The Piledriver Report 08.17.12: SummerSlam Preview

With WrestleMania far and away the WWE’s marquee show of the year, SummerSlam has been given the distinction of the second most important pay per view of the calendar year. While, I personally believe that the Royal Rumble is the true #2 show each year, the WWE is trying to push SummerSlam as being in that spot.

There is less than a week to go before SummerSlam, and I noticed something different that I haven’t seen over the last few pay per view events. The WWE has announced the full line-up for SummerSlam. There are eight matches that are confirmed for the show. This is a welcome change compared to No Way Out, where we only knew a few matches going into the event. Knowing the card sure makes previewing the event a whole lot easier. Here’s a look ahead to the WWE’s summer spectacular.

UNITED STATES CHAMPIONSHIP

Over the past few pay per view events, the WWE has aired a pre-show match on their You Tube channel. This month, the match features Santino Marella defending his United States championship against former Ring of Honor competitor Antonio Cesaro. The Santino Marella US title reign will be closing in on six months if he can hold the belt for another three weeks. This is very surprising. I never expected his reign to last more than a month. When the fans were wildly behind Zack Ryder, he received a short run with the belt. When Marella, a comedy character, gets the belt, he is given a legitimate title run.

Antonio Cesaro is one of the up and coming talents in the WWE. Right now, it seems that the company is behind Cesaro. That could all change if the WWE decides to implement the usual start-stop push that the federation is famous for. I think it’s time for Marella to drop the title. A US title victory by Antonio Cesaro would be a nice push for the WWE “rookie.” I think it’s time for a change in the US title scene, and Antonio should provide that. WINNER: Antonio Cesaro

INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP

The WWE Intercontinental Championship match will be between Rey Mysterio and the new champion The Miz. While I don’t expect this match to be a show stealer contest, it is one of the matches that I am looking forward to. The Miz vs. Rey Mysterio is a unique match. The two have rarely interacted with one another over the years until the past couple of weeks. Plus, this is one of those types of matches where anyone can win. This match is very hard to predict. Rey Mysterio is one of the WWE’s most popular stars. After coming off his latest injury and suspension, Rey seems like a fresh face. The Miz was also gone for a little while making a movie. The Miz was also in the doghouse for months before he left to make “The Marine 2.” The Miz has still jobbed a number of times since his return. However, he also recently became the Intercontinental champion. Therefore, I think The Miz keeps the belt, but not the match. WINNER: Rey Mysterio by countout/disqualification.

TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP

For the first time since 2009, the Tag Team championship is at stake on a SummerSlam event. Kofi Kingston and R-Truth will be defending the titles against the now manager-less Primetime Players. Kingston and Truth won the titles on the last day of April when they defeated Primo and Epico. Since that time, the tag titles have pretty much been on the back burner. The right for the #1 contender spot has received more importance than the actual belts. Normally, I would think this would be the prime spot for a title change. However, I keep coming back to the same conclusion. Kofi Kingston and R-Truth are higher on the WWE food chain than the Primetime Players. WINNERS: R-Truth and Kofi Kingston.

YES!!! YES!!! YES!!!

The rivalry continues. Earlier this spring when CM Punk and Daniel Bryan were battling one on one, Kane got injected into the feud. With AJ as the spark plug, Punk, Bryan, and Kane feuded over the WWE title. CM Punk has moved on to the Big Show and John Cena. AJ has become the General Manager of RAW. Kane and Daniel Bryan were left holding the pieces. This should be the final match in the Bryan/Kane feud.

Ever since Bryan won the World Heavyweight title last winter, Daniel has been one of the top stars in the industry. We already knew he was one of the best workers in the world, but now the WWE believes in it as well. Unfortunately, Kane is Kane. I’m not a big fan of Kane. However, the WWE seems to think very highly of him. When you look at the two performers, Daniel Bryan is the better worker, the better talker, and the more over of the two. That should mean that Bryan should be put over. However, like I said, Kane is Kane. Unfortunately, that’s not good news for us Daniel Bryan fans. WINNER: Kane

THE SHOW STEALER

I CAN’T WAIT TO SEE THIS MATCH!!!!! If the WWE gives Chris Jericho and Dolph Ziggler enough time, the two performers could earn Match of the Night honors. I can’t say enough about Dolph Ziggler. He has the bumping skills of Curt Henning, the arrogance of a heel Shawn Michaels. His interviews are crisp, and I can’t remember the last time Ziggler had a bad match.

