13 Match Quality Predictions For WWE SummerSlam 2018

7. The Bludgeon Brothers Vs. The New Day - SmackDown Tag Team Title Match

Bludgeon Brothers New Day
WWE.com

Card placement seems crucial here.

We know what the New Day do. Their matches span a vast emotional range. They're fun, all-action, and, at their best, genuinely gripping in the closing stages. They are so good at tag team wrestling that they have even made Vince McMahon actually commit to it, not that their merchandise sales aren't the primary driver there.

But meanwhile, the Bludgeon Brothers aren't working out. The act seemed a no-brainer - a tag team with a documented ability to work excellent matches, boasting an Internet favourite of a performer, decked out in the sort of goofy throwback power tandem garb we supposedly miss in this dry age where there are no "characters" - but it's just not working out.

This is best served as the opener. The Usos were buried between the key attractions at WrestleMania 34, and suddenly, the same people who clamoured for Jimmy and Jey to finally wrestle a proper match at 'Mania were conspicuous by their silence.

It's not not going to be a d*mn good display of inventive escapes to brutal power moves - but without a roaring crowd willing Big E et al. to escape...

Predicted Star Rating: ***1/4

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!