Tonight (July 18), WWE brings one of their Saturday Night’s Main Event specials to us from the “home court” it shares with the reigning NBA champion New York Knicks, Manhattan’s Madison Square Garden. SNME is exclusive to the Peacock streaming service for those of us in the United States. Everywhere else around the world and despite what WWE.com was saying as of yesterday, its free on YouTube.
Only one championship — Brie Bella and Paige’s Women’s Tag belts, against Fatal Influence — will be on the
line in the four matches that take place MSG tonight. But Sami Zayn and Gunther can earn spots in the SummerSlam WWE title match if they can beat current champ CM Punk and QB1 Cody Rhodes in the main event. Bayley and Lyra Valkyria square off in a match that could tell us something about both wrestlers’ futures. And last but certainly not least, the Very Nice, Very Evil demon-person who uncursed the Knicks before their amazing run to the team’s first title in 53 years known as Danhausen will be in action against Judgment Day’s JD McDonagh.
It’s a big show, so we’ve assembled our motley crew of pro wrestling blowhards to give thoughts & predictions on everything booked for the latest Saturday Night’s Main Event!
Let’s get to it.
CM Punk & Cody Rhodes vs. Sami Zayn & GUNTHER
Geno Mrosko: They telegraphed how this ends with the added stipulation, but it was already pretty clear to begin with. Levels to this. Pick: CM Punk & Cody Rhodes
Sean Rueter: Triple H has a big two-night card to fill out for Minneapolis. He’s not gonna muck up the main event more people seem interested in AND take the Gunther/Aldis match and anything Sami might get up to in the process. They’ll co-exist well enough to pick up a W amidst whatever shenanigans ensue. Pick: CM Punk & Cody Rhodes
Claire Elizabeth: All the ambition in the world can’t keep GUNTHER’s distaste for Sami from bubbling over and keeping the WWE Undisputed Men’s Championship match at SummerSlam a straight one-on-one singles match. Pick: CM Punk & Cody Rhodes
Cain A. Knight: Sami Zayn isn’t a money player after losing the WWE championship in nine days, so he won’t be added to the main event of SummerSlam. Nick Aldis finds a way to screw GUNTHER over here and set up his in-ring return. Pick: CM Punk & Cody Rhodes
Kyle Decker: I predict a rogue Nick Aldis appears to cost two men who have been pains in his ass a potential victory. Pick: Cody Rhodes & CM Punk
Marcus Benjamin: I’m echoing Kyle almost verbatim here. Perfect way to involve Nick Aldis while ensuring the champ and his challenger look good going into the slam of summer. Pick: CM Punk & Codey Rhodes
M. G0MEZ: Rhodes vs. Punk for the undisputed crown feels almost too good to be true for SummerSlam. Adding Gunther and Zayn to the match with a win here lets WWE save that showdown for later. But with SummerSlam ticket sales lagging, I don’t see WWE backing out now. If anything, they need to turn up the heat. Pick: CM Punk & Cody Rhodes, followed by a post-match angle.
Jon Velez-Jackson: The ultimate result of this will set up Cody versus Punk at SummerSlam. My only hope is that we see a Rhodes heel turn, since he’s felt a little stale to me lately. Pick: Sami Zayn & GUNTHER
Josh Jagler: On Friday afternoon, I had Sami and Gunther winning because that would be the best way to drum up interest in Punk vs. Rhodes at Summerslam. Now, I think Punk and Rhodes will likely win. As much as I enjoyed the show-closing angle on Smackdown, I think that was done to get people excited for Saturday Night’s Main Event, and not for a Fatal 4 Way at Summerslam. Pick: CM Punk & Cody Rhodes
Women’s Tag Team championship: Scream Mode (Paige & Brie Bella) (c) vs. Fatal Influence (Fallon Henley & Lainey Reid)
Geno Mrosko: I think a title change here could work really well but I just don’t know that they know what they would do with both Paige and Brie Bella if they did that. So they won’t yet. Pick: Scream Mode
Sean Rueter: Let’s say Nikki’s return allows the champs to retain, and kicks off a storyline that will lead to Fatal Influence winning the belts after Jacy Jayne drives a wedge between the twins and their British friend. Pick: Brie Bella & Paige
Claire Elizabeth: Fatal Influence are hungry and willing to cut a corner or two. Pick: Fatal Influence
Cain A. Knight: I’m getting used to Fatal Influence losing in WWE. Pick: Scream Mode
Kyle Decker: It’s time to get the titles off of Scream Mode. Plus, after a rather hot debut, Fatal Influence has been very stagnant. Shake things up here. Pick: Fatal Influence
Marcus Benjamin: As someone who watched Fatal Influence for a long time, there’s a ton of potential there that seems like it might be realized. Scream Mode is a nice nostalgia act but there’s no real long term reward there. Pick: Fatal Influence
M. G0MEZ: Speaking of shaking things up, this episode of Saturday Night’s Main Event could use an extra jolt. A title change would help, as Fatal Influence begins its takeover of SmackDown. Pick: Fatal Influence
