It’s been a weird weekend folks, AJ Styles defeated Kevin Owens for the United States Championship. This is no dirt-sheet, so don’t expect rumors from me. However, there are two possibilities I can think of. One, injury. Usually a leading cause of belt dropping. If Owens needs time away from the ring, this is the best way to do it. I read on an actual dirtsheet, wellness policy violation. This, is highly unlikely. Have you seen Kevin Owens? My second guess, this is a hook to increase attendance at house shows. A title change at a house show in very unlikely in our time, whereas in the eighties and early-90’s it was commonplace. It’s also Madison Square Garden, something big usually happens, whether the cameras are rolling or not.
Next up, Austin Aries and WWE part ways. I have heard nor read anything negative, it is likely Aries might have made the decision to step away for a while.
I won’t get into the whole thing with The Usos and the New Day using a poor reference to Paige. We know Alberto del Rio has made comments and some, uh, agressive remarks. This is all idiocy.
GFW has taken over Impact Wrestling, which, could have been seen coming ten miles away.
Onto Great Balls of Fire. Despite having the worst possible name for a pay-per-view since WCW Sin, (I have no doubt there are worse), this looks like a stacked card with some huge potential.
The preshow features Akira Tozawa against Neville for the Cruiserweight Championship. If allowed, this could be a great match. The premise of Tozawa actually being part of The Titus Brand is pretty intriguing, slight similarities of the days where managers had a number of different wrestlers under their charge, but not necessarily a unified stable. Credit to Apollo Crews for nearly sacrificing his life on Monday against Braun Strowman, the Titus Brand was nearly down a member. In any case, I will predict Neville retaining the title, but Tozawa’s quest for the championship will continue.
Enzo Amore vs. Big Cass. I have to sadly pick Big Cass. WWE is high on the big men, and despite Enzo’s skill of working a mic with ease, I fear this is all WWE sees him for. Any match he is in, Enzo is bounced all over the place like the stereotypical rag-doll.
I fully expect a match between Seth Rollins and Bray Wyatt to be good. Promos up until now have been pretty on par and what we expect from them. Although I feel some of Rollins’ promos have felt a tad repetitive and stale, he makes up for it with surprising agility in the ring. Wyatt however, can cut skin-chilling promo after promo, but seems to fall short in the big matches. Is this a “big match” for them or the beginning of something more. If Wyatt wins, this feud trudges on slowly, if Rollins succeeds, I imagine, feud is over. Therefore, in the interest of moving Rollins on, Seth Rollins gets the win.
Roman Reigns vs. Braun Strowman in an ambulance match. Well, its a stipulation we see more often than not, and to be honest, I don’t care who wins. Since I have to pick, let’s go with Strowman. I don’t like Reigns, but not in the “he’s being shoved down our throats way.” It’s because I don’t find him interesting at all. Cena has character, despite the flaws of his rise to stardom. Reigns comes off as stale, stoned, and often incomprehensible during his promos. Not as bad as the Ultimate Warrior, but pretty bad. His pre-tapes always sound good, thanks to editing and re-takes. But live in the ring, a good promo is rare. Strowman’s promos aren’t great either, but his does not have to be. His presence and actions do the talking. I don’t think anyone will care if Strowman loses, because he’s expected to move onto bigger and better things. If Reigns wins, its “yawn, he did it again.”
Women’s Championship: Sasha Banks vs. Alexa Bliss: The only reason I see Banks winning is to finally give Nia Jax her shot. Come on, she’s the only one who has not held the women’s title, on either brand. Think about it. With the exception of Carmella and Emma, is there anyone else who has not held a women’s championship? This will be a good match, although I do have a sneaky suspicion Alexa Bliss will retain.
I am aware I left out Dana Brooke. Because I don’t care about Dana Brooke.
RAW Tag Team Championships, Iron-Man Match: This is the big match for this feud. Unless they can top this, this has to be it, and I believe this is where Cesaro and Sheamus cement their dominance with a victory. It will be a great match, but the title chasing ends tonight. Hardyz will get to compete against some other teams for a while, we will get some one-on-ones, and maybe in 2018 they will see one more reign.
Intercontinental Championship: Dean Ambrose vs. The Miz w/Maryse: I expect a good match, and I am anticipating a wonky finish. The length of this feud tells me it’s time for Ambrose to finally reclaim the championship, but a nagging feeling tells me somehow Miz will retain by sinister means. DQ? Interference? Double-count out? Draw? I’m not sure, but I have a guy feeling this may go on to SummerSlam. Neither one have a brewing feud with anybody else on the roster, unless someone new shows up to challenge for the IC title. For now, I remain in the corner of Awesome, The Miz will retain.
WWE Universal Championship: Samoa Joe vs. Brock Lesnar w/Paul Heyman: This will be the bloodbath we are expecting. So far, it has fallen to Joe and Heyman to give us the verbal hype content, with Lesnar showing up to fight. Joe has been shown as the dominator thus far. I don’t need to explore this one in-depth folks. This will be brutal, there should be blood. Suplexes, bombs, slams, throws, and only Primus-almighty knows what else is in store for tonight. Do I expect a title change? No, but a title change would certainly be a welcome surprise. I’m going with the unlikely, but I am giving the win in tonight’s main event to Samoa Joe. I don’t care if I am wrong.
