SummerSlam Predictions for August 15th

Get your predictions in at www.fourdown.org/WWE_SummerSlam_2008 and if you've got the highest score, you'll be getting a $25 Amazon.com gift certificate!  (tie-breaker is your WWE ranking followed by your overall ranking)

And now it's time for the Match Made in Heaven..  AND THE MATCH MADE IN HELL!

The two big matches this Sunday are John Cena vs Batista and Edge vs The Undertaker in a Hell in the Cell match.  WWE has done a pretty good job of making each of these matches fairly unpredictable.  It's really a tough call to predict Cena/Batista, and the recent changes in Edge's character have actually convinced a lot of fans that he may be winning the match. 

So let's run down the card and all of the questions that are asked here at the site..

Hell in a Cell Match,
Edge vs. Undertaker

I still think Edge has very little chance to win this match.  This feels like the blow-off match between the two, and with Edge generally getting the upperhand during the feud, I'd say it's time to close it off with the big Undertaker win.  It's also likely going to be the final match on the card, so makes sense to end it with the big pop for Taker.  Here at the site, it's now 90% in favor of Undertaker, with 10% for Edge (and technically about 0.20% for a No Contest).  This has grown a lot in the last two weeks - it started off with barely 4% picking Edge to win.

Prediction: Undertaker by pinfall

John Cena vs. Batista

This one's the tricky one as far as I'm concerned.  Both Cena and Batista are coming off of losses - Cena to JBL and Batista to both Edge and Punk.  I'm still thinking something is going to happen during this match - whether it's a surprise swerve with Randy Orton (perhaps reforming Evolution with Batista) or run-ins by Kane or Jericho - and I think it will be a very entertaining match.  My personal pick is Batista, but I could easily see a no contest OR John Cena winning by DQ.  Here at the site about 50% have picked Cena, with 30% for Batista and 20% for a No Contest.

Prediction: Batista by pinfall, with interference

Match for the World Heavyweight Championship
JBL vs. CM Punk (c) 

Not much to say about this one except it'll be a miracle if it turns out to be an above-average match.  A little scared about how this one could end, since Punk was booked stronger on Raw than JBL was..  But I'm holding out hope that WWE Creative wouldn't make a really big stinker of a move by putting the title on JBL.  (though the decline of the last few weeks in Raw's writing supports a potential JBL win..)  Here, 70% are picking Punk, so let's hope that's the way it goes! 

Prediction: CM Punk by submission, no interference

Match for the WWE Championship
The Great Khali vs. Triple H (c) 

Comedy break!  We'll see if HHH can turn this into a passable match.  I can't imagine he'd be happy with having the worst match on the card - but this could easily be that match!  92% pick HHH.  Can't imagine it will go any other way.

Prediction: HHH by pinfall, with interference

Match for the ECW Championship
Matt Hardy vs. Mark Henry (c) 

I don't see them taking the title off Henry so fast.  I'd prefer to see at least a 4-5 month reign where he's finally toppled by an up-and-coming face on the show.  I can see Atlas interfering to help Henry get the win and keep Hardy still looking strong.  It's 61% in favor of Henry right now.

Prediction: Henry by pinfall, with interference

Match for the Intercontinental and Women's Championships
Beth Phoenix & Santino Marella vs. Mickie James (c)  & Kofi Kingston (c) 

I think this will be a fun match.  I'm still a little unclear as to how the finish will determine who gets what belt - if Santino gets the pin on Kofi, does he get the IC title, and Beth gets the women's title?  And then what if Santino pins Mickie, does that mean it's the other way around?  I'd prefer them to keep the belts in the proper divisions, since the women's title gained credibility through Phoenix's reign, and the IC title is on its way to becoming a decent title again.  I hope they don't undo that work!  I'm picking Beth and Santino - because otherwise what's the point of this match exactly?  At the site, it's 60% for Mickie/Kofi.

Prediction: Beth/Santino by pinfall

MVP vs. Jeff Hardy

Feels a little thrown together, and I feel like I've seen this match already on free TV.  But should still be a good match.  I hear some people are thinking we'll get a Shelton run-in - I would have rather had Shelton in this to make it a three-way personally (just to get the US title on the card).  I'm picking MVP because it feels like it's time to move him higher up, and Hardy has another 6 months to go before I see them pushing him hard again.  But 75% think Hardy will pull it off.

Prediction: MVP by pinfall, no interference

Will any of the following get involved physically in the Cena/Batista match?

The choices for this are: Randy Orton, Chris Jericho, Kane, anyone else, more than one person, and no one.  I'm going with Chris Jericho, but that's probably because that's what I want to have happen.  50% think no one will get involved, and Orton is leading out of the three named men.

Prediction: Chris Jericho

What will Shawn Michaels' decision be?

60% think he will announce he's not retiring.  30% think he won't give a definitive answer.  10% think he will announce his retirement.  I predict he will announce his retirement - but I definitely think he'll be back.  Let him sell the eye injury for a bit, keep pushing Jericho, and then bring him back for the big return match.

Prediction: He will annnounce his retirement

How many Batista Bombs will be successfully delivered to John Cena during the Cena/Batista match?

This is a bonus points question.  The votes are split pretty evenly between 1 and 2, with very few votes for none, 3, or 4 or more.

Prediction: 1

Who will score the pinfall/submission victory for his/her team in the Winner Takes All match?

The votes are currently split primarily between Beth Phoenix and Kofi Kingston.

Prediction: Beth Phoenix

Who will lose the fall by pinfall/submission in the Winner Takes All match?

And the votes here are split between Santino Marella and Mickie James.

Prediction: Mickie James

Will Mike Adamle attack or be attacked by anyone during the PPV?

Another bonus points question.  I'd think the only logical choice for who would attack him is Kane, and since Kane isn't scheduled for a match on the card, maybe Kane has reason to attack him for not signing a match?  Right now it's 75% saying he won't get attacked.

Prediction: No

How many titles will change hands at SummerSlam?

The majority have picked 2 titles as changing hands.  Seems like a safe bet, it's doubtful any of the world titles will change hands (though Hardy would have the biggest chance of causing a change there), and 2 titles are up for grabs in the tag match. 

Prediction: 2

So don't forget to get your predictions in before Sunday!  You have until the time the PPV begins airing!