Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns will clash at WrestleMania 40, but where will they be by SummerSlam? Credit: WWE.com.

Way-Too-Early WWE SummerSlam 2024 Predictions Before WrestleMania 40

Kevin Berge

When the dust settles on WrestleMania 40, WWE will hopefully have wrapped up one of the greatest events in company history.

It may take some time to create a card that can match the spectacle of "the biggest WrestleMania of all time," but WWE has the roster to keep the momentum going.

No event can match up to the prestige of WrestleMania, but SummerSlam comes closest. It is WWE's one other stadium show, featuring returning legends and matches that have been built throughout the past year.

This year's event will take place at the Cleveland Browns Stadium in Cleveland and will be a monumental show and the true follow-up to WrestleMania.

Predicting the card at this moment would be foolish as so much can change in the next four months. Still, it is a fun time to speculate on the ramifications for SummerSlam coming out of 'Mania.

The following is a way-too-early SummerSlam 2024 card prediction.

Undisputed Tag Team Championship: Awesome Truth (c) vs. The Creed Brothers

The tag team division needs a shake-up, so it's likely new champions will emerge from WrestleMania. But it's tough to call who they will be.

While DIY and New Catch Republic have some hype behind them, The Miz and R-Truth have recaptured some magic together by reforming for the first time since 2011.

If Awesome Truth regain the titles, they can keep them fresh through charming segments and solid matches until the right team is ready to dethrone them.

No young team has a higher ceiling than The Creed Brothers. Julius and Brutus Creed are stars just needing a little more experience, and that can come between WrestleMania and SummerSlam.

When the opportunity arises, the Creeds should be the next ones to carry the tag team division forward, setting up exciting future rivalries with The New Day, The Street Profits and more.

This is all assuming the company does not break up the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championships into separate Raw and SmackDown belts again, which is always possible.

Result: The Creed Brothers win their first main roster gold together.

United States Championship: Logan Paul (c) vs. LA Knight

Is the hype train for LA Knight still rolling? With so much happening in WWE, he isn't the most talked-about man in wrestling anymore.

However, The Megastar is still a main event prospect waiting for his opportunity. A world title may need to wait until later, but Knight has a great spotlight feud left to explore.

Logan Paul is the United States titleholder and does not look ready to lose that belt soon. Only a few men could take him down. One of those men is The Megastar.

Knight is ready. He hasn't even reached his peak popularity yet. While Paul may be a Cleveland native, the whole stadium will be chanting for his opponent.

Result: Knight finally wins his first championship.

Intercontinental Championship: Gunther (c) vs. Jey Uso

Someone has to stop Gunther's reign of terror as the longest-reigning intercontinental champion in history.

The Ring General is already over 650 days as the titleholder, which makes his reign longer than the combined reigns of every other WWE Superstar in history.

All good things must come to an end, though. Sami Zayn may dethrone him at WrestleMania 40, but it seems more likely the Austrian will again walk out victorious.

While many are still clamoring for Chad Gable to dethrone Gunther, the time is quickly passing on that moment. It's more likely a star like Jey Uso with fresh momentum will defeat The Ring General.

The show after SummerSlam will be Bash in Berlin. This will be a big moment for Gunther where he could main-event, challenging either CM Punk or Cody Rhodes for the world title.

He will need to drop the IC title first, though, and Jey is ready to carry that forward, especially after putting his family drama behind him at WrestleMania.

Result: Jey wins singles gold while Gunther moves onto the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship.

WWE Women's Championship: Bayley (c) vs. Tiffany Stratton

Bayley has earned her WrestleMania moment, and she can get it by defeating Iyo Sky next weekend in a memorable battle for the WWE Women's Championship.

Once that is done, The Role Model can use her reign to solidify her claim as one of the best female wrestlers in WWE history.

Plenty of challengers can step up to Bayley, but none are more exciting than Tiffany Stratton, who is the hottest rising star in the women's division.

If The Center of the Universe misses The Show of Shows, which seems likely, she cannot also miss SummerSlam. She would be a perfect young challenger to push Bayley to her limit.

Hopefully, this would not be the last time Bayley and Stratton lock up as the 24-year-old can learn plenty from The Role Model.

Result: Bayley retains, continuing her legacy-defining reign.

Women's World Championship: Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Naomi (w/ Bianca Belair)

Rhea Ripley does not look like she is slowing down any time soon. While the legendary reigns of Roman Reigns and Gunther have reached their end, Mami has plenty more time ahead as the women's world champion.

Becky Lynch will be a tough challenge at WrestleMania, but it does not feel like the right time to move the gold.

Who will step up to Ripley after The Man? There are a number of exciting options. Liv Morgan likely will fight her as soon as she can, but Naomi would be an interesting rival beyond that.

The Glow is coming back to WWE with major momentum as a former TNA Knockouts champion. She can use that pedigree to sell herself as a future challenger to the Australian.

It is possible Naomi and Bianca Belair will leave WrestleMania as WWE women's tag team champions, but the company has never shied away from tag champions going after singles gold.

If The EST of WWE is in Naomi's corner, the creative team can transition nicely to another exciting rivalry for Ripley as Belair might just be the woman who can beat Mami.

Result: Ripley again stands tall while fueling excitement for a showdown with Belair.

World Heavyweight Championship: Drew McIntyre (c) vs. CM Punk

Drew McIntyre is going to win at WrestleMania 40. Any other option would limit WWE's future options on the road to SummerSlam and beyond.

Of course, no future match is more exciting than The Scottish Warrior against CM Punk. At every stage, McIntyre has mocked and belittled The Best in the World.

He was also the one to put The Second City Saint on the shelf, taking away his WrestleMania dream. Punk vs. McIntyre is a match that needs to happen on a big stage.

As long as Punk is healthy by the time SummerSlam rolls around on Aug. 3, he could well be ready to dethrone McIntyre and rewrite his championship legacy.

Result: Punk captures the title he has wanted since returning to WWE.

The Rock vs. Seth Rollins

The Rock is going to have unfinished business after WrestleMania XL no matter who emerges victorious.

The Great One is an actor in demand, though, so his in-ring matches will be few and far between over the coming year.

If he can make SummerSlam, it would likely be his first match after The Show of Shows. Who better to fight than Seth Rollins, the man who intentionally antagonized him on the Road to WrestleMania?

While Rock vs. Roman Reigns or Cody Rhodes are matches that have bigger upside, Rollins is a smart first singles match back for the veteran, an opponent who will bump big and make him look good.

Once he has put Rollins behind him, Rock will have a choice to make: Stay heel and go after The American Nightmare or turn face and go after The Tribal Chief.

Result: The Rock takes down Rollins in a show-stealer and shows him respect.

WWE Undisputed Universal Championship: Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Roman Reigns

Nothing will be settled after WrestleMania 40. While Cody Rhodes will hopefully finish his story and capture the WWE Undisputed Universal Championship, he will still have an even 1-1 record with The Tribal Chief.

A rematch is inevitable, and SummerSlam 2024 should be the stage for the final battle of the trilogy.

This would be the obvious main event, driven by the drama of what WWE will choose to do. Would it go back to Reigns since Rhodes had his moment? Could The American Nightmare defeat The Tribal Chief in two straight matches?

Anything is possible, and that is what would make it so exciting. However, Rhodes needs to beat Reigns twice if he wants to be seen as the top babyface in WWE for years to come.

Result: Rhodes solidifies his WWE Championship reign by winning the final match of the trilogy.

   

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