This Sunday (July 9), Monday Night Raw hosts its biggest Pay-Per-View since before WrestleMania 33: Great Balls of Fire. While the name of the event tends to get made fun of, the card is stacked from top to bottom. There is a match between former best friends, and Ambulance Match, and a Universal Championship match between Brock Lesnar and Samoa Joe. Let’s take a look at the matches and as always, who we predict will win.
Seth Rollins vs. Bray Wyatt
Out of all the matches on the card, this one has the worst build. In a one-off interview with Charly Caruso, Seth Rollins was asked his opinion on Bray Wyatt and Rollins called him a “false prophet” among other things. They have gone back and forth for a bit over whether or not Wyatt is a God like he claims, but other than that, there is no build for this match at all.
Prediction:
There is no clear direction for where this could go, so based on win-loss records, it looks like Seth Rollins has this in the bag. Winner: Seth Rollins
Enzo Amore vs. Big Cass
For three years dating back to NXT, Enzo Amore and Big Cass were tag team partners (and friends long before that). They entertained crowds the entire time with their charisma, fun matches, and “SAWFT” chant. However, they never won any championships. Big Cass hated this fact and get fed up with Amore “running his mouth” without it getting them anywhere. Cass decided that out of the two of them that he is the star, so he attacked his former best friend.
Prediction:
Enzo Amore has the WWE Universe on his side, and rightfully so after his promo on Raw last week. Unfortunately for him, Cass was right. In most of their matches, Amore would get beaten up until Cass could take care of business. Now that they are opposing each other, the odds are in Cass’ favor. Winner: Big Cass
Roman Reigns vs. Braun Strowman – Ambulance Match
Braun Strowman was injured a month ago during a backstage brawl with Roman Reigns involving an ambulance. A couple weeks ago, Strowman returned from injury several months earlier than expected and attacked Reigns, putting him in an ambulance afterward. Strowman then challenged Reigns to an Ambulance Match and the two have been brawling every week since.
Prediction:
It is always a safe bet to go with Roman Reigns, but recently, Reigns has not had such a good record, especially compared to Strowman. Strowman easily tosses Reigns around and this Sunday, he will toss Reigns right into the ambulance. Winner: Braun Strowman
Neville (c) vs. Akira Tozawa – WWE Cruiserweight Championship
For weeks, Titus O’Neil had been trying to get Akira Tozawa to join Titus Worldwide (formerly known as the Titus Brand). Tozawa seemed more confused about joining than opposed to it until O’Neil came through by getting him a Cruiserweight Championship match. Neville has been unstoppable since becoming Cruiserweight Champion, but O’Neil believes in the “Powa of Tozawa.”
Prediction:
The only Cruiserweight other than Neville who has been incredibly dominant is Akira Tozawa. Since he started getting the better of Brian Kendrick, he has been on a roll that seems unstoppable. It seems like the perfect time to crown a new Cruiserweight Champion and give Titus Worldwide some success. Winner, and NEW Cruiserweight Champion: Akira Tozawa
Sheamus & Cesaro (c) vs. The Hardy Boyz – Raw Tag Team Championships (Iron Man Match)
At Extreme Rules, Sheamus and Cesaro captured the Raw Tag Team Championships from the Hardy Boyz in a Steel Cage Match. The following night on Raw, Matt and Jeff Hardy had their rematch for the titles in a 2 Out of 3 Falls Match, but it ended in a double count-out. To finish things once and for all (unless the Hardys regain the belts), Kurt Angle decided to implement the very rare Tag Team Iron Man Match.
Prediction:
Sheamus and Cesaro proved why they were going to win in one simple sentence. Sheamus and Cesaro are built to last in long matches, and while the Hardys might be as well, their age is going to get the best of them against two of the most physical Superstars on the roster. Winners, and STILL Raw Tag Team Champions: Sheamus & Cesaro
The Miz (c) vs. Dean Ambrose – Intercontinental Championship
Thanks to an unusual rule that would have stripped Dean Ambrose of the Intercontinental Championship if he got disqualified, The Miz used Ambrose’s tentativeness to gain his seventh Intercontinental title. For the past few weeks, Ambrose has been inadvertently ruining the marriage of The Miz and Maryse, so Miz convinced Curtis Axel and Bo Dallas to be his Miz-tourage.
Prediction:
The Miz is a seven-time Intercontinental Champion for a reason: he’s smart. He knows exactly how to get the better of his opponent and take advantage of the situation he is in. With three people in his corner for his title defense, he should retain without any problem. Winner, and STILL Intercontinental Champion: The Miz
Alexa Bliss (c) vs. Sasha Banks – Raw Women’s Championship
It seemed certain that Nia Jax was going to dethrone Alexa Bliss for the Raw Women’s Championship a couple weeks ago until the #1 Contender’s Gauntlet Match changed all of that. Sasha Banks took advantage of an exhausted Jax to become the next challenger for Bliss’ title, and she even made Bliss tap out in a tag team match this week on Raw (Bliss claims she let Banks win).
Prediction:
With how little this match has been built, it seems strange to do a title change here. Sasha Banks is already a former three-time Raw Women’s Champion and Bliss retaining yet again would cement her legacy even further. Winner, and STILL Raw Women’s Champion: Alexa Bliss
Brock Lesnar (c) vs. Samoa Joe – WWE Universal Championship
At WrestleMania 33, Brock Lesnar won the Universal Championship from Goldberg before hanging out at home for a couple months. Samoa Joe, who didn’t even compete at WrestleMania, was destroying the Raw roster while Lesnar was resting with his championship. Joe won a Fatal Five-Way match to become the new #1 Contender and he has gotten the best of Lesnar in every one of their brawls leading up to their officially sanctioned clash.
Prediction:
It would be absolutely incredible for Samoa Joe to stop the Beast Incarnate. However, Brock Lesnar is portrayed as being unstoppable, so it is hard to bet against him. Winner, and STILL WWE Universal Champion: Brock Lesnar
