Tossing Salt Presents:
WWE SummerSlam 2023
Thoughts & Predictions
August 3, 2023
DougMaynard.com

Coming up in Detroit this Saturday night is the biggest party of the Summer, WWE SummerSlam, 2023. It’s a packed card, so packed that matches that people want to see, like Becky Lynch versus Trish Stratus, are being left off the card due to time restraints. Hey Tony Khan, are you paying attention? A PPV doesn’t have to run for six hours and feature over a dozen matches. There are alternative options. Now what was I saying?

Oh yeah, it’s WWE SummerSlam and it’s going to be, no doubt, a huge event. The story of The Bloodline and its imminent demise continues, while we also get Brock versus Cody III, several title defenses, possibly Ronda Rousey’s last WWE match, for a while, and so much more. This means it’s time to break out the Magic 8-Ball, the Miss Cleo phone line, and the Gary Spivey fright wig. It’s prediction time. So are you ready? Let’s do this.

Logan Paul vs. Ricochet

This is easily the biggest match of Ricochet’s career and I fully expect it to be a good one that will move him further up the ladder on the WWE roster and allow him to break that glass ceiling. Logan Paul may be a part-timer, but the man is phenomenal and has hit a home run with every appearance for the WWE thus far. I’m looking forward to this match and although it’s not the main event by far, it’s going to be one of the best in a show full of great matches and stories. Logan Paul will win, as he should, but he’s embraced being the heel so well, it won’t be a clean win or an easy one. Ricochet will take Paul to the limit and Paul will end up having to cheat to win. Both men will look great and move forward after this match, and honestly, I hope this isn’t the end of this feud. I want to see more.

Winner: Logan Paul

Ronda Rousey vs. Shayna Baszler

If the rumors and stories about Rousey leaving WWE are true, the outcome is pretty easy to determine. Rousey had a great run and now she’s passing the torch to her friend to carry on the carnage while she moves on with her life. Plus this also gives Ronda a reason to come back in the future, to get even and get some retribution.

Winner: Shayna Baszler

Brock Lesnar vs. Cody Rhodes

I’m surprised that no stipulation has been added to this match, the rubber match, between Brock and Cody Rhodes, but as of this writing, Thursday night, there are none. We have Smackdown to still go tomorrow night so that may change. We’ll have to wait and see. I expect to see Cody win as he continues his efforts to “finish the story”, but my gut says that the story won’t end here. Why did Brock attack Cody in the first place? My spidey sense says that Paul Heyman is involved and that he promised Brock something in return. What did he promise The Beast? And what’s next for Cody after this? More Brock? A fast track to Roman? More issues with Seth? This match is going to be a class in brutality and I expect to see Cody find a way to win. For me though, the bigger story is what follows.

Winner: Cody Rhodes

SummerSlam Battle Royal (Sheamus, LA Knight, Shinsuke Nakamura, Otis, Chad Gable, Tommaso Ciampa)

Only six names have been announced as of right now and I expect the match will be filled out with the rest of the WWE roster tomorrow night on Smackdown. This is the match to give everyone a place on the second biggest show of the year, much like the Andre the Giant Battle Royal at Wrestlemania. I think we all know who is winning this one. I expect to see a strong performance by Bobby Lashley, the winner of the Andre Battle Royal at Mania if he’s even a part (and should be), but the winner? It’s LA Knight’s time to shine.

Winner: LA Knight

Intercontinental Championship: Gunther (c) vs. Drew McIntyre

If Gunther manages to hold on to the Intercontinental Championship until September 7, 2023, he will surpass the record of longest reigning champion, currently held by The Honky Tonk Man. I don’t see him losing that belt anytime soon, especially not when he’s this close. Drew is a great opponent for Gunther and this should be an excellent match, but I haven’t heard anything yet about Drew signing a new deal with WWE. I keep hearing that negotiations are at a standstill, as they have been for a while. With that in mind, plus being so close to Gunther setting the record, I’m pretty sure that Imperium will get involved. Maybe Riddle or Sami and Kevin Owens will as well. And in the chaos, Gunther will find a way to get the pin and retain his title.

Winner and STILL Intercontinental Champion: Gunther

Women’s Championship: Asuka (c) vs. Bianca Belair vs. Charlotte Flair

The odds are against her and I can’t really see a way that Asuka can or will retain her Women’s Championship in this match. I hate that. I don’t want to see Charlotte as the champion again and to be honest, I don’t want to see Bianca anywhere near the title anytime soon. Her character is so fake and stale to me, she needs a major upgrade. Asuka’s reign thus far though has been less than impressive as well and some changes need to be made. Charlotte will most likely win, but I’m going to buck the odds here. Look for Asuka to be the champion she is and find a way to beat the odds. Asuka wins and retains her title.

Winner and STILL Women’s Champion: Asuka

World Heavyweight Championship: Seth Rollins (c) vs. Finn Bálor

I don’t see Seth walking out of SummerSlam still holding the World Championship. He’s been having some back problems and health issues and needs to take a break. The question though is will he lose that World Championship to Finn Balor? Or will it be Senor Money In The Bank, Damian Priest? Finn is Seth’s opponent, but Priest will be there too, to support the leader of the Judgement Day, as will Dominik and Rhea. Anything can happen and most likely, it probably will. I think we’ll see Balor, with the help of Judgement Day, win the belt. And then the tease of Priest and Balor, and how they coexist, will begin.

Winner and NEW World Champion: Finn Balor

Undisputed Universal Championship: Roman Reigns (c) vs. Jey Uso

This is the big one and I honestly have no idea which way it will go. I can’t see Roman losing the belt to Jey Uso, but if it did happen, would anyone be shocked or surprised? That’s one of the reasons this story has been so good for so long. It can honestly go a dozen different directions and it will be good. I’m sure that Solo will be involved and I expect that the “injured” Jimmy Uso will make an appearance as well. Will we get any other members of “the family” showing up and getting involved? It could happen as this is not only for the Universal Championship but also for the role of Tribal Chief so it affects everyone. Anything can happen and probably will. And just to remind everyone that Senor Money In The Bank, Damian Priest, will be in the arena, as will Brock Lesnar. The bottom line, it’s going to be a spectacle for the ages. And as for the match, I think Roman wins.

Winner and STILL WWE Universal Champion and Tribal Chief: Roman Reigns

And there you go, my predictions for WWE SummerSlam 2023. So what are your predictions and thoughts? Will we see a new Tribal Chief? Any new champions? Let me know what you’re thinking in the comments or at my e-mail of Doug28352@yahoo.com, along with any other thoughts, comments, or questions. Thanks for reading. Share, subscribe, and like. Thank you. And with that, let’s wrap this up. Take care and be well, my friends. Watch out for attacks in the parking lot and I’ll see you at SummerSlam.

Ubuntu!