WWE SummerSlam 2020 Betting Preview, Odds and Predictions

On Sunday, August 23^rd, the WWE will be live from the Amway Center in Orlando, Florida, for the 33^rd installment of their annual summer tradition – SummerSlam. This will be the first big event that the WWE has held outside of their Performance Center in recent months.

The venue is being dubbed the ThunderDome and I’ll get into this shortly. Just about all of WWE’s championship belts will be up for grabs at Sunday’s show. Currently, as of this publication which is prior to the August 21^st episode of SmackDown, there are eight matches listed for SummerSlam.

As always, the WWE will add last minute matches especially on their Kickoff Show, which should begin at least an hour prior to the main card start time of 7PM ET on the WWE Network.

Without further delay, cue my music as we walk that aisle, step through the ring ropes and make some SummerSlam betting predictions based on the available odds courtesy of the best online sports betting sites.

What is the ThunderDome?

The ThunderDome will be similar to what the NBA has done by placing LED video boards all around the ring. These boards will have fans watching the show from their homes. WWE fans will sign up through the company’s official site to get selected for the honor of having one of these “virtual seats.”

Furthermore, the dome will include a new set, special effects, fireworks, and “cutting edge” graphics. There’s also reports of drone cameras being used for SummerSlam. In other words, the WWE is going all out to make this event as engaging, innovative and exciting as possible during the “no fan era.”

Hair vs Hair Match

• Mandy Rose (-750)
• Sonya Deville (+400)

Since the beginning of 2020, former tag team partners Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville have been involved in a storyline that eventually led to their split. Rose joined with her “boyfriend” Otis while Deville was left seething over this outcome.

The feud heated up once summertime hit, which peaked with a backstage attack where Deville cut some of Mandy’s hair. Eventually, Rose would challenge Deville to a hair vs hair match for SummerSlam and Sonya accepted.

Even if Rose shaved her head bald, there would still be millions of fans enamored with her just like Otis. With that said, I don’t see Rose losing this match. Hopefully, she picks up the win and ends this feud. It’s time for both wrestlers to go on to other storylines.

On a serious note, that was scary stuff with what happened to Sonya Deville over the weekend. A deranged psycho broke into her house and attempted to kidnap her. Thankfully, she escaped before he could find her.

RAW Tag Title Match

• (c)The Street Profits (+110)
• Andrade and Angel Garza (-150)

The WWE has basically given three tag teams air time on RAW: The Vikings, Street Profits, and Vega’s duo. It really has become awful with how bad the tag team division is not only for RAW, but for all of WWE. And, when you compare it to AEW, it’s downright embarrassing.

As for this match, Andrade and Garza should’ve captured these belts months ago. The WWE has had this duo spin their wheels for far too long. They are too talented to be overlooked another week.

This is a perfect opportunity to put the belts on a new due and get some fresh feuds going in the tag-team division. The Street Profits’ gimmick has worn thin and they’ve become stale.

I’m taking the challengers to take down the champs and go on a lengthy run with the RAW tag belts.

The Asuka Double Header

• Asuka (-125) vs (c)Bayley (-110)
• Asuka (-150) vs (c)Sasha Banks (+110)

The Asuka vs Bayley and Banks feud has been entertaining over the last few months. At Extreme Rules Banks stole the belt from Asuka, but was forced to fight her again on RAW. With help from Bayley attacking Asuka’s bestie Kairi Sane, Banks would end up winning the match and the RAW title.

However, Asuka would demand a rematch. Banks said that the only way Asuka would get a rematch is if she beat Bayley, which she did. The victory secured Asuka with a title shot for the RAW women’s belt at SummerSlam.

For Bayley, she was left without an opponent for SummerSlam. So, a battle royal was held for competitors from all three shows with the winner getting a SmackDown women’s title shot. Asuka was the surprise entrant and ended up winning the battle royal.

I found it enjoyable to see Asuka win the battle royal and get two title matches at SummerSlam. The WWE could have Asuka win both belts, win one belt, or lose both matches. This intrigue has me wanting to see the two matches even more. Plus, Asuka vs Banks could steal another major show.

What I predict will happen is that Asuka beats Banks for the RAW title, but loses to Bayley for the SmackDown belt. This will continue the seeds of a breakup between Banks and Bayley.

Plus, Asuka is on RAW so it makes more sense to have her win the belt that Becky gave to her when Lynch left due to a pregnancy. I’m expecting this trio of women to put on a great performance at SummerSlam.

U.S. Title Match

• (c)Apollo Crews (-188)
• MVP (+135)

Here’s another match, like Rose vs Seville, where I hope SummerSlam brings a conclusion to the storyline. The feud started off on a solid note with Apollo rejecting MVP’s invitation to join his posse.

