Matt Hardy went through the SummerSlam card on the latest episode of The Extreme Life, and he has a pick for every match on it.
Brock Lesnar vs. Oba Femi
Hardy sees only one outcome.
“I think this is the match which is going to be considered the blow off. I think this is going to be the final match that helps really solidify Oba Femi. I think it’s going to be a battle. They’ll do some real cool big man stuff. I think it will be a definitive Oba Femi win, and I think Brock is going to do what he can to try and elevate him and make him in this match.”
Asked whether there was any version where Femi loses, he ruled it out.
“I don’t think so. I think at the end of the day, you have to have Oba win this one because of where he’s going to go in the future. It doesn’t get much bigger than Hell in a Cell.”
He would keep it tight.
“I would like to see them go like 10, 12 minutes at least and have a really hard hitting match, drop some big bombs, do some cool stuff, some cool big guy stuff within the cage.”
CM Punk vs. Cody Rhodes
This is his boldest call.
“I think ultimately Cody is going to win the title and their feud will continue.”
He expects the finish to be murky rather than clean.
“I could see some sort of controversial finish. However he ends up winning, I don’t know if it’s flat out like a heel finish where he cheats or it’s nefarious. But I do see something controversial that he takes advantage of.”
The Bella Twins and Paige vs. Fatal Influence
“I would guess in this one you will have the Bella Twins and Paige win. It’ll start a programme between the Bellas and the tag champs.”
Gunther vs. Nick Aldis
“I feel like Gunther has to win this.”
Liv Morgan vs. IYO SKY
“I think Liv Morgan has a successful defence of her title in this match with IYO SKY.”
He explained the reasoning.
“IYO is great as well. I think Liv is kind of hitting that other level as far as even kind of being like a pop culture star, and she’s just doing different things, and I think they see a lot of potential in her to be a crossover star more than just a wrestling superstar.”
LA Knight, Solo Sikoa and Royce Keys vs. Jacob Fatu and The Usos
“I think we see that team, that melting pot of combinations together there with LA Knight and Solo. I think that’s the team that wins.”
Penta vs. Chad Gable
“They’ll have a great match, and I think it is going to be a restart of a push for Chad Gable again. I think Chad Gable wins this match, he wins the IC title, and they start working with him there, and hopefully building him for bigger and better things.”
He sees it as a test.
“The IC title has always kind of been the work rate title in a lot of ways. I feel like they’re going to put him in that role, and they’re going to give him an opportunity. Can he really, as Chad Gable, continue to do compelling stuff that’s going to get people emotionally invested in him?”
Sami Zayn vs. Finn Balor
“I certainly don’t mind this match at all, and I think this is one where they have a very solid, great match, and Sami Zayn wins, and he’s gonna air his grievances about why he didn’t get his match and how he was robbed as champion. He’s a very compelling character that I’m really enjoying now.”
The interim WWE Women’s Championship ladder match
Hardy went back and forth before landing on a name.
“There’s so much talent in there, and I could see them going in a couple different directions. I almost feel like Jade and Charlotte are going to kind of cancel each other out when it’s all said and done. And I think Chelsea is like a sleeper call. I think she could possibly win this, but there’s a part of me that really feels like Tiffany Stratton is going to be the person who ends up winning.”
He would be happy to be wrong about Green.
“I’m a big fan of Chelsea’s stuff. She’s so flexible. She can do anything. I would love to see her get that moment. We’ll see if they end up pulling the trigger and doing that. I would love that for her if she did.”
The fifth spot in the match was decided on Friday’s SmackDown, in a qualifier between Giulia and Lash Legend.
Roman Reigns vs. Seth Rollins
“I do not. I think Roman retains and continues his run.”
SummerSlam runs Saturday, August 1 and Sunday, August 2 from U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.
