Cook’s WWE SummerSlam 2020 Gambling Picks

It’s SummerSlam weekend, which means Steve Cook is here to help you bet the odds and win some money! Ok, maybe not–just remember it’s “for entertainment purposes only!”

SummerSlam’s tag line makes a lot of sense to me. Why? I didn’t see it coming! It’s been quite the trip through the summer months for WWE, and we’ve arrived at one of their biggest events of the year. Does it feel like it? Not really, but not many things feel quite right here in 2020.

There are some big matches set up, and some big bets to be made. Let me help you try and make some money to afford that trip to the drive-in. Odds are courtesy of Bet Online.

Mandy Rose vs Sonya Deville

Mandy Rose -400 (1/4)
Sonya Deville +250 (5/2)

We got us a Hair vs. Hair match here! We’ve also got us a pretty solid feud here, it’s had some ups & downs, but when given the opportunity to make us care, Mandy & Sonya have gotten it done. I wasn’t a big fan of Sonya cutting Mandy’s hair because I see hair extensions fall out on these shows every other week. The bright side was it would lead into something a little more serious, our first women’s Hair vs. Hair match since WrestleMania XX.

You might make some good money if Sonya ends up getting the win, but I don’t see it happening. Mandy Rose keeps getting the short end of the stick here, it’s time for her to win something other than Otis’s heart. Also, I feel like Sonya has a better chance of pulling off the bald (or at least short hair) look.

Seth Rollins vs Dominik Mysterio

Seth Rollins -140 (5/7)
Dominik Mysterio EVEN (1/1)

I’m surprised that Dominik isn’t more of an underdog here. We’ve got a kid in his first match against the Monday Night Messiah, a two-time WWE, Universal & Intercontinental Champion, one-time US Champion, six-time Tag Team Champion…I mean, who has accomplished more than Seth Rollins in the nearly eight years he’s been on WWE’s main roster? It’s a short list, if there’s anybody on it. The match is a street fight, meaning Dominik can use his kendo stick. It also means that Murphy can interfere, and Dominik’s old man still only has one good eye so it’s tough to say how useful he’ll be.

If Dominik’s odds get longer, I’d think about laying some money on this. Otherwise, I’d stay away because Seth Rollins is winning this thing.

The Street Profits (c) vs Adrade & Angel Garza

Andrade & Angel Garza -160
The Street Profits +125

It’s not looking like people think it will be a good night for champions. Understandable, since most of these champions have held their titles for a long time and it feels like change is needed in WWE in general. The team of Garza & Andrade has a ton of potential & nobody would be surprised to see them end up with the tag straps at some point. However, Montez Ford seems to have recovered from his poisoning at the hands of Zelina Vega.

I’m guessing Andrade & Angel Garza get the win here, mostly because I can’t name any other Raw tag teams in contention for the title at this point. The easiest way for this issue to continue: a title change.

Apollo Crews (c) vs MVP

Apollo Crews -200 (1/2)
MVP +150 (3/2)

Crews is a rarity on this show: a champion expected to retain his title. NOT SO FAST, MY FRIEND! From where I sit, MVP looks like the smarter bet. Unless Crews is actually the man behind Retribution (highly unlikely), MVP will have the advantage of having more effective backup. Crews is friendly with the likes of Ricochet & Cedric Alexander, but I’d rather have Bobby Lashley & Shelton Benjamin interfering on my behalf. Banned from ringside just means they’ll show up at some point. They’ve been teasing MVP winning this championship long enough, it’s time for them to either do it or not. I think they do.

Sasha Banks (c) vs Asuka

Asuka -140 (5/7)
Sasha Banks EVEN (1/1)

Bayley (c) vs Asuka

Asuka -120 (5/6)
Bayley -120 (5/6)

Asuka gets two chances to win singles gold at SummerSlam, taking on each of the Golden Role Models in singles matches. I’m surprised they didn’t clone Asuka and have her challenge them for the tag team titles too. So we’re left with three options:

-Asuka wins zero titles

This seems the least likely to me. Sacrificing Asuka at the altar of both Bayley & Sasha makes little sense, unless those Bayley & Sasha double title shirts are selling so well they have to keep it rolling.

-Asuka wins two titles

Would they have somebody else do what Becky Lynch did and win both titles? Would they keep them unified? It’s more possible than Asuka winning zero, but I don’t think that’s what happens.

-Asuka wins one title

Bingo! So now we have to figure out which one. Which of Bayley & Sasha should be jealous of the other one still holding their title belt? Feels like Bayley is more in that jealous kinda mode these days. And it’d be cool to see Sasha finally successfully defend a championship on a televised event.

Braun Strowman (c) vs Bray Wyatt

Bray Wyatt -170 (10/17)
Braun Strowman +130 (13/10)

We close with two title runs that feel like have run their course. Braun hasn’t exactly set the world on fire as Universal Champion, and this feud with The Fiend, or any other incarnation of Bray Wyatt, hasn’t done a whole lot for me. You might disagree. I’m not surprised to see Fiend Bray listed as the favorite, but I feel like Braun Strowman keeping the title a bit longer is where the story is heading. We’ve already seen the Fiend as champion, and unless they can sell some of those $500 title belts I don’t see it happening again too soon.

It’s a close call, but you make more money off of Braun winning.

Drew McIntyre (c) vs Randy Orton

Randy Orton -140 (5/7)
Drew McIntyre EVEN (1/1)

Orton has been one of the hottest heels in wrestling during the Pandemic Era, ruthlessly kicking legends’ heads off. Are the punts starting to lose their effect? Shawn Michaels barely looked bothered when he got booted on Monday. Drew was bothered when he ate an RKO. Orton being the favorite makes a lot of sense, and adding another title reign to his record helps his argument of being the Greatest Wrestler Ever.

Drew coming in at even odds doesn’t make me too thrilled about picking him. I’d steer clear of this one, but if more people bet on Randy Orton I’d throw some money on Drew McIntyre.