WWE Summerslam Predictions

I Say: It's once again time for Wrestleblogger predictions. This time it's Summerslam. Ok, I'll admit it. I'm in a bit of slump. David has won 5 times in a row with his predictions and it's time for me to get back into my groove. You may recall that for the Great American Bash I included the predicted results as done by the flip of a coin to see if a coin can pick matches as accurately as me. Luckily, I got more right than the coin did. Not by much though. In fact, I only picked one more match correctly. This time there will once again be a third set of picks. They will be from a very special guest. Dr. Mike Lano. For those unfamiliar with Dr. Lano, he is a wrestling photographer and historian of sorts. His work has been seen in probably all of the major wrestling magazines out there. He's been covering wrestling longer than I've been alive. Dr. Lano happens to also be a dentist in addition to being a fountain of wrestling knowledge. I think I heard a story once about him doing dental work on Mick Foley. Currently Dr. Lano can be heard hosting a wrestling podcast called Wrestling Reality which can be found at http://wrestlingreality.blogspot.com. I encourage everyone to check it out if you get the chance. Now to David's opening comments.

David Says: So the big question is have I won five in a row or six. In all the excitement I seem to have lost count. The problem with standing on top of the mountain of success is that there's only one place to go and that's down. I must say that the rarified air of victory has given me a certain clarity of thought. Like a baseball player who's in the zone and feels as if he's swinging at beachballs. My mind has synced with the bookers and the predictions now seem so simple. I just pray that I can manage one more correct prediction than the mysterious 'J' to keep the crown.

NOW LET'S GET IT ON!!!!!!!!!!!

'I Quit'
Foley v. Flair
I Say: This match has the potential to steal the show. I expect a lot of blood. From what I hear both of these guys are normally more than willing to do what is best for the company and put the other guy over, but I'm not sure that they can both keep that mentality when it comes to each other. Word is that they have in reality agreed to disagree regarding their opinions of each other, but I'm sure that there is still a little heat between them. Although Foley said that he would never do a damn thing to help Flair out I think that Foley will make Flair look good in this match. While I see a realistic chance of both of these guys winning the match I'm going to give it to Foley.
David Says: Foley is the opposite of Rey. Always vote against Foley. I'm rooting for Foley but I know that he's there to job. I expect Flair to pull out all the stops including the 'old man beg off', the 'old man front face flop', the 'old man trying to not die of old age while wrestling Foley' a dozen chest chops and a pile of crotch shots. Flair's hand will spend so much time between Foley's legs that he may owe Mick a kiss before the night is over. I'm going against the odds and predict that Flair will NOT die of natural causes before the match is over.
Dr. Mike Says: Foley should because Flair is very sadly an embarrassment at this state in his life. But they hopefully will have a better match than last time. Flair will continue to look like a haggard Leslie Neilsen but he should be kept strong although Foley will somehow get the "win."

Chavo v. Rey
I Say: I'm not really into this match all that much. I've never been a fan of Rey, Chavo, or Eddie for that matter. I'm really surprised that Vicki is involved with this angle. The WWE should just leave her alone at this point. If the WWE wants to have a Chavo / Rey feud that's one thing, but I don't see the need to add Vicki to it. I think that Chavo should win, but I'm always hesitant to pick against Rey. I'll do it though. I'll pick Chavo. It won't be clean though.
David Says: My rule of thumb is ALWAYS GO WITH REY. This is Rey's revenge on Chavo for costing him the title.
Dr. Mike Says: Nonfinish. Vicky getting ko'd again to keep this going. If Rey gets the clean pin or something close, that may kill this lame angle.

WWE Championship
Cena v. Edge
I Say: The clause that states that Edge can lose the title by DQ really tempts me to pick Cena to win the match and the title by DQ, but I just can't do it. I just can't bring myself to pick Cena to win. I've got to go with Edge to retain. Do I think that Cena will regain the WWE Title from Edge? Without a doubt. I just can't say that it's going to happen @ Summerslam. Yeah, I know that Summerslam is in Cena's hometown of Boston, but the WWE seems to have a tendency to have the hometown favorite do the J-O-B. Just look at what happened to Mickie James this past Monday. I see Cena losing in his hometown and then go on to defeat Edge in his hometown @ Unforgiven in Toronto. That way Cena can have the belt with him while he promotes what will surely be a terrible movie in The Marine due out this October. If Cena does win it will be by Edge getting DQ'd. Most likely because of Lita who is rumored to be on her way out of WWE. Edge will then get mad @ Lita and to add tension to the situation he will get angry that she has a belt and he doesn't.
David Says: In all my years of watching wrestling I've never seen anything like what's happening to Cena. Cena is a top tier baby face who regularly gets booed. Loudly. The logical move would be to make him a heal or perhaps retool his character, instead he continues on with the exact same routine, annoying the hell out of men while women and children swoon. John Cena sucks. Unfortunately John Cena will also win the title back at Summerslam. Summerslam is the second biggest show of the year and people expect big things to happen. John Cena has three things on his side. He's the face. This is the main event at a major show. The WWE has shown a propensity of late to bounce the title around with increasing frequency. It would be absolutely fantastic if the WWE kept the title on Edge but it's not going to happen.
Dr. Mike Says: I think Cena is getting the revenge--this is the same '76 S.F. angle they did with Kevin Sullivan as face and his dad, vs heel Bob Roop for Roy Shire.

