WWE Super Show-Down Match Card And Predictions

Rejoice, fellow UK WWE fans! For there is an event this weekend that we don’t have to stay up until four in the morning to watch! WWE Super Show-Down will be emanating live from Melbourne, Australia, meaning it has a lovely start time of 10 AM in the British Isles. If you haven’t got work or any other commitments, waking up and watching a bit of rasslin’ with your breakfast and morning coffee sounds like a nice little treat.

The card isn’t lacking in star power, even if most of the matches are just thrown together for ticket sales and not to further any actual stories. Nevertheless, WWE have been promoting it to high Heaven, so we’re going to treat it like any other major event and give our predictions.

 

Asuka & Naomi Vs. The IIconics (Billie Kay & Peyton Royce)

Asuka’s 2018 started off strong, what with winning the first ever women’s Royal Rumble and everything. That’s why it’s so sad to see her in such a throwaway match now that her undefeated streak is in the books. At least she’s on the card – the same can’t be said for the winner of the men’s Royal Rumble this year. This match does actually have story behind it though, as Asuka’s friendship that has blossomed with Naomi has crossed paths with Billie Kay and Peyton Royce the last few weeks.

Prediction: This one’s harder to call than you’d think. Super Show-Down is essentially a glorified house show, a setting where the babyfaces usually pick up the win. The only issue here is that The IIconics will be in their home country and will no doubt receive a hero’s welcome. Against my better judgement, I’m backing Billie and Peyton for that feelgood Aussie pop.

 

SmackDown Tag Team Championship Match

The New Day (Big E, Kofi Kingston and/or Xavier Woods) (C) Vs. The Bar (Cesaro & Sheamus)

This one will be damn good, guaranteed. The Bar are finally receiving a long overdue tag title shot on SmackDown, after initially not being able to find their footing in the blue brand’s tag division. I fully anticipate a hard-hitting, fast-paced contest that will see memorable spots from both teams.

Prediction: Spoiler alert, but I don’t think any titles are going to change hands on this show. It is ultimately still a live event, where title changes seldom take place. I’m happy to be proven wrong on this, but I’m backing New Day to retain.

 

The Bella Twins (Brie Bella and Nikki Bella) & Ronda Rousey Vs. The Riott Squad (Ruby Riott, Liv Morgan & Sarah Logan

This match is only the start of relatively inconsequential bouts featuring champions who should be defending their gold on this card. Ronda Rousey is making her first return to Australia in a sporting capacity since her crushing loss to Holly Holm at UFC 193. Sadly, her belt is not on the line, as she’s teaming with her on-screen besties to take on the Riott Squad. The only thing that interests me about this match is Liv Morgan’s warrior-like mentality in continuing to wrestle after suffering a bad concussion. Accidents are sadly a part of the business, but I truly hope she’s in good health and is ready to kick some ass.

Prediction: Easy one to call, Ruby and her crew are sacrificial lambs here. A team consisting of Ronda freaking Rousey and The Bellas would probably get you close betting odds against The Shield, let alone the Riott Squad.

 

Cruiserweight Championship Match

Cedric Alexander (C) Vs. Buddy Murphy

Cedric Alexander hasn’t lost a singles match on television for over a year. Cedric Alexander has been the crown jewel of the cruiserweight division for the bulk of 2018. Most people don’t know this, as he’s almost always a pre-show attraction. I can see the logic in sending out high-flyers to wow the crowd and hopefully get some last-minute WWE Network sign ups, but let this man shine on the main show. In a cruel twist of irony, not only is Cedric defending his gold against an Australian, but against someone from the host city Melbourne.

Prediction: The reason I picked The IIconics earlier was so that at least one match would see the Aussies go over on Saturday. Again, I don’t see WWE changing their plans for Cedric’s reign at a live event. Buddy Murphy is going to 100% be treated as the babyface by the crowd here, Cedric is going to have a whale of a time in winning them over. Regardless, Cedric Alexander is still my pick.

