWE career. Fueled by emotional storytelling and that Helluva Kick finishing move he’s perfected over years. Kross is the physical menace—the kind of throwback monster heel who wants to bury Zayn’s momentum once and for all.

Who Should Win: Sami Zayn
Who Will Win: Sami Zayn

Based on everything I say, you’d think I wasn’t a Karrion Kross fan…when in actuality I’m a huge fan of the performer. But the character stinks, in my opinion, anyway. He’s a legitimate bad ass, and should be featured as one. Sami Zayn, on the other hand, is beloved by many, and should be headed to a mega push on The Road To WrestleMania 42. And a win here only makes sense.

PC Tunney’s pick: Karrion Kross – “Kross was right.”

WWE SummerSlam 2025 – Night 2 – Sunday, August 3

Street Fight for the Undisputed WWE Championship – John Cena (c) vs. Cody Rhodes

Odds: Cody Rhodes (−300), John Cena (+200)
Cody expected to regain the WWE’s top title at a win probability of 75%

This is the culmination of years: WrestleMania rematch, street fight rules, and Cena’s impending WWE retirement looming. Cody is favored to reclaim the title, but Cena’s legacy and weaponized veteran instincts make this a volatile rematch. But it IS A rematch. Does Cody’s movie role have any impact on the booking? Recent WWE direction tells me no.

Who Should Win: John Cena
Who Will Win: Cody Rhodes

Seth Rollins cashing in on John Cena (after he wins) here would be golden, but I’m not betting on it. Instead, go with what we know: LOLCODYWINS.

PC Tunney’s pick: Seth Rollins – Another heist of epic proportions!!!

Hell yeah, Tunney. Hell yeah.

Intercontinental Championship – AJ Styles vs. Dominik Mysterio (c)

Odds: Dominik (−200), Styles (+150)
Mysterio expected to retain at 67%

Styles brings experience, speed and flash, but Dominik has equally mastered psychological warfare and home‑field advantage. Expect a tactical back‑and‑forth, with Dominik banking on interference and lineage to stay gold.

Who Should Win: AJ Styles
Who Will Win: Dominik Mysterio

I love the idea of Dominik Mysterio winning the AAA Mega Championship at TripleMania, and carrying that belt both in Mexico and on WWE Monday Night Raw. And I think that does happen. So why does he need the Intercontinental Championship if that’s the direction?

He doesn’t. But WWE likely wants to see him draped in gold, and having him hold both accomplishes just that.

PC Tunney’s pick: Dominik Mysterio – Looking forward to this match most. These two should steal night two.

Triple Threat Match for the Women’s World Championship – Naomi (c) vs. Rhea Ripley vs. Iyo Sky

Odds: Naomi (−1500), Rhea Ripley (+400), Iyo Sky (+750)
Naomi is a ….94% favorite to win? Seems crazy!

Naomi’s cash‑in and reign have been meteoric, but Sky and Ripley are hungry competitors who revitalized the division. This triple threat has finishers flying every which way—can Naomi dodge chaos and retain against the charging challengers? Or Ripley simply too popular to keep the title off of?

Who Should Win: Naomi
Who Will Win: Rhea Ripley

In an ideal world, this match closes Night 1. Of course, that ain’t happening, as it sits on the card for Night 2. It makes ZERO sense to take the belt off of Naomi so fast, but I think we are going to start seeing LOLRHEAWINS become a thing very soon.

PC Tunney’s pick: Naomi – Why cash in just to lose so soon?

Steel Cage Match for the United States Championship – Solo Sikoa (c) vs. Jacob Fatu

Odds: Solo Sikoa (−140), Jacob Fatu (+100)
Solo Sikoa sits as a 58.3% favorite to retain, the closest match odds of the weekend.

This grudge match in a cage is about revenge, incarceration-style brutality, and salvaging legacy. Fatu’s unpredictability (and recent arrest angle) ups the danger—so does Solo’s Bloodline backing and cunning brutality. The steel cage isn’t only meant to keep people out, it’s meant to be a weapon.

Which is good, because you know it ain’t keeping people out.

Who Should Win: Soli Sikoa
Who Will Win: Solo Sikoa

Jakob Fatu is meant for more than this program, and as we march into 2026, he will likely be headed down that road. But first, we need to see Solo and his MFTs victorious in a steel cage? Why? So they can ready San Diego, and the world, for the next chapter if Bloodline War Games!

PC Tunney’s pick: Solo Sikoa – Jacob should be moving on to bigger title scenes sooner than later.

Women’s Intercontinental Championship – Becky Lynch (c) vs. Lyra Valkyria

Odds: Lyra Valkyria (−200), Becky Lynch (+150)
Valkyria favored to regain the title with a 66.7% edge

Becky is the veteran queen, Valkyria is the rising star hungry to dethrone her. Their recent matches have been technical showcases—this time divisional prestige, animosity and payback are dialing things even higher.

Who Should Win: Becky Lynch
Who Will Win: Lyra Valkyria

I am really torn on this one–at least on the “Who Will Win?” side. Personally, I don’t see the star power in Lyra that others do. Her promos still aren’t there, and let’s be honest. Is she all that much better than released stars like Dakota Kai and Shayna Baszler?

PC Tunney’s pick: Lyra Valkyria – Because Bayley.

TLC (Tables, Ladders, & Chairs) for the WWE Tag Team Championships – Wyatt Sicks (c) vs. Andrade & Rey Fenix vs. Fraxiom vs. DIY vs. Street Profits vs. Motor City Machine Guns

Odds: Andrade & Rey Fenix (+130 favorite, ~43.5%), Wyatt Sicks (+150), Fraxiom (+250), DIY (+500), Street Profits (+700), MCMG (+1000)
Andrade & Fenix are (surprisingly) at 43% favorite to win here.

This six‑team TLC match is WWE admitting a mistake by spotlighting its tag division now. Expect insanity—and the champions have to survive a flurry of stunts if they want to protect the belts at the elite level.

Who Should Win: The Wyatt Sicks
Who Will Win: The Wyatt Sicks

There really is no reason to move the tag titles here… instead this is all about spectacle. This match likely opens up Night 2, and it will deliver. But I see no reason why Joe Gacy & Dexter Lumis won’t retain.

PC Tunney’s pick: Street Profits – This match should be a highlight of the weekend.

Final Thoughts for WWE SummerSlam 2025

SummerSlam 2025 is shaping up as a historic two-night WWE spectacle where legacy meets fresh blood, celebrity meets spectacle, and titles are on the line in every direction. The odds give us a blueprint of what the bookies believe—but wrestling is scripted to take us on a roller coaster ride of surprises. Let’s sit back and enjoy the ride!