Q: What, if anything, would prevent Shinsuke Nakamura from finding as much success on the main roster as he did in NXT?
KB: Shinsuke Nakamura is a charismatic force and a great performer, but he will never be able to keep up with the better mic workers in WWE. If he does not put his full effort into his matches, which was sometimes a concern in NXT, he could well fail to connect with fans. In NXT, he got away with performing at less than his best sometimes, but that doesn’t work on the main roster.
Prediction: Nakamura shows off his full range in an impressive debut, ending with a clean victory.
AM: His biggest hurdles will be the fans who like to be different just for the sake of going against the majority, along with his struggles on the mic. Promos are far more important on Raw and SmackDown than in NXT, and with it being a live environment, there isn’t much room for error. If Nakamura doesn’t resonate with the crowd from the start, he’ll have detractors who will call him overrated. And since he’ll have difficulty establishing a character beyond “entertaining wrestler who is weird at face value” as his gimmick, he won’t win over those people.
Prediction: Shinsuke Nakamura for the win.
EB: WWE CEO Vince McMahon’s failure to get Shinsuke Nakamura and his appeal is the only thing that will keep him from finding that success. Nakamura’s charisma is natural, in abundance and also unique. It is not verbal, like The Rock’s, and he does not have John Cena’s movie-star good looks, which lure mass audiences. Nakamura oozes personality, but not necessarily a way McMahon is likely to understand. If that happens, and he does not see what makes The King of Strong Style so special, his push could be slowed. Given the effort and promotion put into him, what with his position as the face of the Backlash pay-per-view, it appears as though even McMahon cannot deny the power of the former NXT champion.
Prediction: Shinsuke Nakamura.
RD: If WWE gives Nakamura a goofy shtick or sticks him in melodramatic romantic angles, he’s going to sink, even as charismatic as he his. If WWE believes in him and tries to sell him as a badass as well as a showman, he’s headed for big things.
Prediction: Nakamura wins in dominant fashion.
CM: The biggest problem he might face is overexposure. Nakamura only had to make two or three monthly appearances in NXT, but he is going to be expected to be at every SmackDown and PPV. Some fans might not enjoy his gimmick if he doesn’t find new ways to evolve.
Prediction: Nakamura wins, but Ziggler gets the last laugh with a post-match attack to keep the feud going through to the next PPV.
Naomi, Charlotte Flair and Becky Lynch vs. Carmella, Tamina and Natalya
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Q: Does it matter if there is a women’s title match on every PPV if the belt is being defended on TV regularly? Why or why not?
KB: Only PPV contests get the time and spotlight necessary to showcase talent properly, and singles matches for the Women’s Championship are the premier showcase of the female competitors in WWE. It would cast a negative light on the talent and division if the title were not most often defended on PPV. This six-woman tag is a rare exception, as it has a well-built story behind it, but it cannot be the norm.
Prediction: Naomi, Charlotte Flair and Becky finally gain revenge when Charlotte pins Tamina.
AM: In the grand scheme of things, it doesn’t matter. If Naomi keeps the title long enough and has a few decent feuds in the process, people won’t shun her for having a bad run. Nor will it matter if those matches take place on SmackDown or on pay-per-view. Still, this match seems more like a television main event than a special match someone should pay to see.
Prediction: The idea of The Welcoming Committee winning to set up Charlotte turning on her teammates in anger after the match seems too much up WWE’s alley not to assume that’s where we’re heading.
EB: It matters for the same reason it matters if every belt is defended on pay-per-view. Theoretically speaking, PPVs are the culmination of a period of time’s storytelling. They are more prestigious than television events, the important shows on which titles are to be defended as the culmination of weeks of build. The women’s title, if we are to buy into the Women’s Revolution, should be treated as equal to the men’s titles. All of those are being defended regardless of whether they are contested on TV.
Prediction: Naomi, Charlotte and Becky Lynch.
RD: Not with as many PPVs as WWE has. It’s nice to take a break from the focus on the title as it leads to fresh matchups. Raw ran the Flair-Sasha Banks rivalry into the ground. It’s easy to fall into that trap.
Prediction: The Welcoming Committee gets the win after the babyfaces bicker.
CM: Not when it comes to the B-level PPVs, but the women’s champion from each brand should be showcased at the big four events. It would be a mistake to go two PPVs without a title match, but one every so often isn’t a big deal if the match we get in its place serves a greater storyline.
Prediction: Natalya, Carmella and Tamina get the win.
The Usos vs. Breezango (Tag Titles)
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Q: What does Breezango have to do to continue building on the momentum from Fashion Files?
KB: Fandango and Tyler Breeze need to stay in the spotlight more than anything. The Fashion Files have proved they are entertainers who can make the most out of the least. Even if they lose this feud, they should continue to impress as long as they don’t fall into SmackDown’s typical trap of only showing off a few teams in the division at a time while the rest disappear.
Prediction: The Usos manage to escape with a win by avoiding Breezango’s finisher and double-teaming Fandango.
AM: Quantity and quality. The more of these segments and the funnier they can be, the better. Also, Breezango’s matches themselves need to adhere to the same principle. The more they’re seen and the more they win decent matches, the likelihood people will take them seriously increases.
Prediction: The Usos retain the titles.
EB: Breezango can survive a loss Sunday with the continuation of the backstage vignettes and the attention of WWE Creative. Heath Slater and Rhyno got over through a series of sketches, but the writing team lost interest and their title reign descended into mediocrity. If Breeze and Fandango can keep the attention of management and continue with their quality vignettes, they can maintain momentum.
Prediction: The Usos.
RD: As long as they are inventive and keep finding new comedic avenues a la The New Day, Breeze and Fandango will continue be one of the highlights of SmackDown.
