WWE: 2018 SummerSlam Preview & Predictions

WWE SummerSlam will take place on Sunday (August 19th) from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. It will be the 30th edition of SummerSlam and will be the fourth straight held in Brooklyn. A stacked 13-match card is set to make the summer even hotter. All nine titles will be defended on Sunday night along with the Money in the Bank briefcase currently held by Braun Strowman.

WWE SummerSlam goes live at 7 p.m. ET on PPV and the WWE Network. Here is the 2018 SummerSlam preview and predictions from The Walk-Off Sports Report.

Smackdown Tag Team Championships - The Bludgeon Brothers (c) vs. The New Day

The New Day has been impressive in recent and has shown they are the second best tag team on Smackdown Live. The Bludgeon Brothers have been just been blowing through everything possible on Smackdown and have become the real dominant tag team of WWE. This match has the possibility to make a mark on this PPV but still, the titles won't change hands. 

A good 10-minute match to begin the building of the foundation should set the mood within the Barclays Center and in the homes of the millions and millions of people watching on the WWE Network and those who continue to waste their money buying it on PPV. 

Predicted Winners - The Bludgeon Brothers

Smackdown Women’s Championship - Carmella (c) vs. Charlotte vs. Becky Lynch

A match that should be a fatal four way will enter as a triple-threat match. Asuka should be in this match but it just wasn't in the cards for this match. Carmella will either have a hard time fending off both Charlotte and Lynch but in all honesty, those two will probably be too busy fighting each other and this could benefit the champion. 

With triple-threat rules, Carmella can't retain the title via disqualification or count out which puts the champion at a slight disadvantage. Carmella has been able to defeat Charlotte and Asuka twice but when it comes to the Irish Lass-Kicker, she doesn't have much in the notebook which could hurt both stars. In the end, Charlotte and Lynch will beat each other to the point where Carmella can come in and pins one of the two clean 1-2-3. 

Predicted Winner - Carmella (c) retains the title

United States Championship - Shinsuke Nakamura (c) vs. Jeff Hardy

No Randy Orton here? Can you just see how this match is going to go especially after Orton has continued to attack Jeff Hardy? Hardy has been just floating on Smackdown and has been the rag doll for multiple beatings at the hands of Nakamura, Orton, and on Tuesday night Shelton Benjamin so with all of this Hardy really has no reason to win the title. 

In all honesty, this title should be involved in The Miz vs. Daniel Bryan battle to make it as important as they are building it up to be. No matter what we think, this title will remain on Nakamura and they will find someone better for him to compete against by the time Hell in a Cell rolls around next month. 

Predicted Winner - Shinsuke Nakamura (c) retains the title

WWE Championship - AJ Styles (c) vs. Samoa Joe

The ending of Tuesday's Smackdown was just weird. I mean I get what they were going for but to just end it that way with no brawling or anything just kind of left a bland taste in my mouth. This was a feud that was always enjoyable to see in TNA so Sunday's match should be amazing. 

The only issue though is that with Brock Lesner out of the picture so much lately, it's made the WWE Championship the big title in the WWE and well it's just kind of felt like it was just there. It hasn't reached the star stature it was at one time and that is just very strange. If these two can't make the WWE Championship feel like a big deal during the match on Sunday, WWE made need to re-evaluate the main event picture at Smackdown. 

Styles can't be blamed for that but maybe an actual built heel would be perfect for the WWE champion so it's time to try out Samoa Joe. 

Predicted Winner - NEW WWE Champion Samoa Joe

Daniel Bryan vs. The Miz

Why are we promoting this match as if it's for a championship? Both superstars have the opportunity to be main event stars and we have two championships that make that possible. The rivalry is something that has just been bland and it's sad when you have to show something from almost two years ago as something that really is brewing this battle when it clearly isn't.

I credit The Miz for taking time to be a TV star on his new show Miz and Mrs. but honestly, that has hurt this rivalry more than anything. It's something that you almost want to push off to maybe Survivor Series where a title could be in the picture? Either way, this will be a great match just bland reasoning and nothing that makes it PPV worthy. 

