WWE SummerSlam 2022: Match Card Overview & Staff Predictions
WWE SummerSlam is the second biggest show of the year for WWE, sitting only behind WrestleMania in terms of its magnitude. Every year it’s filled with dream match after dream match and this one is no different. Every bout has a lot on the line, so the stakes are high all night. I asked some of the staff at Vendetta Sports Media for their predictions for the card. Jiarmani DePena answered the call, so let’s see who we have coming out on top.
*No DQ Match*
The Mysterios vs Finn Balor & Damien Priest (of Judgement Day)
The Judgement Day has been feuding with Dominik and Rey Mysterio for the past few weeks. Judgement Day has been trying to get Dominik to join them for quite some time. He’s refused every time, staying loyal to his father. Judgement Day ruined Rey Mysterios’ 20th anniversary on this week’s episode of Monday Night Raw. While Rey was celebrating with his family, Rhea came into the room and dragged Rey out. Finn and Damien then attacked Rey and Dominik and put Rey through a table. The Mysterios are ready to get retribution for the pain and suffering that Judgement Day has brought on them over the past few weeks.
Although I’m not super excited about this match, I still think it will be decent. I love Judgement Day as a group, so I really hope they shine in a No DQ Match. With SummerSlam being listed at TV-14, I’m hoping the action will get extreme. I was never that into Dominik and Rey as a team. I never thought Dominik was that impressive and still don’t — especially since he didn’t go through NXT. There are so many wrestlers who were stuck in NXT for years before getting called up.
One of the things that need to happen is breaking up Dominik and Rey. Fans have been calling for this to happen for a while and I do think it happens, but not how everyone else does. For the most part, people have been saying Dominik will turn on Rey, but I think Rey will turn on Dominik and join Judgement Day.
Predictions
Mark: Finn Balor & Damien Priest (of Judgement Day)
Jiarmani: Finn Balor & Damien Priest (of Judgement Day)
Logan Paul vs The Miz
Logan Paul finally gets a change at revenge against the Miz. After the Miz and Paul teamed up and this year’s WrestleMania and came out on top, the Miz turned on Paul. Paul has had his eyes set on the Miz ever since that night. He even signed a deal with WWE in June. Upon Paul’s return, the Miz claimed that he and Paul will compete at SummerSlam, but as a tag team. Paul had other ideas in mind and attacked the Miz on MizTV. The match was made official for SummerSlam and now Paul has the chance to get his revenge.
This is the match I am least looking forward to on the SummerSlam match card. Paul is a huge signing for WWE, no doubt. There aren’t many times where WWE signs someone who is already a megastar before joining the company. But I don’t think Paul has proven himself as a professional wrestler yet. He needs to do just that and show everyone he’s taking this seriously. As sad as I am to say it, I think Paul is going to win. The only way he loses is with Maryse or Ciampa getting involved.
Predictions
Mark: Logan Paul
Jiarmani: Logan Paul
Pat McAfee vs Happy Corbin
Pat McAfee has been targeted by Happy Corbin in the last few weeks. Corbin has been attacking McAfee from behind, tormenting him week after week. McAfee even suffered a sprained neck as a result of one of Corbin’s attacks.
Corbin and McAfee are no strangers to each other. They both played in the NFL and were on the Indianapolis Colts and were even roommates and former best friends at one point. Now the two are out for blood as they face each other for the first time ever. This will be McAfee’s sixth-ever wrestling match and fifth in WWE. He is looking to get payback for Corbin causing him a lot of trouble.
I’m really excited about this match. McAfee has proven before that he cares about professional wrestling. He is extremely charismatic and has put in the work to get better. Every match he gets better. I don’t think Corbin is as bad as people make him out to be. I think he has a tired gimmick, but the in-ring skill is there. I’m excited to see how much McAfee has grown since WrestleMania. I think McAfee is going to win cleanly, which will be big for his career.
Predictions
Mark: Pat McAfee
Jiarmani: Pat McAfee
*Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship Match*
Street Profits vs The Usos (c) (of The Bloodline)
Street Profits get a second chance at claiming tag team gold. The Street Profits faced the Usos at Money in the Bank for the tag team titles. The Usos picked up the victory, but not without some controversy. Ford got pinned, but his shoulder was up. The referee didn’t see it and counted to three. Since then, the Street Profits have been chasing the Usos and their belts. These teams have faced off in singles competition against one another in the weeks leading up to this match. The Usos are looking to prove they still are the top tag team in WWE. Meanwhile, the Street Profits are looking to get a huge win under their belts and join the history books.
I’m really excited about this match. These two teams put on an amazing match at Money in the Bank, so I think this one can only be better. You can tell the chemistry is there and the fans are really invested in this feud. With every great group, comes a great collapse. I don’t think this is the end of the Bloodline, which is why I have the Usos winning. I think there’s still a lot left for the Bloodline to do, and I think the Usos will be a part of it for a little while longer.