Since returning to the WWE, Chris Jericho hasn’t been the same wrestler as he was during his last stint in the company where he truly was the “best in the world at what he does.” Don’t get me wrong, he’s still pretty damn good. He had a great series of matches with CM Punk. When they had Jericho cut the “your family are drunks” promos against Punk, I couldn’t help but think that if any other performer had that material, it would be horrible. However, Chris Jericho made it awesome.

One of the best things about Chris Jericho is that he has a willingness to put people over. A victory by Dolph Ziggler would probably be a huge step to having Ziggler move up to the next level, and stay there. At the same time, you can only put people over for so long before you start to look like you don’t belong in your spot. That’s the shaky route that Chris Jericho could be heading. That’s why I think the WWE has to throw Chris Jericho a bone here, and give him the victory. WINNER: Chris Jericho

WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE

SPOILER ALERT!!!!! SPOILER ALERT!!!! SPOILER ALERT!!!!! Last week, the SmackDown GM Booker T cancelled the Sheamus vs. Alberto Del Rio World title match. One week later, it’s back on again. For a major championship match on one of the biggest shows of the year, and I’m not looking forward to this match. I don’t know what it is about Alberto Del Rio. A year and a half ago, I thought Del Rio was a main eventer- no questions. While Del Rio is in the main events, I just don’t see him as a true main eventer, ala CM Punk, Randy Orton, or John Cena. It’s because of this that I see the SmackDown! title match as nothing but a secondary title.

As for Sheamus, I must admit that I was wrong about him. After Sheamus beat Daniel Bryan at WrestleMania XXVIII in 18 seconds, and the crowd turned on him, I thought Sheamus was a dead champion walking. I never thought that he would have a successful title reign, and it wasn’t his fault. He has done a great job as champion. Once the WWE moved him away from a feud with Daniel Bryan, the backlash was gone. Sheamus has incredible momentum right now, and I do not see it ending anytime soon. WINNER: Sheamus

WWE CHAMPIONSHIP

The WWE title bout is another match that could go any way. No matter who walks out as the champion, you kind of have a fresh face at the top. John Cena hasn’t held the WWE title in almost a year. The Big Show hasn’t held that belt in almost a decade. Plus, his recent heel turn has made him the unstoppable monster that he should have been pushed as a long time ago. CM Punk has been the WWE champion since the 2011 Survivor Series. In today’s WWE, that’s a Hogan-Bruno type title reign. However, Punk’s title reign still has a lot of legs in it. His reign doesn’t feel stale yet. Plus, his recent break from babyface to tweener to probably heel has been a refreshing change to Punk’s character.

Who wins this match could very well come down to what road the WWE is looking to take. There are currently two rumors circulating. One has CM Punk holding the WWE title until the Royal Rumble where he drops the belt to The Rock. The Rock would then face John Cena in a WrestleMania rematch, where Cena wins the title at Metlife Stadium. The second rumor has John Cena beating Punk and the Big Show for the WWE title at SummerSlam. He then loses the title to The Rock at the Royal Rumble. CM Punk wins the Rumble, and sets up the latest dream match for WrestleMania XXIX where The Rock would defend the belt against CM Punk. Of course, the WWE could throw a wrench into things by giving the belt to the Big Show. I think the WWE goes for route number two. WINNER: John Cena

THE REAL MAIN EVENT

When Brock Lesnar made his return to the WWE the night after WrestleMania XXVIII, it was an incredible moment. In a blink of an eye, he became the most dangerous man in the WWE. His match at Extreme Rules was one of the most unique matches that the WWE ever put on. It was the perfectly brutal match that was only hurt by having John Cena go over Lesnar in the match. Despite the loss, Brock Lesnar moved on to his next victim; Triple H. The angle started out almost as hot as Lesnar’s feud with John Cena. Brock beat the hell out of Triple H and “broke” his arm. Since then, the angle consisted of “lawsuits,” Stephanie McMahon bullying Paul Heyman, and Triple H standing toe to toe and at times getting the better of Brock Lesnar. It wasn’t until this past Monday night when Brock got some of his heat back by “breaking” Shawn Michaels arm.