Prediction: Breezango win the titles.
CM: Breeze and Fandango are both talented wrestlers, and each brings something different to the table. But their recent comedic work has been their saving grace. As long as they can continue to make us laugh, they will be in the hunt for the titles.
Prediction: The Usos retain by cheating, securing Breezango another title shot in the future.
Kevin Owens vs. AJ Styles (U.S. Title)
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Q: Which one of these Superstars would you rather see fight for the WWE title at SummerSlam and why?
KB: It’s hard to pass up on a major Styles match. A bout between him and Orton is a money match that has largely been protected, and it would be a certain show-stealer. Even if The Viper has lost the title by that time, Styles will always be a good matchup for any wrestler in WWE, bringing out his opponent’s best.
Prediction: KO steals a win from Styles to continue this feud.
AM: Since I think AJ Styles will be facing Shinsuke Nakamura at WrestleMania next year, I’d like to see Randy Orton face Styles at SummerSlam. That leaves open the possibility that Orton and Owens can have a WrestleMania feud, which could be an underrated program if they’re allowed to go all out. Plus, Styles vs. Orton could be one of the best matches of the year.
Prediction: Kevin Owens takes it.
EB: AJ Styles, because he is the best wrestler on the planet and any time he steps out of the WWE Championship picture, it feels like a step down. That is the level of performer he is. Owens can hold down the midcard and be largely unaffected. Styles always feels like he deserves more when he isn’t at the top of the card.
Prediction: AJ Styles by disqualification.
RD: Styles. WWE needs to capitalize on Styles’ momentum, allowing him to follow up on his MVP-level year. Owens, meanwhile, can continue to bring attention to the U.S. title.
Prediction: Owens retains.
CM: In a perfect world, they would be facing each other for the title, but if forced to pick one, it has to be Styles. He can get a great match out of anybody on the roster, and when he is facing someone on his level, he steals the show every time.
Prediction: Kevin Owens retains.
Tye Dillinger vs. Aiden English
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Q: How do you see the rest of 2017 playing out for Aiden English based on what we have seen so far?
KB: Aiden English has some potential in the midcard, but it would be surprising to see him find much success, as he is the classic over-the-top heel who only plays jobber in WWE. He will eventually get a shot at a midcard championship, but it would be surprising to see that come anytime soon unless WWE’s plan for English is larger than it has let on.
Prediction: English rolls up Dillinger and spends the rest of the night celebrating backstage as if won the WWE Championship.
AM: Poorly, to say the least. For months, he was stuck in quicksand as the other half of The Vaudevillains next to Simon Gotch, who was in the doghouse for what felt like forever. Following Gotch’s release in April, there was a chance English could have turned into the skid, but he fell back into his old character before being saddled with the responsibility of being a comedic jobber. This is never a good trajectory, so the rest of 2017 will probably consist of sporadic appearances that see him lose and nothing more.
Prediction: Tye Dillinger wins and the crowd is more interested in his entrance than anything else going on in the match.
EB: Aiden English will remain a glorified jobber, the Curt Hawkins of the SmackDown Live roster, until someone behind the scenes gives him a chance to prove himself.
Prediction: Tye Dillinger.
RD: He’s likely to fade into the background soon. WWE has shown little commitment to him. Tye Dillinger is going to take him down—and so too will English’s next foil. The Artist is sure to be SmackDown’s version of Bo Dallas.
Prediction: Dillinger wins easily. English loses it.
CM: English could be a good midcard heel, but he has to ditch the crying-and-singing gimmick. As long as he has those anchors around his neck, he will be stuck where he is. Finding someone else in a similar position and forming a tag team in NXT could be what he needs to revitalize himself.
Prediction: Dillinger gets the win.
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Randy Orton vs. Jinder Mahal (WWE Championship)
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Q: What are your thoughts on Jinder Mahal’s main event push thus far?
KB: Jinder Mahal has rarely been impressive over the years, but he has had some underrated moments, including his match against Seth Rollins for the NXT Championship and his deadpan comedy early on in 3MB. This past month has seen the best work of his career, and the storytelling has been fun to watch. I still wonder whether he can put on a main event-level performance in the ring, but I’m willing to give him a chance.
Prediction: Orton wins with an RKO out of nowhere just as it looks like the Singh Brothers have given Mahal the edge he needs for victory.
AM: At first, it was a shock. Very quickly after, it started to feel too manufactured and not legitimate enough to believe in. I feel like this is a one-off that isn’t going to amount to all that much, although it certainly doesn’t hurt Mahal. This feels similar to R-Truth’s title match with John Cena at Capitol Punishment and less like the dawning of a new main event star.
Prediction: Randy Orton retains.
EB: Jinder Mahal’s push has been an unmitigated failure. Two months in, and the company’s writing team has yet to give fans a reason as to why he should be taken seriously. He never wins cleanly, having to cheat to beat every opponent. Before you come back with “heels cheat—it’s what they do,” a heel is due at least one or two convincing victories. Mahal was not even allowed to beat Sami freaking Zayn by himself, something it feels like everyone and their mother has accomplished.
Prediction: Randy Orton.
RD: Mahal and his entourage’s act feels incomplete, largely because of the hurried nature of his rise. It’s been refreshing to see someone new in a prime-time spot, but it’s also been hard to buy into Mahal as a threat after years of floundering.
Prediction: Orton wins.
CM: Mahal’s push is like an RKO in that it came out of nowhere, but you can’t fault him for taking an opportunity and running with it. Even if he loses at Backlash, he will come out of it with more momentum than he has ever had in his career. Sunday is his chance to prove himself to the world. Hopefully he surprises his critics and knocks it out of the park.
Prediction: I am going to go against logic and say Mahal wins the title just so I can claim to be a genius if it happens.
