The 19th annual Summerslam will take place live from Boston this Sunday on PPV. It is a stacked event, with a lot more main events then last year did. There are three world title matches and two other matches that are not for titles that could go on last. Then there is the match that has been built the best of them all that does not fall into either category. The buyrate for this event will be interesting because buyrates domestically have taken such a dip over the last year. If this event does not do well, it may be time for WWE to reevaluate how it uses television to promote its Pay per View. Here is a look at the Raw main events.
RAW:
WWE Title: John Cena versus Edge:
The Match: The match should be decent. Cena and Edge have worked with each other a lot this year, whether it is television, PPV or house shows. They know each other well, which makes up for some of Cena’s limitations. Whether or not we see a clean finish depends on who wins.
The build: The build has been strong, especially this past Monday. The skit with Edge breaking into the house of Cena’s father could have been bad when you look at the history of WWE creative, but it turned out to make the Cena fans even more passionate about watching their hero beat Edge for the title. The stipulation that says Edge loses the title if he gets disqualified also helps, because again Cena fans will know that their guy has a fighting chance at winning the title.
Who should win: It’s an interesting call here, Cena is the hometown hero and WWE has a habit the last few years of jobbing people in their hometowns. For that reason alone, one could argue that Cena needs to get the win here. There is also the fact that his movie is coming out soon and WWE Champion John Cena does sound good when he goes out to promote “The Marine”. On the other hand, you may build massive heat for Edge if he escapes this predicament to remain WWE champion, buy either cheating to beat Cena or getting counted out. Close call, but it’s a slight edge (no pun intended) to Cena.
Who will win: Based on the rumor that there will be a rematch in Edge’s hometown of Toronto, I’ll go with Cena here. Edge can say the odds were stacked against him and Cena, the hero will accept a rematch under Edge’s terms.
DX versus the McMahons
The match: It won’t get there by conventional means, but it should be an entertaining affair. Whatever you want to say about the four involved in this match, they all have risked their bodies to entertain the fans and Sunday should be no different. Some hardcore spots will have to be saved for Foley-Flair, but we should see blood and/or something sick from Shane McMahon. Add Umaga and the Spirit Squad and it should be a fun match.
The build: The build has been better the last three weeks, but (and it can be understood why this was done) the DX sophomoric pranks are not the way to sell a PPV. Actually a lot of the numbers this event will do will depend on how much the fans like DX and are willing to give two guys they like and respect the benefit of the doubt for some very weak skits. Also keep in mind that all four are a bit stale on top and needed a really good build to make fans forget that and it did not happen.
Who should win: DX should win; they are the ones who are working house shows and PPV’s. A DX win, plus a post match attack by Umaga will set up the beginning of the fall nicely.
Who will win: DX
Foley versus Flair:
The match: If you have a heart, pray for these two, because believe it when they say they want to steal the show on Sunday. This has a chance to be the best match on the show and as much as people will want to tell you otherwise, that is not a bad thing. There will be blood, thumbtacks, baseball bats, barbed wire and all that good stuff. Also knowing the real life history between these two, there is intrigue in who will actually say I quit.
The build: The build has been very good, even it you question how “inside” some of the promos have been, there has been emotion that you just don’t see in the scripted promo era. In fact, there can be an argument raised that when you have two big stars like this doing emotional promos from the heart on television, the heel/face dynamic can be thrown out the window. The bottom line is on a show with about six main events, this is the match that has been best built.
Who should win: Really tough call here, it says here that Flair should probably get the win because he is the babyface and because he will be wrestling more often than Foley. Also with Foley’s friendships with Edge, Lita, Johnny Nitro and Melina, he can help the company and “give rub” without being kept strong by winning this match. With that said, there is no bad choice.
Who will win: Foley will win, because with his ego, I can’t imagine him leaving this program without a victory over Flair.
Hulk Hogan versus Randy Orton
The match: Well, Hogan better hope that he is in front of a forgiving and/or hot crowd, because it looks as if he can’t move at all. Which means all the Hogan tricks, plus a little extra is going to be needed to make this match passable. Don’t bet against a half-way decent match, but don’t expect one either.
The build: Disappointing build here, its cookie cutter legend versus legend killer stuff when it could have been so much more. As shocking as it is to say, using Brooke Hogan would probably have added a lot more heat to the match. The only problem is you see the same kind of thing on “Hogan knows Best”, but other than that it likely would have worked. Hogan has missed a show and Orton is not doing promos to make up for it. Also the biggest problem with the program is it has been surrounded by two terrible skits. Orton Knows best and this past Monday’s promo with fake Hulk were embarrassing and it could be said that WWE may have made more money by just announcing Hogan-Orton and not mentioning it again then the bad skits we have seen in the last few weeks.
Who should win: As much as WWE needs to rebuild, Hogan should win. Hogan has to be kept strong for programs with Edge and especially Steve Austin down the line. Edge is obvious and doable and if Hogan is willing to lose maybe he can lose to Edge, if the Austin program falls through. Besides people pay to see Hogan be Hogan and as old as he is and as much as WWE needs to move on when he is around you have to give the people what they want.
Who will win: Unless Hogan is thinking rematch at Survivor Series or something of that nature; he will not lose to Orton. He will use his creative control to give himself the victory (that’s assuming he and WWE are not on the same page, if they are there is nothing to discuss).