Predicted Winner - Daniel Bryan 

RAW Women's Championship - Alexa Bliss (C) vs. Ronda Rousey

This match will probably steal the show and become the best match of the night. Unlike The Miz vs. Daniel Bryan match this rivalry has been brewing more and more and more and man it's gonna blow up on the main stage at Summer Slam. Both Bliss and Rousey are talented superstars and with the rivalry just as hot, things could get very very heated. 

Rousey has already proved that no one's arms are safe from the arm-bar with everyone from Stephanie McMahon to Alicia Fox getting the submission move and it will come into play on Sunday just from a different person. Bliss will steal moves to keep the title and it will keep this rivalry fresh and hot, just the way it should be. 

Predicted Winner - Alexa Bliss (c) retains the title

Kevin Owens vs. Braun Strowman - If Braun Loses, Owens Wins MiTB 

This is another of those matches that shouldn't happen unless WWE has something up their sleeves. Everything is lining up for something "big picture" to happen and that "big picture" will probably be painted by the end of the night but first this match has to be complete. 

With the whole Braun loses the briefcase should he get disqualified then it just makes me believe Braun will be disqualified in the end in some way shape or form and Owens will have the briefcase, but not for long. 

Predicted Winner - Kevin Owens becomes new Mr. Money in the Bank

Intercontinental Championship - Dolph Ziggler (C) w/Drew McIntyre vs. Seth Rollins w/Dean Ambrose

The modern-day Iron Men go to war in the WWE Intercontinental match which will be one of the biggest matches of the year and then throw in backup in the form of the former "Chosen One" and the "Unhinged One" and you have a combination of one heck of a lineup. 

We both know what Dolph and Seth can do in the ring and without both Drew and Dean getting involved. This match will be phenomenal without interference and with that, Seth Rollins will leave Brooklyn with the title but Dolph won't lose it by much. 

Predicted Winner - NEW WWE Intercontinental Champion Seth Rollins

Finn Balor vs. Constable Corbin

A match that should be on the pre-show in all honesty. This is just something that has just gotten out of control and is pulling Finn Balor even further down. Corbin has taken a new role as the Constable which is a waste of a good superstar in my opinion. This match is just a waste of both superstars time but gives people a chance to get back to their seats after getting a snack and settling in for the best match of the night should it go in this order. 

Winner - Finn Balor

Universal Championship Match - Brock Lesner (c) vs. Roman Reigns

500+ day title reign that spits in the face of stars like John Cena, CM Punk, and a list of other champions from the WWE who have held them a long time but Brock Lesner doesn't give a darn. Lesner has proved he doesn't care and well it's playing a toll on the fans. The last time Lesner faced anyone for the title on television was on April 27th ... and technically he lost. 

In that match, Reigns defeated Lesner by putting his foot down on the ground first. The referee didn't see that and ultimately awarded Brock Lesner the victory and as a result, Lesner retained the title. 

Since that match, Lesner has failed to put the title on the line and has barely shown his face in the WWE. When Lesner has shown his face on television, he's definitely made it clear he doesn't give a darn about the WWE Universe nor the WWE as a whole.

Both superstars will enter this match with a ruthless attitude which could create a violent match. It'll be the fourth straight year Lenser main events this PPV and Lesner have gone 3-4 with these matches and after this match, blood will be shed from both should they get the green light to do so. 

Reigns finally get it done but not without some controversy. Reigns and Lesner will both battle to their limits with Lenser getting pinned by Reigns clean 1-2-3. As we all know Lesner will still get up and that will result in multiple F-5's to Reigns. Heyman will attempt to get involved but Lesner will push him out the ring and looks down at him stating "We are done for good". Lesner goes back to the beating security ultimately comes down, escorting the big man out leaving Reigns and Paul Heyman down by the ring. 

Predicted Winner - NEW WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns

Kevin Owens music hits as he had just won the briefcase via DQ in the match earlier in the night. Owens comes down and cashes the briefcase. Reigns attempt at one last gasp of air fails when Heyman distracts the referee, Owens hits a low blow and covers Reigns 1-2-3. 

Predicted Winner - NEW WWE Universal Champion Kevin Owens with Paul Heyman