Things are about to heat up at World Wrestling Entertainment’s biggest event of the summer, WWE SummerSlam! And, as you have likely come to expect by now, I have some thoughts on the show and some WWE SummerSlam predictions.

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CM Punk And Drew McIntyre’s Blood Feud

After spending the better part of his first year back on the shelf with injury, CM Punk took to Monday Night Raw last week to announce that he has officially been cleared to return to in-ring action. Then, to the surprise of absolutely no one, Punk immediately called out Drew McIntyre for a one-on-one at SummerSlam.

Tensions between Punk and McIntyre have been running hot since January when the Scottish Warrior injured Punk in the men’s Royal Rumble match. Just two nights after the match, Punk revealed that he would unfortunately require surgery that would put him out of action so soon after his triumphant return to WWE.

Related: The 9 Biggest Moments Of CM Punk’s Legendary WWE Career

Not one to like the spotlight taken from him, Drew emerged from backstage and rubbed salt in Punk’s wound by telling him that he, “prayed for this, and it happened.” It was such an ice cold line that clued everyone in that the story between these two brash, outspoken competitors was far from over.

Punk got a small taste of revenge against Drew by costing him his world championship to Damian Priest mere minutes after Drew won the belt at WrestleMania. The following months saw both Drew and CM Punk trading verbal (and sometimes even physical) blows with each other.

Their SummerSlam confrontation is sure to be a brutal and extremely personal contest. And with the surprise inclusion of Seth “Freakin” Rollins, a man with no love toward either Punk or McIntyre, as special guest referee, who will emerge from this months-long blood feud the victor?

Solo’s Bloodline Reignites Rhodes Rivalry

Cody Rhodes’ WrestleMania win over Roman Reigns earlier this year sent massive shockwaves through the Bloodline. In the time since, Reigns has been MIA from any programming, creating a power vacuum that his former enforcer Solo Sikoa was all too eager to fill.

Related: 10 Biggest WrestleMania Moments Of The Last 10 Years

Over the following months, while Cody has been busy defending his championship against a vast array of opponents, Solo has gradually rebuilt the Bloodline faction in his own image. After dispatching his own brother Jimmy Uso in heartlessly savage fashion, Solo was free to introduce WWE fans to the likes of Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa, and Jacob Fatu.

As this new iteration of the Bloodline began to run roughshod over the SmackDown roster, Solo saw fit to deem himself the new Tribal Chief in his cousin Roman’s absence. This decision has been met with friction from the WWE fans, as well as the Bloodline’s own wiseman Paul Heyman, who refused to formally acknowledge Solo as the head of the table.

With Sikoa now the de facto leader of the group, it was only a matter of time before he set his sights on the very person who unraveled his family’s vise grip on the wrestling industry: WWE Champion Cody Rhodes.

The American Nightmare has struggled in recent weeks to dispatch the new Bloodline. In fact, Rhodes himself was pinned by Solo in tag-team action at last month’s WWE Money In The Bank event (which I totally called by the way, not to brag).

Cody Rhodes is no stranger to adversity, and has overcome the numbers game from the Bloodline before. But he’s in uncharted waters now with this new, more ruthless version of the group. Can The American Nightmare fend off the new Tribal Chief in Solo Sikoa at SummerSlam?

My SummerSlam Redemption

This show is very special to me personally. Last year’s SummerSlam is the first WWE event that I first submitted my predictions for. With the power of hindsight I can now see that I may have been a bit too cocky in my “can’t-miss” picks.

But the past year of carefully analyzing every match and every feud at every WWE premium live event has made me a lean, mean predictin’ machine! I have no doubt that my picks this year will redeem my extreme blunder from last year’s SummerSlam showing.

That said, here are my picks for WWE SummerSlam 2024:

• Logan Paul (C) vs. LA Knight - United States Championship

  My pick: LA Knight (YEAH!)

  This match was practically a shoo-in for SummerSlam. You put two of the cockiest loudmouths in the ring together with microphones in their hands, and you’ve got a license to print money. In a long-awaited match up, the Megastar LA Knight will take on the Influencer Logan Paul for the United States Championship.

  The past has shown us that Paul isn’t averse to taking the low road in keeping his US title reign secure. Low blows, brass knuckles, outside interference, there’s truly no low to which the champion won’t stoop.

  However, I think LA Knight has got his number heading into Cleveland this weekend. The Megastar has shown that when the chips are down, he can back up all the trash he talks in the ring. Hopefully Knight’s undeniable kavorka will propel him to do what no one has been able to do thus far: actually shut Logan Paul up! Do I think LA Knight walks out of SummerSlam with championship gold around his waist? YEAH!

• Liv Morgan (C) vs. Rhea Ripley - Women's World Championship

  My pick: Liv Morgan

  I think this is the first time since I started making these predictions that I picked AGAINST Rhea Ripley. After all, she never actually lost her championship in in-ring competition. She was forced to vacate her title earlier this year due to an attack from the current Women’s champ, Liv Morgan.

  And, to add insult to injury, Liv has continually put the moves on Rhea’s beau “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio. But upon Ripley’s return, Dominik seemingly went with his heart and returned to the open embrace of Mami, leaving Morgan a teary-eyed mess on national television.

