WWE continues their four-day stretch of special live events at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada on Sunday evening, as they present their WWE SummerSlam 2019 pay-per-view.
The show will follow-up Saturday night’s NXT TakeOver: Toronto II live special on the WWE Network and preceed two consecutive nights of WWE television, as the post-SummerSlam episodes of RAW and SmackDown LIVE will also emanate from the Toronto-based venue.
Sunday night’s PPV marks the thirty-second event under the WWE SummerSlam chronology and the second to be held in the Toronto market, with the first being WWE SummerSlam 2004 at the Air Canada Centre.
As of this writing, the advertised WWE SummerSlam card consists of ten matches, with six championships on-the-line from the RAW, SmackDown LIVE and 205 Live brands.
Closer Look At WWE SummerSlam PPV Card
Representing the red brand as the main event will be the WWE Universal Championship showdown between Brock Lesnar and Seth Rollins.
The blue brand main event offering will see WWE Champion Kofi Kingston defend his crown against longtime rival Randy Orton.
205 Live will be represented with championship action as well, as Drew Gulak defends his WWE Cruiserweight Championship against Oney Lorcan.
In other featured attraction matches this Sunday night will be returning WWE Hall Of Famers Bill Goldberg and Trish Stratus, who square-off in separate one-on-one matches against Dolph Ziggler and Charlotte Flair, respectively.
Rounding out the lineup for WWE SummerSlam will be Becky Lynch vs. Natalya in a Submission Match for the RAW Women’s Championship, Bayley vs. Ember Moon for the SmackDown Women’s Championship, A.J. Styles vs. Ricochet for the WWE United States Championship, Finn Balor vs. “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt and Kevin Owens vs. Shane McMahon in a match where Owens has vowed to quit WWE if he loses.
It’s worth noting that there is a strong possibility that multiple additional matches could be added to WWE SummerSlam at the last minute.
As is the case before every major pay-per-view event, SEScoops.com compiles a handful of pro wrestling journalists to provide their in-depth insight and analysis into each match scheduled on the card in our SEScoops.com Predictions Roundtable feature.
Joining us for this WWE SummerSlam installment will be veteran staff writers Ian Carey, Andrew Ravens and Jeff Moss.
Without further adieu, let’s take a look at the SEScoops.com predictions for WWE SummerSlam.
Drew Gulak (C) vs. Oney Lorcan (WWE Cruiserweight Title)
Ian Carey: This match really sums up what 205 Live is all about. While WCW’s cruiserweight division was all about bringing in luchadors and high-flying innovative moves, 205 Live is just about smaller wrestler putting on good wrestling matches in whatever style is deemed fit. Gulak and Lorcan won’t be putting on a lucha libre or highspot fest here but it’ll be a unique and hard-hitting match which Gulak will win. Don’t sleep on this match or feel you can miss it. (Prediction: Drew Gulak)
Andrew Ravens: This should be a fun match and it’s nice to see Lorcan get this chance to shine on PPV as he’s a great talent. However, he doesn’t seem to be someone that WWE wants to be champion. It’s a fresh feud, which is different but Gulak retains with ease. (Prediction: Drew Gulak)
Jeff Moss: I’ve been asleep and honestly don’t know if this match is on the main card or the kickoff show, but that’s really neither here nor there. I’d just like to see some of this action on the main show, is all. These guys will tear it up, just as Lorcan has been doing in NXT UK, NXT and on 205 Live for a while now. I’d like to see Lorcan get some payoff for all the hard work he’s put in over the last year, all over WWE, but I think that the title stays with Gulak here, and maybe after SummerSlam he makes some NXT appearances with that purple belt. (Prediction: Drew Gulak)
CONSENSUS: 3-0, Drew Gulak
Finn Balor vs. “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt
Ian: It would be pretty bad form for WWE to beat the Fiend in its very first match. So much has gone into Bray Wyatt’s new character that one can only assume the plan is to go strong with it. This is likely the strongest Wyatt will ever be in his career, it’s possible that WWE goes all the way with it. Wyatt’s fanbase will be hoping this is the case. (Prediction: “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt)
Andrew: There should be no way that Wyatt suffers a loss in this contest as it serves as his in-ring return with his new gimmick. Also, Balor is slated to take time off from WWE after this event and there’s no reason why someone taking time off with what I mentioned above should lead to him getting the win. (Prediction: “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt)