Legend v. Legend Killer
Hogan v. Orton
I Say: Hogan rarely puts younger guys over, if ever. It's just something that he doesn't really do. It's no secret that Hogan's career is coming to a close so in my mind he should really put Orton over. I don't see that happening though, since Orton is nowhere near the star that Hogan is and that seems to be required for Hogan to put someone over in a match. Hogan's mobility is very, very limited at this point so I hope that he doesn't try to do too much and end up crippling himself. Orton is said to have a real attitude problem backstage and I think losing to Hogan may help set him straight. I don't see a very strong chance of it happening, but I think that Brooke Hogan may somehow get involved. It would be interesting to see her turn on her dad, but I can't see that happening. Ever. If she gets involved it will kill her career though. A lot of mainstream America still views pro wrestling as a joke and getting involved in wrestling would amount to career suicide. Hogan to win, but I hope I'm wrong.
David Says: The match of the evening and the hardest one for me to call. Two young superstars in the prime of their careers locking up. Hogan has no reason to job. On the other hand he has been jobbing a lot in his infrequent matches. Expect Hogan to go down to the one, two, three one more time. And this is from a true blue Hulkamaniac who bleeds yellow and red.
Dr. Mike Says: Awful segment Monday...Hogan can barely move, and it went on too long. Maybe Orton get's DQ'd--they won't have him lose cleanly to Hogan, although he should.

World Championship
Booker v. Batista
I Say: I written before that whoever was holding the belt while Batista was out was only holding it until Batista came back and I've seen nothing to change my mind. I've become a big fan of Booker T since he's become King and I think he deserves a longer title run than 1 month. While I see a real chance that Batista regains the title I will have to pick Booker. Also, reports are that Batista still has a lot of heat on him for getting all worked up over the reaction he got from the ECW fans a couple of weeks back so that can't help his cause. If Batista does win it will be without picking up the title. I hope that they won't use this match to have Boogeyman make his return from injury.
David Says: My natural response would be to pick Batista because like Cena he is viewed as the champ regardless of whether or not he holds the title. Instead I'm going to go out on a limb and pick Booker T to win. Probably with interference or an illegal object or perhaps another disqualification. Booker T deserves some more time with the title so hopefully the WWE will make the right decision.
Dr. Mike Says: Same as above, but knowing WWE's lame logic, they may just have Batista get the belt clean which would hurt a longer run. SDown has so little, they should drag this out before Batista is given the belt again.

DX v. McMahons
I Say: A little while back the rumors were that DX would end at Summerslam. That would lead me to believe that DX would be going out on a loss, but since there currently reports that DX and Cena will be together at September house shows that would make me lean towards a DX win. Add to that the fact that the McMahons have been getting over on DX in the past few weeks it's almost as if DX has to win. For some reason I really want to go against my gut and pick DX to lose, but I just can't do it. DX to pick up the win. Interference by the likes of Umaga, Spirit Squad, and Highlanders looks probable. Knowing the McMahons' involvement in wrestling I wouldn't be surprised to see Steph and Trips' new baby do a run-in (or maybe I should call it a crawl-in).
David Says: In all occasions I would go with DX over the McMahon's but given the way the McMahon's have been getting the better of DX in the last few weeks I would have to say this is an iron clad lock. This incarnation of DX has been pretty crappy indeed. Shawn Michaels and Triple H can still deliver but they are WAY too old to be pulling these juvenile pranks. DX can go two ways. Either get some new young talent that they can mentor and quit with the childish crap or just break up. This is painfully unfunny.
Dr. Mike Says: End this. Sorry, but Dx just seems old. Think they'll finally go over big.

Big Show v. Sabu
I Say: As far as I know this is a straight forward match, but it should've been made into an Extreme Rules match. The fans of the old ECW absolutely hate having Big Show as champ. Myself, I would rather see RVD or Sabu with the title. I can't see Big Show walking out of Summerslam without the belt though. I think that Sabu should get the title at some point down the road, but I just don't think that the timing is right at this point. There has been a rumor online that Kurt Angle may somehow become part of the match making it a 3-Way. I don't see him winning though. I can't see anyone else getting the ECW title before RVD has another run with it. Look for RVD to interfere.
David Says: Why have an ECW title match on a WWE PPV? Sabu will bounce around like a flea on a glacier. I don't expect this match will amount to much but my crystal ball sees a Big Show victory.
Dr. Mike Says: Big Show, but they won't hurt Sabu hopefully. He and Van Dam need to be kept strong. Thankfully the horrible Taker-clumsy Dhalip Singh match is off the ppv and just on plain tv. What an embarrassment...Dhalip is the goof who sadly/accidentally killed his fellow wrestling school trainee student at APW out here...APW got sued by the family and state of CA and lost the $1.3+ million verdict as you know.

Summary
I Pick: Hogan, Foley, Chavo, Edge, Booker T, DX, & Big Show
David Picks: Orton, Flair, Rey, Cena, Booker T, DX, & Big Show
Dr. Mike Picks: Hogan, Foley, Non-Finish (Rey v. Chavo), Cena, Batista, DX, & Big Show


Final thoughts: I'm a little surprised that there isn't a match for either of the Tag Team Championships or a 3-Way match for the US Title that was supposed to take place @ the Great American Bash. I'm also surprised that a Kane v. Nitro match for the IC Title isn't on the card. I was expecting there to be another ECW match. Perhaps a Test/Knox v. Sandman/Dreamer Extreme Rules match. The fact that these matches aren't on the PPV could be a good sign. It's always good when you have too many potential matches than can fit on the card. At least they are not bumping a potentially great match with some meaningless Diva pillow fight or Bra and Panties contest. I think it's pretty safe to say that 2006 Diva Search winner Layla will make an appearance in some fashion. Speaking of the Diva Search, I hope the WWE signs Runner-Up Jen England. Unlike Layla she's at least got a background in fighting (Kickboxing).

See you after Summerslam.

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