  But that whole love triangle conflict seemed to settle too cleanly for me, y’know? It just feels like Dominik was so quick in rejecting Liv in favor of the returning Rhea, to the point where I suspect a setup. This is why I believe Dom will play a hand in costing Rhea her chance at reclaiming the championship she never lost. Not only is Rhea walking out of SummerSlam emptyhanded, but she may also leave brokenhearted.

• Sami Zayn (C) vs. Bron Breakker - Intercontinental Championship

  My pick: Bron Breakker Sami Zayn shocked the world at Money In The Bank when he successfully retained his IC championship against the intense and formidable WWE newcomer Bron Breakker, who many saw as the odds-on favorite to win. I actually predicted Sami would win by virtue of his veteran expertise and years of in-ring acumen he had over his young and hungry opponent. Breakker was certainly humbled that night, which I think may be an advantage for him heading into this rematch. Breakker is a genetic freak of an athlete, pouncing on his opponents at speeds that seem to break the laws of physics. You combine that raw power and explosiveness with a massive chip on his shoulder, and I think Bron will be unstoppable even for the scrappiest of underdogs in Sami Zayn.

• Bayley (C) vs. Nia Jax - WWE Women's Championship

  My pick: Nia Jax

  Bayley’s rivalry with Nia Jax has spanned nearly a decade, with the two superstars first facing off in their NXT days. So when Nia Jax was crowned Queen of the Ring months ago it was almost like the universe was hurtling these two longtime rivals back into each other’s gravitational pull.

  Every time these women step into the ring together it feels personal. At times throughout this latest feud I’d almost forgotten that Bayley’s Women’s championship was on the line, as it feels like their disdain for each other far exceeds any titles or accolades.

  Unfortunately, I think this personal animosity shared between the two will get the better of Bayley this weekend. It’s always important for a defending champion to walk into a match with a clear mind and full focus. With the mind games that Nia has been playing with Bayley these past few weeks, combined with her imposing stature and unmatched strength, I just don’t see how Bayley can be 100% focused on the goal. Nia wins.

  Now, whatever happens after the match with a certain Money In The Bank contract holder who’s gotten suspiciously close to Nia in recent weeks is anyone’s guess. I’ll leave it at that.

• Damian Priest (C) vs. Gunther - World Heavyweight Championship

  My pick: Damian Priest

  I honestly didn’t foresee this match being as tough for me to call as it was. I seem to have a track record of underestimating Damian’s capability as World Heavyweight champion. After all, he’s retained against an impressive cadre of opponents the likes of Jey Uso, Drew McIntyre, and Seth Rollins. Granted, most of those defenses were due to some kind of outside interference, but in those cases it was clear Priest hadn’t orchestrated it.

  But one has to consider the Finn Balor of it all when it comes to this match. Damian seems to want to distance himself from Finn and the rest of his Judgment Day brethren. Yet, despite his pleas for his teammates not to get involved in his championship affairs, Finn still insists on running interference to Damian’s great annoyance.

  But Gunther is a one man wrecking crew, the likes of which Damian has yet to face so far in his championship reign. It may turn out that Damian would actually appreciate some help from Finn and his Judgment Day cohorts. I can see Finn, JD, and perhaps even Dominik running out to his aid and helping him retain against the Ring General.

  And once they help him retain, guess who calls in the favor and asks for a title match at the next premium live event? Yep, Finn Balor. At this point I think it only makes sense for Priest to lose to Finn. Gunther can take the loss and be ok in the long run, but a win this substantial would surely propel Damian into the stratosphere, even if it is due to some outside shenanigans.

   

• Drew McIntyre vs. CM Punk - Seth Rollins serving as special guest referee

  My pick: CM Punk

  It’s ironic that the only non-title match on the card is arguably the most highly anticipated of the entire show. CM Punk and Drew McIntyre have been on a collision course since January, engaged in a blood feud so intense and personal that it makes Kendrick and Drake jealous.

  The time for words is over. This Saturday these two gladiators will be able to settle their beef in the ring. And I’ll be honest, this is the hardest match on the card for me to pick. With Seth “Freakin” Rollins as special guest ref there’s genuinely no telling which way it’s gonna go. My gut tells me CM Punk wins, so that’s what I’m going with. May the best hater win!

• Cody Rhodes (C) vs. Solo Sikoa - Undisputed WWE Championship

  My pick: Cody Rhodes 

  The Bloodline has been smart in the buildup to Solo’s championship match against Cody Rhodes heading into SummerSlam. The group has spent weeks laying out Cody’s allies like Kevin Owens and Randy Orton, systematically destroying any chance of the American Nightmare receiving any aid he may need in the match. Given the 4-on-1 advantage Solo will have ringside at SummerSlam, you’d think this would all but guarantee the gold for the Bloodline leader, right?

  Not if we see the return of Roman Reigns it doesn’t.

  It’s a longshot, but I foresee the absentee former champion coming back in the closing moments of the match to cost Solo his shot at victory, thereby humbling the would-be head of the table and vying to reclaim his place as the TRUE Tribal Chief.

  The idea of Roman doing anything to help the very man who defeated him at WrestleMania seems unlikely, but what I think Roman Reigns values more than any grudge or championship, is his birthright as the leader of his family. No doubt he’s not going to come back ready to acknowledge Solo as the new Bloodline boss. I say Cody retains thanks to Roman Reigns. Crazier things have happened.