Jeff: I am a huge fan of Finn Balor, but The Fiend needs to crush the Demon here. I’d love to see a Finn Balor that doesn’t have that persona to “channel” when things get rough and is just a down and dirty fighter who can kick your ass. For that to happen, he needs to lose here, “take some time off” as has been rumoured, and then come back better and stronger. As for the Fiend, it’s time for him to show us what he is all about. I want this match to be fast, hard-hitting and the Fiend should dominate. Not in that weird WWE way where he wins in 25 seconds with a rollup, but actually take the time to be the fearsome character we all want him to be. (Prediction: “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt)
CONSENSUS: 3-0, “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt
A.J. Styles (C) vs. Ricochet (WWE U.S. Title)
Ian: Expect this match to steal the show. These are arguably two of the best wrestlers in the world, not just WWE. Amazingly, we never saw these two wrestle when they were both competing in NJPW. With there being a weight division between them at the time, their paths never crossed. I’m expecting A.J. to pull out the win here as the O.C is kept strong. Styles will likely cheat to keep the title somehow, however. (Prediction: A.J. Styles)
Andrew: These two have had plenty of matches thus far but I see this being the best match of them all as WWE should give them plenty of time to tell the story that they want to do in the ring. A.J. has had a renewed push as a champion on television and with him being paired again with Gallows and Anderson, they could play a factor in him winning this contest. Let’s move onto a different program. (Prediction: A.J. Styles)
Jeff: WWE loves a “dominant” faction that has a lot of belts, so I can’t see A.J. losing the US title so soon after the OC (Califoooooooornia) just picked up the tag belts. There’s 2 things I can hope for here; 1.) That this match will steal the show, because on paper there is no reason it shouldn’t, and 2.) A.J. wins and the OC (Califoooooooornia) begins a rise on RAW that’ll make them more powerful and somewhat of an Undisputed Era group. Ricochet can take a hard-fought loss here and it won’t hurt him. (Prediction: A.J. Styles)
CONSENSUS: 3-0, A.J. Styles
Goldberg vs. Dolph Ziggler
Ian: What? It’s going to be a spear plus jackhammer and that’ll be that. Do you think they are going to waste 20 minutes on this match? Is Ziggler being kept strong for something? Nope, this match is entirely so that fans (and likely Goldberg himself) can just forget about what happened at Super ShowDown. Too bad for Ziggler, who seems to have really found himself again lately. (Prediction: Goldberg)
Andrew: This should be a one minute match with Goldberg absolutely destroying Ziggler for the comments that he made and sending a message to the critics who voiced their opinion about his match against The Undertaker in Saudi Arabia. Let Goldberg remind fans that he can still work and be a monster. (Prediction: Goldberg)
Jeff: Here’s a pre-recap: Bell. Spear. Jackhammer. Ziggler explodes. Goldberg pins the shiny pair of pants left over. Look, we all know why this is happening. It’s a make-good for Goldberg’s terrible, terrible match in that other place with the Undertaker. My only hope is that this starts the show because even though it will be hot garbage, it’ll get the crowd hyped and be done with quick. After that, perhaps we call it even with the man who has admittedly repeatedly concussed himself during his into actually retire before something even worse happens. (Prediction: Goldberg)
CONSENSUS: 3-0, Goldberg
Trish Stratus vs. Charlotte Flair
Ian: With this being Trish’s final match, don’t expect her to win. Oddly enough, Stratus’ first send-off into retirement resulted in a veering away from tradition. Instead of losing in her final match as a full-time wrestler, Stratus won the WWE Women’s title in her last match. Expect things to work out more traditionally this time, with the wrestler from yesteryear putting over the star of today. (Prediction: Charlotte Flair)
Andrew: It’s nice to see Trish back on television and in the ring competing again. This should make for a fun entertaining match but Flair should go over. Trish will go back into retirement while Flair still has many years left as one of the top stars in the women’s division. This is another accolade that Flair can boast about. (Prediction: Charlotte Flair)
