Opinion
Mathew’s Wrestling Quickies #1 Featuring Flamita vs Bandido
So, this is my little experiment I wanna try to work on and see where it goes because if it’s successful, then I will keep it going from time to time. For those of you that know me, I cover Japanese promotions such as Dragon Gate, AJPW, Stardom, W-1, Sendai Girls, and other self-produced shows that I have the time for and whatever I get my hands on. For this, I will be covering about 5-8 matches from various promotions whether it’s from NOAH, MLW, Rev Pro, Progress, or just anything I can get my hands on that got uploaded within a two week time span from when I do these things and I call them my little wrestling quickies and no, I am not changing the name. Also, these matches will be at completely random from either I feel like a certain promotion or wrestlers deserves some form of recognition or a match that looks interesting to see how it turns out. I hope you all enjoy this little experiment and they’ll be like how I do my reviews with a little preview and how I do my rating systems, so let us begin.
King Of FREEDOM World Title No Canvas & Glass Board Death Match
Masashi Takeda (c) vs. Jun Kasai
Review: This first match is from the Japanese promotion called FREEDOMS which is based around death matches like how BJW is and this show took place on August 28th but the show got uploaded a couple weeks ago around the timeframe I do things, so figured I will give it a whirl. For those that know me, I’m not the biggest death match person but will appreciate a good one from time to time if it has a purpose or a good story behind it, except for CZW since they’re just terrible at it. Masashi Takeda is set to defend his title against Jun Kasai who has been part of some self-produced shows that I’ve covered like in Kawada’s Holy War. So which of these two will walk out the victor or at all?
If you’re one of those that had a weak stomach and felt really squeamish with how Orton twisted Hardy’s ear at Hell in a Cell, then this match isn’t for you since this one was incredibly bloody. This is one of those rare times that I’ve actually enjoyed a deathmatch fully and just enjoyed the brutality that both of these guys delivered to each other. Masashi is not only a very charismatic guy with a lot of passion for doing these matches, but he’s also a great wrestler once you get past his hardcore style of things and has shown he can go in the ring at the same time. Jun, we all know that the man is a psychopath and it’s clearly shown here in this match with what he does with these weapons to his opponents. The scars on their bodies are more severe compared to how Shuji and Sabu would have them that sometimes you just think how are they even alive from the crazy nonsense they do, but they do somehow find a way to make it safe while still making it look as dangerous as possible. They took advantage with the ring having no canvas as they would move the plywood around to place a piece of glass on there to throw their opponent into and they do just that here, they made sure whatever weapon they had in their disposal, it would be used in the match such as the light tubes, a cross with nails on it and would throw each other into, and even a knife. Masashi was throwing a lot of stuff at Jun during the match when slamming him down onto the plywood, doing a Spider Suplex onto the light tubes, and a Senton Bomb right after but Jun kicked out and flipped the fans off right away. Masashi would hit Jun with his Kokutai Ikkaisen Slam or Olympic Slam for another word as he won the match and retained his title. Probably one of the better death matches that I’ve seen this year with some wrestling and story in their mixed with just straight up violence.
Rating: Bruce Prichard
MLW Fusion Tag Team Title Match
Pentagon & Rey Fenix (c) vs Rey Horus & Drago
Review: I’ve heard about Major League Wrestling but didn’t get a chance to fully watch them until recently where I saw a match between the Lucha Bros defending their titles against Rich Swann and ACH which was a very entertaining match and it made me curious to see them again. This happened last week with Pentagon and Fenix defending their titles against Drago and Rey Horus who are also from Lucha Underground, so this should be a really exciting match. Will Lucha Bros retain the titles or will we have new champions?
At first I wasn’t fully feeling the match when we had some sequences that felt like it didn’t make much sense like Drago hitting random Superkicks in the beginning with almost all of them not fully connecting while his opponent didn’t sell it much either or a sloppy spot with Horus going for a Diving Crossbody off the top rope to both of them and as they caught him, Fenix fell down only to drag Horus down with him and it just looked really off. Despite those little nitpicks and the rather rough start, they picked up as the match went on as we see all four of them performing well like we know they could. Penta and Fenix are probably one of my favorite tag teams going on right now currently with them being in sync together every time they’re in the ring and just how they execute their moves together. Horus and Drago are no slouches either and were able to match whatever they could throw back at the Lucha Bros to give us an entertaining lucha style match. Penta would hit the Zero Factor onto Horus with Fenix Double Stomping onto him for that added effect but was able to kick out of it, so what do they do? They would do the same move again and Penta would get the pin this time to retain the titles.