Jon Velez-Jackson: My past predictions involving Brie and Paige has always been for their opponents, so I’m not going to make that mistake again. WWE seems intent on leaving the belts on them for some reason, and hopefully it’s a good one. Pick: Scream Mode
Josh Jagler: Let me start by saying Fatal Influence should win this match. I’m not as down on the Paige and Brie team as many are, but most of the luster Jacy Jayne and company had upon debuting has subsided, and they need to win here to really be taken seriously at all. That said, I just have a sneaking suspicion that Paige and Brie are going to prevail here. Pick: Scream Mode
Bayley vs. Lyra Valkyria
Geno Mrosko: I wouldn’t be surprised if Bayley doesn’t win again. Pick: Lyra Valkyria
Sean Rueter: I’m not any more sold on Lyra’s new heel gimmick than I was on her babyface one, but I’m willing to give it time. Putting the veteran over here will give Valkyria a reason to go even bigger with her character, and get a reaction with the online diehards given the “Davina Rose is All Elite” stuff and how well wrestling fans on the internet often react the results of wrestling matches — particularly ones involving women, for whatever reason(s). Pick: Bayley
Claire Elizabeth: Lyra Valkyria is unchained and that means she’ll be an even stiffer obstacle for the Role Model than you might expect, but I don’t think she’s gotten enough sleep lately to actually pick up the win here. And hey somebody go get her some NyQuil while we’re at it. Pick: Bayley
Cain A. Knight: I expect those “Bayley to AEW” rumors to get louder every time she loses from here on out. Pick: Lyra Valkyria
Kyle Decker: It would be overall unwise to turn Lyra and beat her immediately. I suppose they could if this isn’t the final stop for her heel character, and maybe it is not. But Bayley is putting Lyra over in this feud. Pick: Lyra Valkyria
Marcus Benjamin: I just don’t know what other function Bayley provides in WWE right now outside of enhancing other people. That’s not a bad thing per se, but she’s worth a lot more than that. And there’s no reason for Lyra to lose coming off a big heel turn. Maybe this sets up a SummerSlam match? Maybe this is the end. Either way, Lyra comes out on top. Pick: Lyra Valkyria
M. G0MEZ: For those who haven’t seen Lyra’s new look, picture Sister Abigail after a wild bender with Charlie Sheen. It’s something else, and I love it. The bird lady has clearly gone off the deep end, but she still has farther to fall. That could make her even more unhinged and dangerous, which would only make her more entertaining. Pick: Bayley
Jon Velez-Jackson: Lyra seems like a perfectly nice person, and she’s a very talented wrestler. But this new character doesn’t work for me. Yes, logic would say she’d win in order to further the disheveled bird persona, but I could see her further spiraling if she loses. Maybe her hitting rock bottom is the goal? Maybe? Pick: Bayley
Josh Jagler: It’s simple. To build any kind of heat for the new direction Lyra’s character is taking, she really needs to win here. Besides, a Bayley loss won’t do much to hurt her standing. Pick: Lyra Valkyria
Danhausen vs. JD McDonagh
Geno Mrosko: JD is gonna bump all around and make Danhausen look incredible, despite the obvious limitations. He’s going to deserve an award for what he does here, mark my words. Pick: Danhausen
Sean Rueter: As long as the President doesn’t show up, Big Head McMiniBalor doesn’t stand a chance. Pick: Danhausen
Claire Elizabeth: JD McDonagh’s big head just means there’s more brain to curse, think about it. Pick: Danhausen
Cain A. Knight: Danhausen will remain undefeated in WWE, even if that means the entire New York Knicks championship team has to beat up The Judgment Day in Madison Square Garden. Pick: Danhausen
Kyle Decker: Danhausen is undefeated in MSG. OK, well the one time he was at MSG, the Knicks lost, but we all know the real reason behind that. But from here on out, undefeated in the Garden. Pick: Danhausen
Marcus Benjamin: Come on, man. Danhausen gets this in a walk. Pick: Danhausen
M. G0MEZ: Danhausen didn’t become a big star after uncursing the New York Knicks just so he could do the honors for JD McDonagh in the home of the NBA Champions. C’mon, now. Pick: Danhausen
Jon Velez-Jackson: Mr. Very Nice, Very Evil is not losing in Madison Square Garden with members of the Knicks in the house. Pick: Danhausen
Josh Jagler: There is no planet on which JD McDonagh has any business taking the W here. The intrigue for me centers on who Danhausen will have for backup. Karl Anthony Towns? Braun Strowman? Mike Santana? The possibilities are endless. Pick: Danhausen
That’s who we’ve got. Who are you taking, Cagesiders? Tell us in the comments, and there’s still time to jump into The Feed’s Cagesider-run contest for SNME!
