WWE SummerSlam 2023 – Match card, predictions, rumours and start time
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
After a stonking Money in the Bank which saw Roman Reigns's first defeat in a squillion years and two massive ladder matches, we're as ready as we'll ever be for SummerSlam 2023.
It's not quite WrestleMania, but the WWE has great form for pulling out the big guns when it comes to SummerSlam match cards, and this year is no exception.
Related: Is wrestling real or fake? All your WWE questions answered
Leading the line is what surely must be near the endgame of the Bloodline's story, as Jey Uso faces Roman Reigns for not just the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship, but also recognition as the Tribal Chief.
One of the biggest matches of the night doesn't even have any gold on the line: the final part of the bruising trilogy between Cody Rhodes and Brock Lesnar.
It's one win apiece as we stand, and if Cody is to make good on his goal of winning the one that always eluded Dusty, he'll surely have to put away the Beast Incarnate.
Related: Who should dethrone Roman Reigns as Undisputed WWE Universal Champion?
There's also the not-so small matter of another World Heavyweight Championship defence for Seth 'Freakin' Rollins as he seeks to make his debut reign one for the ages, while the battle for the WWE Women's Championship is as starry as we can remember.
And there's much, much more, besides.
WWE SummerSlam 2023 takes place at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan on Saturday, August 5, 2023 with a start time of 8pm ET/5pm PT (1am in the UK)
A one hour kick-off show starts at 7pm ET/4pm PT (Midnight in the UK).
What's the full match card and predictions for WWE SummerSlam 2023?
Undisputed WWE Universal Championship: Roman Reigns (c) vs Jey Uso [Tribal Combat]
Look, if you've already skimmed to the bottom of this prediction you'll think we've lost our marbles.
Roman Reigns, losing to Jey Uso, at an event that isn't even WrestleMania?
Hear us out.
Roman Reigns has already lost the backing of The Bloodline. He's been pinned. In recent weeks and months his sheen of invincibility has all-but disappeared.
There's a packed locker room with bones to pick with him.
It feels like it's time, and while it looked like Sami Zayn or Cody Rhodes would be The One, in the end it was always, always going to come down to an internal family battle.
Three years after their last battle for the then-Universal Championship, we're back where we're started, and this time, with all-but Solo Sikoa and the mercurial Paul Heyman gone from his side, we're gonna get a different ending.
PREDICTION: Jey Uso
WWE Women's Championship: Asuka (c) vs Charlotte Flair vs Bianca Belair [Triple Threat Match]
It's hard to think of a title match with as much star power as this in recent years. Certainly not without Becky Lynch involved.
Asuka has edged out in front of the rest of the field and more than earned her position in this title reign.
But a Triple Threat match means champions' advantage is out the window, and both the ex-champs she's taking on will feel confident of making the most of that.
We're opting for Charlotte Flair , because if there's anyone who knows how to play the odds and pick up the pieces to steal some gold, it's a Flair.
PREDICTION: Charlotte Flair
World Heavyweight Championship: Seth 'Freakin' Rollins vs Finn Bálor
This match doesn't need any outside actors to make it interesting.
Both Seth Rollins and Finn Balor can drag a top-class match out of anyone, and there's plenty of individual history here to take things up a notch.
Seth will be looking to make a statement with this title reign and won't want it to end any time soon, while Finn has been working his way up to some serious gold for what feels like years now after his injury troubles.
But on top of all that, you've got the swirling war in the Judgement Day. Will Dom be on hand to help out Balor? Will Damian Priest wait his turn before cashing in, or shock everyone and do it in the middle of this match?
It's hard to predict, but we're guessing that Damian will get involved, and Seth will, in the short term at least, be the one who benefits.
PREDICTION: Seth 'Freakin' Rollins
WWE Intercontinental Championship: Gunther (c) vs Drew McIntyre
Gunther has been almost comfortable as Intercontinental Champion for the squillion odd months he's held onto this belt.
He's beaten challengers big and small, but it feels like for maybe the first time in his lengthy reign, stuff is about to get incredibly real.