Rating: Eric Bischoff and a half.
Singles Match
Flamita vs. Bandido
Review: This match happened at Rev Pro in an event called Brawl At The Guildhall which took place on September 7th and it’s sure to be a fun one as we have two Luchadors and current PROGRESS Tag Team Champions fighting against each other, Flamita and Bandido. I first started watching them in Dragon Gates months ago if you remember my early coverages around that time and I was very impressed with both of these guys, and it looks like I’m not the only one that thinks that since they’ve been creating quite a buzz together all around the world this year and rightfully so for that matter. So because of this and seeing that it was uploaded a couple days ago, I had to add them into my first article since they do deserve your time in the ring, great talent here. Which one of them will win here?
I was pleasantly surprised to see how well the Lucha Libre style goes over in the United Kingdom scene since the crowd was really getting into the match and even starting a Lucha Libre chant here and there into the match, so I am totally okay with this happening here. Flamita and Bandido did what they did best with their wrestling style and even give us a little bit of humor with them doing their little dance to taunt each other whenever they ran into the rope until they had enough and went back into wrestling each other. Like any type of Lucha style match, we get armdrags, springboards, fast pins, back and forth with the kicking and the two men do it without skipping a beat without overkilling any of their stuff and the fans going crazy. They did have one little mess up in the match when they were rolling each other up for the pins and it looked like Bandido slipped a little bit to not be pinned fully but he was able to quickly cover it up to not hurt the match as much. It’s crazy that both of these men are only 23 years old and are performing at this level, then again Flamita has been wrestling since he was eleven years old while Bandido only has about five years of experience in his name. Bandido was pulling a lot of stops such as going for a headscissors and turning it into a Canadian Destroyer, doing a Tilt-a-Whirl DDT and it was somehow still not enough to put Flamita away here. The two would hit Superkicks onto each other and Flamita hits a Spanish Fly for a two count. Flamita would be able to get Bandido onto the turnbuckle as he hits the 619 and tops it off with a 450 Splash off the top rope to get the victory.
Rating: Bruce Prichard
Singles Match
Hideo Itami vs. Naomichi Marufuji
Review: This match was from Marufuji’s 20th Anniversary show where he was in the main event to take on his old rival, Hideo Itami who was known as KENTA when he did wrestle in NOAH before leaving for the WWE. If you have followed their careers in Japan, you would know that they have what some considered as one of the greatest feuds in NOAH’s history with the battles they shared in the ring to produce some of the best in Japan. KENTA left NOAH in 2014 to leave for the WWE and he did appear to have a bright future there when he was transitioning rather well, but his various injuries over the years would ruin his momentum and probably some of the passion he had in him. However, when Marufuji booked this show, he did contact Triple H to see if he can have Hideo come back to Japan for the special event in which it was agreed upon and we have our main event right here for this special show. Does Hideo get the big win or will Marufuji stand tall in his special show?
Soon as the match begins, the crowd would just chant for KENTA, ignoring his WWE name and it’s nice to see how much Japan missed him. This match was more of a callback to their previous battles in NOAH and it sure was something special for the people that have followed them and for those that haven’t followed them, I’m sure you were able to get something exciting out of it. I like to think that this match and being back home in Japan for one night was able to give him that little spark again since I’m sure he misses home and can give WWE a general idea on what he can actually do and give them a reminder why he signed them in the first place, so I hope they see that while he’s in 205 since he’s slowly gaining momentum back again there. One thing I was worried about was how Hideo would fair into the match with not wrestling the Japanese style for so long and wrestling a long match and he was able to wrestle like he never missed a step and even lasted over a half hour here. Marufuji despite being beaten and battered from all the years he wrestled still showed he’s performing at such a top level that you can see why he’s still considered one of the best in Japan still.