Jeff: While I don’t always hate Legends returning for “one more match” this one is just flat. The build to it has been tepid at best and frankly, I don’t care who wins. That said, since Trish is in her hometown (and mine, just to town-drop) lets give her the win. It’s really not going to matter to Charlotte if she loses here, so why not give us the feel-good moment with Trish? (Prediction: Trish Stratus)
CONSENSUS: 2-1, Charlotte Flair
Kevin Owens vs. Shane McMahon (Owens’ Career On-The-Line)
Ian: I find everything with Shane McMahon involved to be quite fast-forwardable. This is too bad considering it is the backdrop for Kevin Owens’ Stone Cold-esque character pivot. Owens needs to win here and win big. He’ll do so with a Stunner and hopefully we won’t see Shane O’ Mac for a long long time. (Prediction: Kevin Owens)
Andrew: The most predictable match on the card as no one really thinks Owens will quit the company. If for some reason he should lose this match, which I highly doubt then Raw could always sign him. McMahon has picked up some notable wins over top talent as of late. I don’t see Owens being the next star to fall to McMahon with this stipulation that appears to be the conclusion of this storyline. (Prediction: Kevin Owens)
Jeff: I’m so sick of Shane stories at this point that even if Kevin doesn’t win, and they do that “he quit but is back 2 weeks later for some reason” thing, I might just live in denial and pretend he won anyways. Heading into the Smackdown on Fox era, Shane needs to be erased and Kevin Owens needs to the the top guy on Smackdown. Heel or Face he can work it, and I know that Roman’s always had the golden boy tag, but Owens is where the money is going forward. (Prediction: Kevin Owens)
CONSENSUS: 3-0, Kevin Owens
Bayley (C) vs. Ember Moon (SmackDown Women’s Title)
Ian: Bayley should win this but you have to wonder if something unexpectant could occur here. There hasn’t been much to talk about in terms of Moon and Bayley building up this match and of the 3 women’s matches booked, it feels the least important by a wide margin. Could Sasha Banks enter back into the picture soon? It’s been 4-months, that’s one heck of a sabbatical. No matter what, Bayley wins. There’s no way a title-change occurs on a match which is being presented as such an afterthought. (Prediction: Bayley)
Andrew: I’m glad WWE decided to do something with Ember Moon but she just feels like she is a beatable opponent and placeholder until Charlotte Flair gets back into the mix, which is a shame considering how talented Moon is. Bayley should and will retain her before moving onto a more meaningful program. (Prediction: Bayley)
Jeff: Bayley, oh Bayley. Our beloved NXT star has fizzled out completely in this run as SD Champion (not entirely her fault) and it’s time for some new blood. Ember is one of the few women in the division right now that’s got potential to be a character in the vein of the Fiend or even NXT Asuka, so let’s give her a chance to build that. Make her scary. Make her Luna Vachon for a new generation. If “one ember can start the fire” let’s light it and see where it goes. (Prediction: Ember Moon)
CONSENSUS: 2-1, Bayley
Kofi Kingston (C) vs. Randy Orton (WWE Title)
Ian: I was in attendance when Randy Orton won his first world title – it was at SummerSlam 2004 which was also held in Toronto. He defeated Chris Benoit that night and his Evolution teammates would subsequently turn on him in the following days. I think it’s too early for them to take the title off Kofi but I’m worried that’s exactly what is going to happen. It’s been awhile since Orton had the title but I’m wondering if he’s who WWE wants with the strap for when they move to Fox. (Prediction: Randy Orton)
Andrew: WWE has done a great job of building this program up and incorporating the backstory of this feud leading into the match. Kofi has had a pretty good reign as champion that I don’t see why should end at the hands of Orton. We’ve seen Orton as champion and while he’s a good talent to have, he shouldn’t be WWE Champion over Kofi at this stage. Kofi beating Orton is just another top name to help give him more credibility. (Prediction: Kofi Kingston)
Jeff: Is Randy Orton the Joker to Kofi Kingston’s Batman? If you’d asked me a few months ago I would have said no, but WWE has actually done a pretty good job of checking it’s homework on this match. The lead up has laid out the history between the two really well, and I’m hoping that Kofi can pull an actual match out of Orton while they try to trade finishers. Orton can go when he feels like it, but the last thing I want to see is another Championship around is waist. I fear WWE’s temptation to have John Cena come back and feud with him over it to break Ric Flair’s record would be too great. Damn, even just in typing that I’m sure someone in Stanford got chills. (Prediction: Kofi Kingston)