Drew McIntyre isn't just a powerhouse strongman who is every bit the equal of Gunther in the ring.
He's also a multi-time champion and the man who dethroned Brock Lesnar clean as a whistle at WrestleMania.
And yet...
We still, still can't see Gunther being knocked off his incredibly massive perch this time around.
It won't be pretty. It may not even be clean, but - for now at least - we're betting on the artist formerly known as Walter to do the business one last time.
PREDICTION: Gunther
Cody Rhodes vs Brock Lesnar
As we already suggested, Cody Rhodes needs this win.
Anything less than a comprehensive defeat of Brock Lesnar will push him to the back of the line in the hunt for the title, and despite the unfairness of his loss to Roman Reigns, it's only putting away big Beasts that will get him another chance there.
But Brock, bulletproof though he is, also needs a victory.
Only Roman Reigns, Goldberg and The Undertaker have had the better of him (and even there he often had the upper hand and also ended up on top for the latter).
Losing this series won't put him on the scrapheap, but will certainly be a chink in his armour that others will look to exploit.
So everything's up for grabs, and we can't look past the American Nightmare's raw hunger and desire getting him over the finish line.
PREDICTION: Cody Rhodes
Ronda Rousey vs Shayna Baszler
Ronda Rousey burst onto the WWE scene with such an impressive splash, maybe we were always going to be disappointed in the end.
In her first run there were ups, downs and roundabouts, but it all ended with a whimper.
This time around she's been treading water and looking eager to leave, truth be told.
With all that said, when she really goes for it, there are genuinely few with the raw talent she has in the ring.
It just so happens that one of those is her friend and former mentor Shayna Bazler, and unlike Ronda, Shayna never seems to take her eye off the ball for a second.
So we're going for Shayna, but we're also betting on this one being a much, much better match than many would expect, and one that reminds us all just how good Ronda Rousey can be.
PREDICTION: Shayna Baszler
SummerSlam Battle Royale
Participants:
LA Knight
Sheamus
What do you call a SummerSlam Battle Royale won by LA Knight in Detroit?
A SummerSlam Battle Royale with Cheese!
We can't wait, though!
PREDICTION: LA Knight
What date and start time is WWE SummerSlam 2023 the UK?
WWE SummerSlam 2023 takes place in the UK at 1am on Sunday, August 6.
A one-hour kick-off show starts at Midnight.
What date and start time is WWE SummerSlam 2023 in the US?
WWE SummerSlam 2023 has a projected start time of 8pm ET/5pm PT on Saturday, August 5
A one-hour kick-off show starts at 7pm ET / 4pm PT.
How do I watch WWE SummerSlam 2023 ?
The venue for WWE SummerSlam 2023 is the Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan and tickets are available now.
If you're not going in person, you can watch on the WWE Network (direct in the UK, or via Peacock in the US), which we highly recommend, or if you don't have a fast and reliable internet connection, the more traditional – and expensive – pay-per-view.
How do I live stream WWE SummerSlam 2023 on the WWE Network?
To watch the premium tier for live PPVs, which includes WWE SummerSlam 2023, the WWE Network is priced at £9.99 per month in the UK – first-time subscribers get a month free.
You can access it via the following platforms and devices – click for info on how to access with each app:
In the US, to access the WWE Network you need to subscribe to Peacock after the WWE signed a deal in 2021 to give the NBC service exclusive access. It'll only set you back $4.99, and you get oodles of other content too.
You can sign up for Peacock here.
How do I watch WWE SummerSlam 2023 on WWE pay-per-view in the UK?
You can buy WWE PPVs in the UK via BT Sport Box Office, after a deal was struck in 2019 that saw UK broadcast rights for WWE move from Sky to BT Sport starting January 2020.
How do I watch WWE SummerSlam 2023 on WWE pay-per-view in the US?
You can only watch WWE PPVs in the US via Peacock.
What are your predictions for WWE SummerSlam 2023?
Let us know at @digitalspywwe. Catch up on Raw, Smackdown, NXT and all the big WWE action via the WWE Network or BT Sport.
You Might Also Like
