WWE SummerSlam Saturday Predictions & Picks – Oba Femi To Beat Brock Lesnar In Hell In A Cell

Headlining the show is a dream match that is years in the making – CM Punk vs Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship. The pair never crossed paths during their respective stints in All Elite Wrestling, but as two of WWE’s biggest stars they have been on a collision course ever since Punk made his shocking return in 2023. Punk and Rhodes now finally collide on Saturday night in a matchup that could go down as one of the greats.

But that is not the only blockbuster bout on the card – there is the not so small matter of Oba Femi and Brock Lesnar butting heads in Hell in a Cell. Putting two dominant stars with insane auras in the most dangerous match in WWE history… this has all the makings of an instant classic.

Elsewhere on the card championships will be decided and rivalries will be settled, but who will emerge victorious from Night One of SummerSlam? Here are our predictions for the opening night of the hottest event of the summer:

The WWE teased this match during the Monday Night RAW after WrestleMania, and now it will happen in the headline slot for Night One of the WWE’s second biggest event of the year. But how will it go down?

There is no doubting that Cody Rhodes has been ‘QB1’ for the WWE over the past couple of years. The fans fought for him after he appeared to be bumped from the main event of WrestleMania in 2024, forcing the company to pivot and finally see him ‘end his story’ by become the champion. Since then he has consistently been pushed as the top star in the company – when Roman Reigns isn’t around, of course - and losses have been few and far between.

However, the WWE has only just put the championship back on Punk and it is hard to imagine him having another ridiculously brief run as champion, especially when it feels like this is only the start of the rivalry. We are backing Punk to retain the championship and perhaps spark a heel turn for Cody Rhodes – fan reaction has cooled on him over the past couple of years and a switch to the dark side could reignite the career of ‘The American Nightmare’.

Oba Femi’s dominant win over Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania appeared to be the end of the ‘Beast Incarnate’, but he instead made his shock return a few months later and was able to avenge that loss.

That set up this trilogy bout inside Hell in a Cell, and the simple fact is anything other than an Oba Femi win would be foolish booking. Femi has already captured the imagination of WWE fans after less than a year on the roster, and this is the company’s opportunity to strap a rocket to his back and perhaps propel him into the main event picture for next year’s Mania.

We expect them to take it. Femi will have to walk through fire – this is unlikely to be a short, sharp sprint of a match – but ultimately he will have his hand raised. And if the rumours are true, Lesnar will bid farewell to pro wrestling by retiring in his wrestling ‘home’ of Minnesota.

Liv Morgan is easily the biggest star and most popular star in the women’s division right now – and the WWE knows it. Producing a music video for her entrance theme – which she then performed at WrestleMania – and making her a face of the Unreal series on Netflix, the WWE has a star in Morgan.

IYO SKY remains a popular face too, but this is the “Liv Morgan era” for the women’s division and there is still plenty of meat on the bone in her rivalry with Stephanie Vaquer, which is expected to be renewed at some point in the final few months of the year. Morgan is backed to retain the championship here – don’t be surprised if it involves some Judgement Day shenanigans to get the job done.

Over the past couple of years Gunther has retired John Cena, AJ Styles and Goldberg. Him losing to Smackdown’s general manager is unfathomable. Nick Aldis will have his moments in the match, but the ‘Ring General’ will emerge victorious.

The WWE are leaning into The Bloodline once again, and it is tough to see them ending this storyline anytime soon. By hook or by crook, we expect a win for Jacob Fatu and the Usos as this story rumbles on.

Fatal Influence have made a splash since moving over from NXT to the main roster – but is this really time for them to beat three of the biggest female stars in recent company history? Probably not.