WWE SummerSlam 2016: Match-by-match predictions for the show

The summer is quickly winding down, which could only mean one thing: SummerSlam is upon us.

For the second year in a row, WWE will produce its second-biggest event from the Barclays Center and in front of the raucous fans of Brooklyn, N.Y.

The vocal fan base should be voicing their adulation a lot Sunday night, as on paper, SummerSlam is the best card WWE has put together all year, even better than WrestleMania, which is the company's Super Bowl.

As of this writing, there are 11 matches scheduled for the four-hour extravaganza. So let's not waste anymore time. Let's get to picking some winners and losers.

Brock Lesnar vs. Randy Orton

I believe has done a very good job of making people want to see this match considering Lesnar and Orton are on separate brands (Lesnar is on Raw and Orton is on Smackdown Live) and the match was announced with no real reason for it to happen.

Despite that, WWE has managed to generate some heat between the two and have told a story that is worthy of the main event of the show.

However, all of the great storytelling in the world will not convince me that Orton is walking out of this match as the winner.

Lesnar said during one of his sit-down interviews that Orton is not the man to beat him. He's right. Someone will eventually topple the beast incarnate, but that man will not be Orton.

Orton is very talented and has done some fine work lately, but he will not slay the proverbial dragon known as Lesnar.

Prediction: Lesnar def. Orton

WWE Universal championship – Finn Balor vs. Seth Rollins

I have gone either way with the outcome of this match multiple times, but I have settled on picking Balor to become the first ever WWE Universal champion.

Most of the reason why I'm picking Balor to win is because I think it would be foolish for WWE to have him lose — even with interference — as the demon character in his first pay-per-view on the main roster.

WWE already gave away the demon's entrance on Raw, but to beat that character in any fashion this quickly I believe would be a mistake.

Prediction: Balor WINS the WWE Universal championship

WWE World championship – Dean Ambrose (c) vs. Dolph Ziggler

This is another one I have wrestled with in the weeks leading up to SummerSlam.

I could see WWE getting creative and have one of the combatants turn heel, but there's a part of me that believes WWE is going to keep it simple and have Ambrose retain the championship, but after a heck of a fight from Ziggler.

Prediction: Ambrose RETAINS the WWE World championship

John Cena vs. AJ Styles

All signs are pointing to Styles surprising everyone and gaining a rare clean victory over the face that runs the place.

However, there is a reason Cena runs the place, and that is because he wins a lot more than he loses, especially on pay-per-view.

It is hard to bet against Cena in matches of this magnitude. Until I see him lose a match like this, I have to pick him to win.

Prediction: Cena def. Styles

WWE United States championship – Rusev (c) vs. Roman Reigns

I don't know what Rusev and Reigns could do at SummerSlam that could top what they did on Raw Monday night or even if they will even try to.

What I think will happen is that Rusev finds a way to hold on to his United States championship even if it comes by disqualification.

Prediction: Rusev RETAINS the WWE United States championship

WWE Women's championship – Sasha Banks (c) vs. Charlotte

The build to this match has been very hit or miss with the biggest being the night Banks won the Women's title and the biggest miss being when she requested a handicap match.

With that said, I still expect both of these women to do everything in their power to tear the house down Sunday night.

Banks returns to the same venue where she, alongside Bayley, had the best match of 2015 and I'm sure she will be motivated to duplicate or even surpass that this time around.

Hopefully, Banks and Charlotte are given enough to attempt that feat.

As far as a winner, I'm going with Banks to retain.

Prediction: Banks RETAINS the WWE Women's championship

WWE Tag Team championship – The New Day (c) vs. Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson

After more than 330 days, I believe New Day's reign as W…W…E Tag Team champions will come to an end at SummerSlam, which is where their current reign began last year.

Prediction: Gallows & Anderson WIN the WWE Tag Team championship

Enzo Amore & Big Cass vs. Chris Jericho & Kevin Owens

I have loved every second of the build to this match. The match is almost secondary to the personalities involved with the match.

Obviously, Amore and Cass will be very popular with the fans in Brooklyn given that they both rep New York and I believe it will propel them to a much needed victory over Jericho and Owens.

Prediction: Amore & Cass def. Jericho & Owens

WWE Intercontinental championship – The Miz (c) vs. Apollo Crews

It's a shame that WWE has done little to nothing when it comes to promoting this match. The Miz, Crews and the Intercontinental championship all deserve better than that.

With that said, I'll go with Crews to win his first singles title. I don't have any real logic as to why.

Prediction: Crews WINS the WWE Intercontinental championship

Best 4-out-of-7 series (Match 1) – Cesaro vs. Sheamus

Since Cesaro is coming off two victories over Sheamus, I'm going with the Celtic Warrior to jump out to a 1-0 lead in the series.

Prediction: Sheamus def. Cesaro

Carmella, Naomi & Becky Lynch vs. Alexa Bliss & Natalya

With the news of Eva Marie's suspension, this match is now seemingly up in the air. I was going to pick the babyfaces regardless, so I'll just stick with that.

Prediction: Carmella, Naomi & Lynch def. Bliss, Natalya & ???