CONSENSUS: 2-1, Kofi Kingston
Becky Lynch (C) vs. Natalya (Submission Match For RAW Women’s Title)
Ian: Becky will get booed. The Toronto crowd will not cheer against Natalya though Becky always gets a big pop when she’s here too. Expect some bizarro world comments from the commentary team (via Vince) but also expect Becky to get a chance to cut a somewhat heel promo on the live crowd. There has to be a reason they booked Becky in a match where she’ll get booed, it’s just not clear what that reason is yet. Regardless, unless Natalya cheats like crazy and does a full heel turn (possible), Lynch should win. (Prediction: Becky Lynch)
Andrew: While the match itself should be decent, I like the fact that they have let these two stars go out there with a more ediger dialog with their promos that have been quite entertaining. Once this match was booked, most fans felt numb about it because WWE hadn’t done much with Natalya leading up but they have turned that around with promos. (Prediction: Becky Lynch)
Jeff: My presumption is that this match will end with some kind of farting. Either actual farting from Natalya, or some kind of sill over-booked farting around on behalf of WWE creative. I mean wouldn’t you just LOVE for Lacey Evans to interfere and cost Becky the Title? No, neither would I and I have no reason to think she would other than we haven’t seen her in a while. Yup, I’m so disinterested in this match, I’m just making stuff up at this point. Anyway, Becky wins. Especially if we’re going to give the “Yay Canada!” win to Trish. (Prediction: Becky Lynch)
CONSENSUS: 3-0, Becky Lynch
Brock Lesnar (C) vs. Seth Rollins (WWE Universal Title)
Ian: It’s got to be Brock Lesnar winning this match. Rollins just beat Lesnar at WrestleMania so I don’t see what the point would be in having him beat him again. Lesnar’s not going back to the UFC, he’s going to be a key figure in WWE for the foreseeable future. It doesn’t make sense for him to lose again and so I don’t think he will. I think Rollins will ultimately get bumped down a notch, which could allow a guy like Ricochet to move up. (Prediction: Brock Lesnar)
Andrew: This is a rematch from WrestleMania 34 with pretty much the same build, which says something about the state of WWE right now. Lesnar just won the title a few months ago so I don’t see a reason why they would him drop it here. However, that doesn’t mean having Lesnar as champion once again is a good thing as I thought Rollins was making progress as champion despite feuding with Baron Corbin before dropping the title. Lesnar predictably retains the title. (Prediction: Brock Lesnar)
Jeff: So, Seth has breathlessly “guaranteed” that he’ll beat Brock at SummerSlam. If I know anything (and according to the comments, I don’t) that’s WWE’s way of saying he’s not going to win this match. Why wouldn’t he win this match? Beats me. Maybe WWE just doesn’t like the idea of a title or champion being on TV regularly. Maybe they think Seth is better chasing a title than holding one? I don’t know, but I truly hope I’m wrong because the longer that Big Red Belt is around Brock’s Big Pink Waist, the less I care about it. So here’s hoping Seth overcomes the odds/obstacles/numbers game/whatever and wins in spite of WWE’s telegraphing. Then the Championship can feel like part of the show again. What a SWERVE!!! Extremely hopeful. (Prediction: Seth Rollins)
CONSENSUS: 2-1, Brock Lesnar
SEScoops.com SummerSlam Predictions Outro
What do you think about Ian, Andrew and Jeff’s picks for Sunday’s matches? How did the trio fare with their predictions for last year’s WWE SummerSlam PPV? Find out by checking out the SEScoops.com Roundtable Predictions feature for WWE SummerSlam 2018.
How do their above picks compare to yours? Let us know by sharing your own WWE SummerSlam predictions in the “Comments” section below.
If you have somehow failed to get your fill of insight, analysis and predictions for Sunday night’s show, fear not!
In addition to the above picks from our trio of veteran reporters, you can also see what the “betting experts” expect to happen in the top matches by checking out the WWE SummerSlam 2019 betting odds from BetOnline.
Join us here at SEScoops.com throughout the weekend for the best coverage of WWE SummerSlam news, rumors and spoilers. Make sure to stop by on Sunday night for the absolute fastest and most-detailed live WWE SummerSlam results coverage on the web.