The rejection led to MVP and Lashley attacking Crews. Eventually, MVP would claim he was the US champ since Crews was unable to compete in their match at Extreme Rules. MVP introduced a new US title at that show. When Crews returned, he would beat MVP for that new title on the August 3^rd episode of RAW.

MVP demanded a rematch and got it. However, this storyline has gone on for over two months now and it’s time for it to end. The Hurt Business (Lashley, MVP, Benjamin) need a new feud that will continue to put them over. This storyline has served its purpose in getting both sides “over,” but it needs to end.

With that said, I expect Crews to win this match via pinfall. MVP is not a full time competitor anymore. Instead, he’s more of a mouthpiece and manager for other stars that lack on the mic like Lashley and Benjamin.

I like The Hurt Business faction and think WWE could do a lot more with them once this storyline is over. Take Crews to retain the belt and move on to another feud either with Lashley or someone else.

WWE RAW Street Fight

• Dominik Mysterio (-105)
• Seth Rollins (-133)

I give WWE credit for making fans care about Dominik Mysterio considering how inferior he looks in the ring to Murphy and Seth Rollins. And, I give them credit for how the storyline evolved from Rey Mysterio “losing an eye” to Dominik’s revenge and quest for family honor.

With that said, there’s no way the WWE can have Dominik win even if a one eyed Rey is there to help his son out. Dominik will get in plenty of offense, but Rollins has to win this match. He’s too big of a star to lose to Rey Mysterio’s son, who at one time was believed to be the son of Eddie Guerrero. RIP Eddie!

This match will be filled with chaos. I wouldn’t be surprised if Samoa Joe gets involved at some point either to save the Mysterios or to cost Rollins the match.

Smart money is to take Rollins in a moneyline bet and for him to move on into a bigtime feud with Samoa Joe or another competitor of that level.

Universal Championship Match

• (c)Braun Strowman (+150)
• The Fiend (-210)

In the rubber match of this feud, Strowman will defend the title against Wyatt’s third persona – The Fiend. Braun beat the Funhouse Bray Wyatt at Money in the Bank. Strowman “lost” to the “Eater of Worlds” Bray Wyatt in a Wyatt Swamp Fight at Extreme Rules.

Now, the duo will face off one more time, but for the Universal Title at SummerSlam where The Fiend is favored to win.

Since May, the rumors were that all three personalities of Wyatt would be on display in an ongoing feud against Braun Strowman with The Fiend ultimately winning the belt from “The Monster Among Men.”

As of now, I see no reason to think that The Fiend won’t win. Strowman was a nice surprise to take the belt off of Goldberg at WrestleMania, but his title reign has been uninspiring. The Fiend would be able to put some excitement and mystery back into the belt and SmackDown as a whole.

Plus, The Fiend should’ve never lost the belt to Goldberg in the first place. That was still one of the stupidest moves that the WWE has made in the last few years.

On a side note, Alexa Bliss could play a part in this match. She appeared as “Sister Abigail” in a Strowman hallucination during the Wyatt Swamp Fight match. Then she was involved in physical confrontations by both The Fiend and former tag partner Strowman.

I think Bliss will somehow help The Fiend to win the belt. Hopefully soon, we will get a big title celebration in an upcoming episode of the Firefly Funhouse.

WWE Championship Match

• (c)Drew McIntyre (+125)
• Randy Orton (-175)

When was the last time Randy Orton was this “over” with fans and critics?

From his feud with Edge to destroying legends to taking on McIntyre, Orton hasn’t been this great in many years. In fact, some would say that this is Orton’s best work.

McIntyre has vanquished every foe in his way dating back to the Royal Rumble in January. He ended Brock’s title reign at WM 36 and dominated challengers like Lashley and Ziggler. Yet, Orton has gotten the best of McIntyre over the last few weeks.

In addition to putting Edge on the shelf, Orton has also savagely taken out Christian, The Big Show, Ric Flair and Shawn Michaels. He’s reestablished himself as one of the top heels in the company and is poised to win his first world title since 2017 when he beat Wyatt at WM 33 for the WWE Championship.

Combined, Orton has held WWE’s top two titles 13 times. He’s looking to capture the WWE championship for a 10^th time and break a tie with Triple H for the second most number of reigns. John Cena holds the record with 13 WWE championship reigns.

One of two things will happen with this match either Orton cheats to win and the feud continues or McIntyre wins and he moves on to another storyline.

I hate to say it, but I think the WWE is going to put the belt on Orton. I don’t say this due to disliking Orton, but more because I don’t want McIntyre to lose the belt. But, with sagging ratings which are not McIntyre’s fault, I think the WWE will want some buzz and that will happen when Orton wins.

I’m taking Randy Orton to capture his 14^th world title and for this storyline to continue for at least another month as McIntyre chases after the gold.