WWE SummerSlam: Best matches, picks and one huge Cody Rhodes prediction
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- WWE SummerSlam runs Saturday and Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, airing on ESPN Unlimited at 6 p.m. ET both days with "Countdown" shows starting at 3 p.m.
- Cody Rhodes challenges CM Punk for the Undisputed WWE Championship on Night 1, their first singles bout in 17 years; contributor Fortenbaugh floated a Rhodes heel turn as this summer's answer to last year's "Ruse of the Century" Rollins cash-in.
- Night 1's top matchup is Oba Femi vs. Brock Lesnar in a Hell in a Cell rubber match, picked by three of four experts (Coyle, Fortenbaugh, Saunders); the pair's first two bouts lasted under 12 minutes combined.
- Roman Reigns defends the World Heavyweight Championship against Seth Rollins in Night 2's main event, a 14-year arc dating to The Shield's 2012 Survivor Series debut; Rollins played a decisive role in ending Reigns' 1,316-day title reign at WrestleMania 40.
- Night 2 picks split 2-2: Coyle and Daddio backed Reigns-Rollins, while Fortenbaugh and Saunders sided with Chad Gable challenging Penta for the Intercontinental Championship in Gable's hometown.
- Night 2 undercard also features Trick Williams vs. Baron Corbin for the United States Championship and a five-woman ladder match for the Interim WWE Women's Championship; multiple titles could change hands.
- Three of four contributors — Coyle, Daddio and Saunders — say Brock Lesnar is more likely to wrestle his final match this weekend than Nick Aldis; Fortenbaugh dissented, citing Lesnar's fake WrestleMania retirement in April.
Why it matters: WWE bills SummerSlam as its biggest summer premium live event, and this two-night Minneapolis card both closes the 14-year Reigns-Rollins arc and opens fresh rivalries — Punk and Rhodes haven't met in singles in 17 years. Multiple championships could change hands, with Femi's Hell in a Cell rubber match against Lesnar designed to push Oba to the top level of the card.