 

SmackDown Women’s Championship Match

Becky Lynch (C) Vs. Charlotte Flair

This feud has been nothing short of brilliant. The twists and turns in the tale of Charlotte and Becky have kept me engaged, I also take no issue with Becky playing the heel. Her fans might want to complain about being told to boo, but that heel turn has resulted in her first title win in over two years. Sometimes, we’re given the things we want in unexpected ways.

Prediction: It seems rather obvious that this feud is going to truly end at WWE Evolution later this month, seeing as it’s the real October pay-per-view. There is a chance that we’ll see the old hot potato routine with the belt ala Charlotte and Sasha Banks, but I’m not convinced. Becky Lynch to walk out champ, probably through nefarious means.

 

#1 Contender’s Match for the WWE Championship

Daniel Bryan Vs. The Miz

A match that has huge implications for SmackDown’s main event scene, the winner will go on to challenge for the WWE Championship in the future. Bryan and Miz will likely cool off their feud after this and that’s the smart play. This marks the third show in a row that will see them come to blows and we don’t want diminishing returns this early on.

Prediction: As tantalising as Daniel Bryan vs. AJ Styles/Samoa Joe for the title is, there is no way Miz loses here. As I mentioned in the Hell in a Cell predictions, this feud is all about breaking Bryan down to build him back up. Perhaps Miz goes on to win the title, Daniel wins the Rumble, and we get a massive WWE Championship match at WrestleMania? One can only dream. Either way, I’m picking The Miz.

 

John Cena & Bobby Lashley Vs. Kevin Owens and Elias

This match has “house show” written all over it. To see John Cena making his first appearance since Greatest Royal Rumble in such a nothing match is pretty sad. He only has no much mileage left in him, we should be using John in big money encounters, not random tag bouts. Still, at least the pairing of KO and Elias got us that incredible round of boos on Raw this week. It was truly a sight to behold.

Prediction: Lashley and Cena, no question. Moving on.

 

The Shield (Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins & Dean Ambrose) Vs. Braun Strowman, Drew McIntyre & Dolph Ziggler

To put it bluntly, I hate this match. I hate the fact that every male title on Raw is involved in the same feud. I hate that there are four title holders here who could be defending their belts elsewhere on the card. Thanks to Ronda Rousey being tied up in six-person action as well, not a single Raw title is to be defended in Melbourne (unless you count Cedric Alexander, but when was the last time you saw a cruiserweight match on Raw?). Let’s just hope it’s at least a fun encounter, that’s all we can cling onto.

Prediction: They’ve been teasing Dean’s defection so heavily that it’s safe to assume it won’t happen. The Shield win matches, it’s what they do. The heels also have Dolph Ziggler there to take the pin and protect Braun and Drew, making this a surprisingly easy prediction.

 

No Disqualification, No Count-Out Match for the WWE Championship

AJ Styles (C) Vs. Samoa Joe

In what has been a more interesting version of AJ’s feud with Nakamura, Samoa Joe has beaten the champ twice and is still not holding the belt. He earned a disqualification victory at SummerSlam and was the true winner of their Hell in a Cell encounter, forcing AJ to submit before he was properly pinned. It’s been an increasingly personal rivalry that has produced entertaining matches and segments, let’s hope they can live up to the hype in capping off this trilogy.

Prediction: AJ is rapidly closing in on a year as champ, and while Joe has surprised us with a title win at a live event in the past, I don’t see any outcome other than AJ Styles winning.

 

The Undertaker (with Kane) Vs. Triple H (with Shawn Michaels)

Wow, I do not care one iota about this match. It’s being billed as the last ever encounter between these two legendary figures, you know, like how their last match was. We all know it’s setting up for D-X vs. Brothers of Destruction at WWE Crown Jewel anyway. Michaels returning to the ring is the true endgame here. It’s no doubt going to close the show and by God, I hope it’s only brief.

Prediction: Triple H didn’t put The Undertaker over three times at WrestleMania to lose in what’s allegedly their last ever match. “The Game” has the last word, and that’s how it’s always been. Triple H to win, presumably because of interference from Shawn.