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The Katz Files – Arnie Katz

SummerSlam: Preview & Predictions!

The Kingfish Arnie Katz gets you ready for WWE’s biggest blockbuster of the summer!.

SummerSlam is the biggest blockbuster of the summer. WWE will never let its fans forget that this show is second only to WrestleMania in its importance. Both of the big belts are at risk and a couple of long-running feuds could be settled.

Let’s look at what’s in store – and what might actually happen at the show:

Kofi Kingston & Mickie James vs. Santino Marella & Beth Phoenix
Intercontinental and Women’s title match.
Winner Takes All

The Story: It all seemed to get rolling when Beth Phoenix fought, and defeated, Santino Marella. That seemed to spark an infatuation on the part of the big-mouthed Italian. Now the pair is an item and they have made common cause against two popular champions. RAW General Manager Mike Adamle decided to put two title fights together into one match – with both titles up for grabs.

My Prediction: I don’t think WWE will want to change two titles this way. Well, at least I hope they wouldn’t. The best way to book this is that Kofi Kingston will set up Marella for the pin, which James will execute to help her and her partner retain the titles.

Predicted Grade: B-

MVP vs. Jeff Hardy

The Story: Jeff Hardy and MVP have traveled a long, hate-filled road together. They have been uneasy partners and merciless foes. It looked like the feud had died down, but Porter has been a thorn in Hardy’s side for the last several weeks. On the Smackdown before SummerSlam, MVP probably cost Jeff the United States Championship. The hit-and-run attacks are over; now they’ll settle it in the ring.

My Prediction: Montel Vontavious Porter has a new look and a new push. That could be bad news for Jeff Hardy, whose own push seems to have wound down a little in the last month. After all his big wins, The Rainbow Warrior should be able to absorb a Tainted Loss to help set up MVP for either a match for the WWE Championship or at least the US title, not too far down the road.

Predicted Grade: B

Mark Henry v Matt Hardy
ECW Championship match

The Story: These two have been at each other’s throats since before the raft Lottery. Hardy wants to get some gold, but Henry certainly has a different slant on the situation.

My Prediction: Mark Henry will retain the title, possibly on a DQ. This won’t be the night’s most thrilling contest, either.

Predicted Grade: C+

Triple H v The Great Khali
WWE Championship Match

The Story: If Triple H thought it would be easy to rule his new domain of Smackdown, he has certainly abandoned that notion. The Punjabi Nightmare wants the title and the Colossus has the size and strength to give the popular champion a lot of trouble.

My Prediction: Triple H will keep the title in a match that features a lot of punching and shoving – and probably some blood. The real question is how they’ll book the match to leave the door open to a re-match in a cage or something like that. The normal approach would be to have Khali win an underhanded victory, but I don’t think HHH will want to take any kind of loss to this guy. One save prediction is that, despite Triple H’s best effort, this won’t be a match for the ages.

Predicted Grade: B-

John Cena vs. Batista

The Story: The reverberations from Ric Flair’s retirement continue to rip through WWE. Batista and John Cena briefly held the tag team titles as skittish allies. This time, they are opponents in a match intended to show which one is better.

My Prediction: The fans have picked (or WWE says they picked; it’s never certain) Cena over Batista. That may eliminate any temptation to give the win to the Animal. The real question, as I see it, is whether WWE wants to give either man a win that will lower the other’s reputation. Much better to have them fight a terrific match and then have Cody Rhodes and Ted DiBiase Jr. interfere and disrupt the match. Having Cena and Batista unite to thrash the tag champs would provide SummerSlam with a very necessary “feel good” moment. My prediction is a “No Contest” or “Double DQ” ending.

Predicted Grade: A

CM Punk vs. JBL
World Heavyweight Championship

The Story: John Bradshaw Leyfield has gunned for the World Heavyweight Championship ever since he put down the microphone and laced up his boots to return to the ring. He has repeatedly called CM Punk a temporary champion and now will try to make his claim real with a title triumph.

My Prediction: Prognosticators can get into trouble banking on WWE to do the right thing, but I believe that’s what they will do in this case. CM Punk is turning into a marketable star, one of the youngest in WWE, and it would be a serious mistake to feed him to JBL. Still, WWE has plans for the Cowboy Financier, so he’s going to look good before he meets defeat via the Go To Sleep.

Predicted Grade: B+

Edge vs. The Undertaker
Hell in a Cell Match

The Story: Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. Vickie Guerrero struck back after Edge cheated on her with Alicia the wedding planner and reinstated Undertaker as an instrument of revenge. Since then, three members of La Familia have bitten the dust, Edge has gone stark raving mad and Vickie Guerrero has screamed, shaken and cried through several episodes of Smackdown Now Edge must step into the cell with the Deadman.

My Prediction: Undertaker is a devoted company man, which is how he gets those long vacations. Still, doing a job in his first match seems like a lot to ask. I predict a lot of booking for this one, possibly involving Ryder, Hawkins and Neely. They will do something that gives Undertaker the margin of victory – and sets up the next leg of the Edge vs. Vickie storyline

Predicted Grade: A

Predicted Grade for SummerSlam: B

The Kingfish Comments: WWE will stake the card on a relatively small group of matches packed with its top talent. I don’t think it will be a very satisfying card, but there’ll be some hot action, especially Hardy-MVP, Cena-Batista and Undertaker-Edge.

I’m ordering a pizza (pepperoni and green peppers) and preparing for an exciting three hours of intense WWW dramatics and action. I just hope Edge doesn’t wheel Vickie Guerrero around in the damn wheelchair for 20 minutes.

That’s it for today. I’ll be back on Monday with another installment of the Internet’s fastest-rising daily wrestling column. I’ll have the recap and analysis of SummerSlam and you’ll be able to laugh at my predictions.

— Arnie Katz
[email protected]
(8/1708)