The biggest party of the summer is about to go down as WWE SummerSlam 2023 is coming up this Saturday night at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan!
Eight matches are announced for the card, with the possibility more tweaks to the lineup can come in the next few days. But as far as the current lineup, who are the online betting odds favorites to win?
Let's break down each match and run down who are the most likely Superstars to come out on top and why.
SummerSlam Battle Royal
Let's get this one out of the way first, as there aren't currently many odds makers willing to place numbers on this match. After all, there's no telling how many Superstars will be involved at all, let alone who makes the full lineup.
As it stands, though, only six wrestlers have been confirmed: LA Knight, Sheamus, Tommaso Ciampa, Shinsuke Nakamura, Otis and Chad Gable.
That doesn't quite mean anything as far as guaranteeing one of those will win. As there are normally around 20 Superstars in each battle royal, if not more, there are many more big names who could make an impact like Bobby Lashley, Karrion Kross, AJ Styles, Bronson Reed, a returning Johnny Gargano, Matt Riddle and more.
LA Knight will be most people's pick, though. He's incredibly over with the crowd at the moment and was the person who was first announced for this. It seems as though it is being put on the card specifically to give him a win and pop the crowd. But don't count out the possibility that WWE plays with the audience and purposely has him lose so that a heel like Grayson Waller gets the heat.
Now this is a story all about how@RealLAKnight came into town
— WWE (@WWE) July 29, 2023
Talking on the mic about Hit Row
Ready to make #SmackDown his show
"YEAH!", the Megastar would exclaim
Now everyone here knows it's his game! pic.twitter.com/PFtY4JNTOe
Intercontinental Championship Match
Based not only on their previous encounter, but his impressive win-loss record and seemingly unstoppable nature, Gunther is the current favorite to beat Drew McIntyre with a -475 to +285 odds difference.
When you factor in that Gunther isn't far off from beating Honky Tonk Man's record for the longest title reign in Intercontinental Championship history—which will be surpassed in early September—it makes even more sense WWE would want to keep the title on Gunther for a little while longer.
McIntyre is the more established star who can take a loss. Beating Drew means more to Gunther than the other way around.
.@DMcIntyreWWE takes on #Imperium’s @wwe_kaiser after challenging Intercontinental Champion @Gunther_AUT to a title showdown at #SummerSlam. #WWERaw pic.twitter.com/rvp0UEbSIN
— WWE (@WWE) July 27, 2023
Ricochet vs. Logan Paul
To no surprise, Logan Paul is the favored bet (-500) over Ricochet (+300) in their singles bout. The two have had a few encounters this year in some notable moments at Royal Rumble and Money in the Bank, but with this being their first true match against each other, all we know is that they'll be trying to outdo their previous performances and that Paul is the more featured attraction.
As Paul's lost more matches than he's won at this point, and Ricochet isn't in a position where he must win by any means, a win for Paul will mean more in the long run. It will help get him back on track where he can challenge for a title and it wouldn't seem unearned, while Ricochet will benefit from having the spotlight on him, which doesn't always happen.
MMA Rules Match: Ronda Rousey vs. Shayna Baszler
It is fitting that Ronda Rousey and Shayna Baszler will fight it out in an MMA Rules match, considering their rise to stardom from their times in UFC. This feud is revolving around resentment that is said to go back to those days, helping build up hype that this clash will be even more brutal than normal WWE standards.
If the rumors are true that Rousey has given WWE a "hard out" date to finish up with the company, that could be happening immediately after this. It would certainly explain why their tag team title run ended almost as soon as it began, as they would be rushing to split them up and get this feud going. After all, WWE originally wanted Rousey and Baszler to win the tag titles at WrestleMania, but injuries forced that plan to be put on hold.
Baszler is at -800 odds with Rousey at +425. Everyone seems convinced The Queen of Spades will beat The Rowdy One as a means to send Rousey off, putting her friend over in the process.
Cody Rhodes vs. Brock Lesnar
Speaking of UFC, as dominant as Brock Lesnar was there—and in his WWE career, of course—it is certainly time for Cody Rhodes to settle the score and come out on top for this feud.
With -500 odds compared to Lesnar's +300, this seems like an open-and-shut case. It is the rubber match between the two, Rhodes is the talent that needs more of the rub compared to the multi-time world champion, and logic dictates not only will the babyface win the feud, but that this whole thing was concocted to give The American Nightmare a major victory after suffering his soul-crushing defeat at WrestleMania.
It doesn't make up for not winning the title, and that still has to happen, but at least if he beats Brock here, it won't set him back even further. This is one of the easiest SummerSlam predictions to make.
Triple Threat Match for WWE Women's Championship
Odds are tighter in the race for the Women's Championship with Asuka the current favorite at -125, Charlotte Flair at +175 and Bianca Belair at +250.
But even though triple threat matches are tough enough as it is for champions because they don't have to be pinned or tap out to lose their titles, there's also the factor of Iyo Sky and the Money in the Bank briefcase to take into account.
For all we know, Sky will walk out with the title and none of the three women in the match will be victorious. It's certainly happened before, and the looming threat of that going down at the second-biggest show of the year is something to take into account.
As far as Smark Out Moment's recommendation is concerned, that splits the difference in four potential outcomes. If you're looking to make the most money with this event, consider not betting on this match at all. It's too close to call.
But is @WWEAsuka READY for @Iyo_SkyWWE?!#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/qiArHcINvl
— WWE (@WWE) July 29, 2023
World Heavyweight Championship Match
Damian Priest and his Money in the Bank briefcase also makes it difficult to judge who will walk out with the World Heavyweight Championship, which is also a tight race with Seth Rollins the slight favorite at -140 odds and Finn Balor narrowly behind him at -120.
All three outcomes have potential. Rollins is the defending champion, so it is smart to bet on him retaining. Balor is the one seeking vengeance and driving this story, and the leader of The Judgment Day faction that has been a major focal point as of late. Him winning changes up the formula the most.
But even if he does win, he could be cashed in on by Priest right after, or Priest could disrupt the match during the contest and leave with the title. Crazier things have happened.
If you have to place a bet, put it on Rollins, but don't wager too much.
Tribal Combat for Undisputed WWE Universal Championship
Last, but certainly not least, is what will undoubtedly be the true main event as Roman Reigns defends the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship against Jey Uso in Tribal Combat.
While it is certainly possible this whole Bloodline story has been leading up to this point with Main Event Jey beating his cousin to become champion, you just don't bet against The Tribal Chief.
Reigns is the overwhelming favorite at -2000 with Uso at +750. Logical or not for that to be the storyline conclusion, WWE flat out didn't do that with Rhodes at WrestleMania and specifically said that the stories in WWE do not end. Don't bet on this being a grand finale. Instead, bet on the side of history, and since Reigns has held these titles for so long, you can safely wager he's not dropping them here.
Stay tuned to coverage of WWE SummerSlam here at Smark Out Moment to see who wins!
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