Welcome to another edition of Triple Threat from Smark Out Moment, where three of us get together to discuss three questions based on one big topic going down in the week of professional wrestling.
This week, Dallas Allsopp, Greg Coleman and CJ Brown preview WWE SummerSlam 2021.
It is that time of the summer again, where WWE likes to create a vibe similar to WrestleMania. As this year's Showcase of the Immortals was lacking in part-time stars, WWE have more than made up for it here. Which undercard match will shine the brightest? Will Charlotte Flair triumph again? And just who will be walking out of SummerSlam as the two World Champions?
Question 1: Which undercard match are you most looking forward to?
ALLSOPP: Oddly enough, I’m looking forward to Sheamus vs Damian Priest. Sheamus has been putting on banger after banger over the last few years, and I do not doubt that he will make Priest look like an absolute star. Should Priest go over and win the WWE United States Championship? Why not! He’s obviously talented, and I’m positive he can improve in the upper midcard scene on Raw.
COLEMAN: Edge vs Seth Rollins. Rollins is one of the best performers in the game today, and for the most part, he’s had a pretty mild 2021. On a big stage against a legend like Edge, we will see a highly motivated Rollins as well as a highly motivated Edge, who has shown he can still go. This could very well end up being the best match of the weekend.
BROWN: I definitely feel Edge vs Seth Rollins is going to steal the show. But, I am most excited about the Raw Tag Team Championship match (which is something I don’t often get to say). Riddle continues to entertain me with his goofball sincerity. His quest to locate his R-K-Bro whilst Randy Orton was off television was a lot of fun. A match with Riddle, Orton and AJ Styles has no chance of disappointing if they are given enough time on the card. Plus, Omos is there to toss people around. I’m ready for a change in the tag scene, and I’m all in for R-K-Bro!
Question 2: Should Charlotte Flair regain the Raw Women’s Championship, or would the better option be for Nikki A.S.H. to come out on top?
COLEMAN: Anyone but Charlotte Flair should win this match. Flair must (and I repeat must) exit the title picture and stay out of it for an extended period of time. The fact that she literally took the title from Rhea Ripley just to lose it the next night seems like a blatant attempt to pad her stats. Even if Becky Lynch returns at SummerSlam, she should feud with Flair for an opportunity to challenge for the Raw Women’s Championship, not for the belt itself.
BROWN: With the story they have been telling before Nikki A.S.H. even got her Money in the Bank briefcase, she will pull off the ultimate underdog victory at SummerSlam. The story so far was that Nikki only beat Rhea Ripley and Charlotte Flair during their Beat the Clock matches leading up to Money in the Bank by fluke each time. As well, Nikki is only Raw Women's Champion right now because of the briefcase, as Flair herself has insisted. Whilst being beaten twice on this week’s Raw was a very poor decision, it has to be leading to a clean win over Ripley and Flair this weekend. Plus, the recent incident of snapping and exhibiting real aggression on Raw is something to add more dimension to the flat character we have gotten thus far.
ALLSOPP: Charlotte Flair should categorically lose this match, allowing Nikki A.S.H. to pin her in order to retain the Raw Women’s Championship. Nikki is not exactly setting the world on fire as champion, but Raw could do a lot worse than give her the ball and run with it. Flair has pretty much returned to her previous role as gatekeeper of the women’s division, and as such, she has ‘go away’ heat with fans. Giving her the belt would be suicide for Raw’s ratings.
Question 3: Which World Championship match is most likely to see a title change? Do both Roman Reigns and Bobby Lashley deserve to retain their belts?
BROWN: Both champions deserve to retain this weekend. But, Roman Reigns vs John Cena is the one to watch! Cena will be more than willing to make Reigns look dominant. I think they will tell a great story and Reigns will get yet another passing of the torch moment. Bobby Lashley vs Goldberg has me truly worried though. WWE are more than willing to feed their current talent to a part-timer like Goldberg, no matter how much time they have invested in their champion (The Fiend for example). I am at least happy that creative have built Lashley back up after that odd playboy gimmick they were trying out with his lady entourage accompanying him everywhere. We have a dominant Lashley facing Goldberg, and that gives me hope that he will retain. But, I fully expect Goldberg to win here and officially retire on top with his son at his side.
ALLSOPP: I’d argue that neither Bobby Lashley or Roman Reigns will drop their belts at SummerSlam. Lashley has way too much to lose against an ageing Goldberg, whilst Reigns is simply on a roll as the best character in WWE. I hope they both win in a manner that can not only enhance their own reputation, but the reputation of their respective belts. They have worked hard as the big guys in the company, and as such, it would be reprehensible to cut them off at the knees this weekend. Big E cashing in, on the other hand, would be interesting as it is a ready made storyline that would benefit both himself and his victim.
COLEMAN: The only champion that has a real chance of losing his title is Roman Reigns. I don’t see any way that Goldberg beats Bobby Lashley for the WWE title. If John Cena beats Reigns, it will be a history making moment. If Goldberg beats Lashley, it will be a WTF moment. Both men are deserving to continue their reigns, but I wouldn’t be upset or shocked if The Tribal Chief lost the WWE Universal Championship.
Those are our thoughts on the issue, but where do you stand?
Let us know your answers to these questions in the comments below!
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