Summerslam

...ok, just to get some conversation going on this dustbowl, any predictions for Summerslam? These are going on the matches listed on wwe.com so if anything isn't right blame Vince!

Dark Match: Santino v Cesaro. Santino to win

Tag titles: Kofi and R-Truth v The Prime Time Players. I'm going to pick The PTP for no other reason than I like a team with an actual team name holding the belts!

IC belt: Miz v Mysterio. Miz, all the way. Mysterio is way past his best and, with the signing of the British guy Pac, no longer required. I'm hoping Rey and Sin Cara are both sent on their way soon. Of course, there's the other markets to factor in so they probably won't do it to both of them. But I'd like to see Miz keep the recent change in fortunes he's had.

Bryan v Kane: Bryan. Just because he's still relevant and, as much as it pains me to say it (being a big fan) Kane just isn't. We've talked about it before, about Kane deserving a last run because of what he's done. But even so to keep him at mid-card seems stupid when he's obviously fading. I'd rather ignore sentiment. Bryan, meanwhile, to win and keep in the hunt for belts.

Ziggler v Jericho: We were discussing this at work. It's likely to be one of the best matches on the card with two excellent performers. So from that point I don't have a problem. What niggles with the Ziggles match is that I just see Jericho being given a string of top drawer losses and I think he's better than that. Jericho, by comparison to Kane, IS worth one last mega push. I would just prefer if it wasn't at the expense of Ziggles. As DS has said Ziggler is worth a title shot so, for me, this one won't end well - either Ziggler wins and keeps his momentum going at the expense of another Jericho loss or Jericho wins and Ziggler loses some momentum. I would like them to come up with some way of helping both but I think Jericho might pinch this.

WWE championship: Punk v Cena v Show: Punk. I reckon that everybodys fave tweener (as Punk is so still over as an Austin-esque grey hat!) will pull somethign sneaky out of the bag.

WH championship: Sheamus v Del Rio. Sheamus. I still have a niggle that they don't seem to be making Sheamus into a proper champion. Sure he holds the belt but it's not been a memorable reign for me. Sheamus still lacks something. Maybe it's Sheamus himself. This one came off the card then appears to have gone back on. But Sheamus to win.

Trips v Lesnar: This one could be the best of the night. I do think Trips has one last great match in him. I'm picking HBK and Heyman to involved, quite possibly Steph too. I'd pay good money to Heyman take the Sweet Chin Music! Having Lesnar lose doesn't do him any favours. So there's got to be some way that Trips looks like winning but Lesnar pulls it out. So Lesnar is my pick.

Thought?

I'm on the iPad at the moment, and don't want to tap out a lengthy reply on the virtual keyboard. So I'll give full thoughts in the morning.

But for me, Lesnar has to win.

I also suspect Punk will

I think Alberto takes it

I hope Ziggles wins, but I think Jericho will

I hope Rey is never seen again, but he will probably win

Bryan takes Kane

Players take the belts

Santino drops the US strap.

So yeah, more thoughts.

As I said in the office the other day, i think for the sake of business Brock Lesnar has to destroy HHH tonight. Brock looked good against Cena, and after jobbing to the Rock I can sort of see why they gave their poster boy the win, but if they want to use Brock's remaining time with the company to build toward a blow-off match at Wrestlemania, then he has to pick up a win here. TBH, I suspect that's why HHH has taken the match himself - Brock can win and look amazing going over a bona-fide WWE legend, in the process rocking the management of the WWE, but it doesn't harm any of the main roster. I think HHH certainly has one good fight left in him, and I expect this to be superb.

If Brock loses the match though, where does he go from here. I don't believe there would be money in seeing him again, so the WWE will have wasted the coin without getting much back.

In the World title match, I agree with Myron that while Sheamus has been champion and is popular, the feud with Bert Del Monte hasn't really ignited the crowd or made him stand out as champion. He's just sort of there. I quite like watching Alberto wrestle, but I'm not excited about their match tonight. I think Alberto might win the match, but if he doesn't, my firm hope is for Ziggles to cash in and win.

Which leads me to Ziggles and Jericho. Hard one to call this. Reportedly, Jericho may be on his way out of the WWE soon, and if so then he may want to give Ziggler the rub as he goes. I think that would be the right way to go, even taking into account Myron's comments that Jericho deserves better than to be a high profile jobber. Then again, as Ziggles is a fabulous bumper, the WWE may want to give Jericho one last favour. TBH, the best outcome might be for Ziggles to lose to Jericho, then cash in the WHC, and for them to continue their feud over the belt.

On the WWE title picture scene, I think that because they have made such play of Punk's long run, he might well come out of Summerslam still the champion. The only thing that makes me doubt this is, hasn't Punk won at the last two Summerslams?

Tag Title match - I've gone for the players as I think they need something more, now that AW has been fired. Also I think the tag belts need fresh owners and a new start.

Bryan .v. Kane has to be Daniel's match. He's the most over guy in the company and I can't believe they would have him lose here.

Rey .v. Miz. Depends on if they have fully forgiven Miz, and if they equally have forgiven Rey and want to push him again. I agree with Myron that he's irrelevant now. His act is predictable and boring and I would always prefer Miz holding the mif-card belt. Its a toss-up though as WWE seem to remain high on Rey.

On Punk and Summerslam...he's got to win there again at some point!

You make a good point about Ziggles, though. That would make sense. And the champion that it would make sense against most is the winner of the Sheamus/Del Rio match.