Predictions
Mark: The Usos (c) (of The Bloodline)
Jiarmani: Street Profits (with Theory playing a part in their victory)
*United States Championship Match*
Theory vs Bobby Lashley (c)
Theory has been feuding with Bobby Lashley over the past couple of months, but he hasn’t had much luck. Theory lost his United States Championship to Lashley at Money in the Bank. He even lost a flexing competition that took place a few weeks ago. Theory is Vince McMahon’s protege, but with McMahon no longer in WWE, Theory is on his own. Theory is trying to prove he is the real deal by beating a big-time wrestler like Lashley. Lashley is trying to move on from this feud with Theory and getting another win might do just that.
I don’t know how to feel about this match. I love Lashley and think he’s great in-ring, but I just want this feud to be over. Theory is decent in the ring, but I don’t think he’s the next big thing in wrestling. Lashley has been doing great work as a babyface, so I hope he gets to continue that after this feud. I’m taking Lashley to retain because I think we are going to witness the downfall of Theory.
Predictions
Mark: Bobby Lashley (c)
Jiarmani: Bobby Lashley (c)
*Smackdown Women’s Championship Match*
Ronda Rousey vs Liv Morgan (c)
Ronda Rousey gets a shot to regain the Smackdown Women’s Championship at WWE SummerSlam. She had a match at Money in the Bank against Natalya for the title. Rousey beat Natalya, but out came Money in the Bank Winner, Liv Morgan. Morgan cashed in her briefcase the same night she won and beat Rousey to become the new champion. Leading up to this match, Natalya was upset because she claimed she did all of the work while Morgan came in to clean up the scraps. Morgan has her opportunity to prove she is at the top of the women’s division where she belongs. While Rousey is trying to prove her loss to Morgan was just a fluke.
I’m excited about this match for a couple of reasons. I think Morgan becoming champion was long overdue. She has been outworking many other wrestlers waiting for her opportunity. This might just be the biggest match of her career as she is looking to get a win over a big-time wrestler in Rousey. Although I think Morgan needs to win clean, she won’t. WWE won’t let someone like Rousey lose clean to someone like Morgan. I think Morgan wins, but Natalya costs Rousey the match. I’m hoping we get a Rousey heel turn out of this, which will do wonders for her career. Pairing her up with Paul Heyman would be a game changer.
Predictions
Mark: Liv Morgan (c)
Jiarmani: Liv Morgan (c)
*Raw Women’s Championship*
Becky Lynch vs Bianca Belair (c)
Becky Lynch is looking to recapture the Raw Women’s Championship at WWE SummerSlam. After coming back and beating Bianca Belair in about 26 seconds last year, she has been on a hell of a run. She’s had her ups and downs but is trying to right the ship by beating Belair. Belair, meanwhile, is trying to move forward from this feud by beating Lynch again. Over the past couple of months, Lynch has been trying to get another opportunity at the title. She finally gets her chance at WWE SummerSlam, in what will be a testing match for her.
I think this match has the potential to be the match of the night. Both of these women are top female wrestlers in the whole world. They have great chemistry in the ring and always put on a great match. I think one is going to be a classic and maybe the best between the two women. I have Belair retaining and winning clean over Lynch. With Belair retaining, I think Bayley is going to return after the match to confront Belair and assert herself as the next challenger.
Predictions
Mark: Bianca Belair (c)
Jiarmani: Bianca Belair (c)
*Last Man Standing Match*
*Undisputed WWE Universal Championship Match*
Brock Lesnar vs Roman Reigns (c) (of The Bloodline)
Arguably the two greatest wrestlers of the past decade are going to go at it one last time at WWE SummerSlam. Roman Reigns defeated Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania to become Undisputed WWE Universal Champion. This is their first match since then and the two are out for blood. They are meeting in a Last Man Standing Match to prove once and for all, who is the better wrestler. Brock has been causing chaos in the weeks leading up to WWE SummerSlam, so I can only imagine the damage that he will ensue. With the Bloodline looming, Lesnar is going to have his work cut out for him as he tries to beat Reigns one last time.
WWE is advertising this as the final match between Lesnar and Reigns. I don’t know how much I believe that, but I hope it is. I have never been that big on Lesnar as a wrestler. Reigns has been doing the best work of his singles career since turning heel. He deserves to win, and I think he will. Lesnar wasn’t even supposed to be in the match. It was reported that it was supposed to be Randy Orton against Reigns, but Orton is out with an injury. I think Reigns wins with the help of the Bloodline and continues his dominance. I think Theory attempts to cash in his Money in the Bank contract but is unsuccessful.
Predictions
Mark: Roman Reigns (c) (of The Bloodline)
Jiarmani: Roman Reigns (c) (of The Bloodline)
Returns
Mark: Bayley returns to confront Bianca Belair. Johnny Gargano returns to face Seth Rollins at WWE SummerSlam.
Money in the Bank Cash in
Mark: Theory cashes in unsuccessfully after Reigns beats Lesnar.
Turns
Mark: Rey Mysterio turns on Dominik Mysterio and joins the Judgement Day.
