15 HUGE WWE SummerSlam 2018 Predictions You Need To Know

14. End Of Days

The Rock Elias SummerSlam
WWE

Back in December 2017, Rusev and Aiden English were so popular as a 'Rusev Day' double act that Clash Of Champions seemed perfectly placed for an audible to be called. Thunderous, thunderous cheers greeted the pair. Enough so, that when Rusev and English didn't win the SmackDown Live! Tag Team titles at the December show, it looked designed to position him as a Daniel Bryan-esque underdog hero.

Until he was suddenly a heel in time for February's Fastlane battle with Shinsuke Nakamura. And then a babyface again by WrestleMania's Unite States Title clash. And a heel again in time for his Money In The Bank loss to AJ Styles. The connective tissue between these outings? He lost them all.

WWE got the real Bryan back shortly before the 'Show Of Shows', and the already-fragile 'Bulgarian Brute' was demoted to the utility role he's tried desperately to escape for several years. The stench of mediocrity may have overwhelmed the Rusev Day meme, but Andrade Almas and Zelina Vega somehow remain box-fresh. It's not the night for Rusev Day, and it might never be again if teases of their demise hold firm. Almas and Vega shouldn't be on the pre-show next year, either.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael is a writer, editor, podcaster and presenter for WhatCulture Wrestling, and has been with the organisation over 7 years. He primarily produces written, audio and video content on WWE and AEW, but also provides knowledge and insights on all aspects of the wrestling industry thanks to a passion for it dating back over 30 years. As one third of "The Dadley Boyz", Michael has contributed to the huge rise in popularity of the WhatCulture Wrestling Podcast, earning it top spot in the UK's wrestling podcast charts with well over 50,000,000 total downloads. He has been featured as a wrestling analyst for the Tampa Bay Times and Sports Guys Talking Wrestling, and has covered milestone events in New York, Dallas, Las Vegas, London and Cardiff. Michael's background in media stretches beyond wrestling coverage, with a degree in Journalism from the University Of Sunderland (2:1) and a series of published articles in sports, music and culture magazines The Crack, A Love Supreme and Pilot. When not offering his voice up for daily wrestling podcasts, he can be found losing it singing far too loud watching his favourite bands play live. Follow him on X/Twitter - @MichaelHamflett