Despite the match being great, they did mess up a little bit with Marufuji slipping a little with his Piledriver onto the apron and made it look like it was nothing, even Hideo missed the GTS on one of his attempts but was able to quickly pick him up to hit another one so he could correct his mistake and the fans didn’t seem to care and were rather pleased to see him hitting it again, even with the two GTS’ in the match, Marufuji was still able to kick out of them. By some miracle, Marufuji would hit a Spanish Fly and it’s a rare sight due to his age and incredibly bad knees and also hits the Shiranui for Hideo to kick out of it as well and both of these men are going all out still while trying to figure out what do they have to do to end it. Marufuji would have to end it the only way he could and that was by hitting the Emerald Flowsion in the center of the ring as Marufuji stood tall. In an interview, Marufuji talked about how grateful he was to Triple H for letting Hideo come back to Japan for one night to make his show even more special, and also said he would be honored to wrestle a match for the WWE to return the favor. Hunter, get a Takeover going in Japan so we can make this a reality. You did it for Jushin Liger, now do it for Marufuji.
Rating: Bruce Prichard and a half.
NEVER Openweight Title Match
Hirooki Goto (c) vs. Taichi
Review: You heard it right, the last match for this version is from NJPW as a little surprise to keep your interests up to show that you can expect them to show up sometime when you least expect it, but only for huge matches…well, except for this because I wanted to. I was gonna close it out with Tetsuya Naito taking on Minoru Suzuki from the same show, but it was rather underwhelming and it’s because of the fact that while both talents are amazing, their chemistry isn’t all there and it made the match not that memorable. So, with that said, I decided to do the Openweight Championship match with Hirooki Goto defending the belt against Lord Taichi. This one happened in the NJPW Destruction In Beppu show that took place a couple days ago and Taichi was able to get this opportunity during the G1 Finals show when he won the tag match where Goto was involved in. Taichi was not picked to be involved in the G1 Climax this year which I thought was a pretty bad decision since I honestly thought he would’ve done great and has had an impressive year ever since he moved up to the heavyweight division and had great matches against Naito and Tanahashi. Can Goto retain the title again or will Taichi claim his first singles title in his wrestling career?
The beginning of the match started off a bit slow with Taichi playing mind games with Goto by not fighting him right away as Goto sat in the ring Shibata style as he waited for him to return. Taichi also had some heel tactics in the match with Kanemaru attacking Goto when the referee wasn’t looking and would also use chairs in the match to try and get Goto counted out, which fails by the way. It looks like Taichi is gonna be doing what Minoru Suzuki did when he was involved with the Openweight Championship by having a bunch of outside interference but the difference is that it makes sense for someone like Taichi since a guy like Minoru doesn’t need it since he’s scary without help except for Taichi who is more known for this kind of shenanigans.
Despite this probably the weaker of Goto’s title defenses, it was still a very solid match with what they had to work with together since Taichi isn’t the most technically sounded guy in the roster, but the story is there and that was what they delivered in. Kanemaru and El Desperado would help try to interfere in the match when the referee was down until CHAOS members came out to even the odds and sent them to the back so it would be an even fight between Goto and Taichi as Goto hits the Ushigorishi and Shouten Kai but Taichi still kicks out of it. Takashi Iizuka would make his way into the ring with his little iron claw thing to try and take out Goto but he fails to do so and Taichi rolls Goto up for a two count. Taichi couldn’t win with sneaking up on him as he decides to hit the Last Ride and Goto kicks out again, but Taichi quickly picks him up and hits the Black Mephisto for the pin and we have a new champion! Miho ran into the ring hugging Lord Taichi with tears rolling down her eyes to celebrate his very first singles title win in his fifteen-year career.
Rating: Eric Bischoff and three quarters.
Overall: So I decided to wrap up the first edition of my miniseries with the minimum of five matches to get a better flow and setup instead of just filling up the max of eight matches in my first addition. I like to think it was a success and I think I’m gonna keep doing it for a little while longer for your reading pleasure.
- Favorite Match: Hideo Itami vs. Naomichi Marufuji
- Least Favorite Match: Pentagon & Rey Fenix vs Rey Horus & Drago
- Score: 8.5/10
About Chairshot Radio Network
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!
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
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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?
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
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!
MONDAY - Bandwagon Nerds (entertainment & popular culture)
TUESDAY - Musical Chairs (music) / Hockey Talk (NHL)
WEDNESDAY - The Greg DeMarco Show (wrestling)
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!
Powered by RedCircle
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!
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!
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