SummerSlam is one of WWE’s marquee events that has hosted some of the most iconic matches in WWE history. Bret Hart versus British Bulldog in 1992, Shawn Michaels vs. Razon Ramon in a ladder match for the Intercontinental Title in 1995 and Kurt Angle vs Stone Cold Steve Austin for the WWE Championship in 2001, just to name a few. SummerSlam 2024, or SummerSlam: Cleveland, will be the final installment of the showcase being a single-night event. WWE announced earlier this year that beginning in 2025, SummerSlam will be poised for two nights of entertainment, mirroring its ‘big brother, WrestleMania.
This year’s iteration is set to bring the heat, so let’s get into the WWE betting odds and picks for this pro wrestling event.
Note: As the SummerSlam card is always subject to change, my predictions are based on the odds and information available to the public as of publishing.
(Odds courtesy of BetUS)
WWE Betting Odds, Picks & Predictions: SummerSlam 2024
WWE World Heavyweight Championship Match
Damian Priest +350 | (c) Gunther -600 |
“The Ring General,” Gunther, walks into SummerSlam as a massive -600 favorite to dethrone Priest and become the new WWE World Heavyweight Champion.
I can’t think of a reason for Gunther to not win… https://t.co/xbYiH07Jzt
— Matt Kelley (@ThatMattKelley) July 9, 2024
The truth is, I still can’t think of a good reason. He went from longest-reigning Intercontinental Champion ever to beating 14-time world champion Randy Orton to become King of the Ring. Gunther is on a rocket ship and arguably the most pure heel on the WWE roster.
This outcome isn’t all bad for Priest, though. He had a fantastic moment cashing in his Money in the Bank contract to become champ at WrestleMania. He’s managed to portray the head of The Judgement Day, a storyline that has been captivating WWE fans. That faction is also responsible for advancing the narrative for other wrestlers like Liv Morgan, Rhea Ripley and Dominik Mysterio. Since his feud began with Gunther, he’s naturally becoming a face to the live crowds, and it’s a role he seems more suited for. This outcome could be to move Priest into a program with Judgement Day fellow Finn Balor in the coming months.
Matt’s Pick: Gunther -600
Undisputed WWE Championship Match
(c) Cody Rhodes -5000 | Solo Sikoa +1200 |
“The American Nightmare,” Cody Rhodes went from being in a multi-year program with ‘The Bloodline’ to being in a program with a new version of said heel faction. Now, the group headed by Solo Sikoa sees him flanked by Jacob Fatu, Tama Tonga and Tonga Loa. With Rhodes’ odyssey to become WWE Champion taking the better part of two years on WWE TV, I’m not going against the odds for him to retain. The biggest question about this match is who stands tall at the end. Will it be Rhodes or potentially a returning “Tribal Chief,” Roman Reigns? Reigns himself is -400 to appear in the ring.
Matt’s Pick: Cody Rhodes -5000
WWE Women’s Championship Match
(c) Bayley +100 | Nia Jax -140 |
The odds for this match are the closest on the card, with Nia Jax at -140 and Bayley at +100. Based on what has played out on WWE TV recently, neither competitor has a clear edge, so I’ll make the case for each.
After being a heel for an extended run, Bayley again became a fan favorite after dethroning Iyo Sky at WrestleMania 40 and breaking away from Damage CTRL. She’s now surpassed the 100-day mark as champion, defending her title against Naomi and Tiffany Stratton in a triple-threat match at Backlash. Then she overcame Piper Niven at the Clash at the Castle PLE. In looking at the “Smackdown” Women’s roster, the question has to be asked: Who is next in line should Bayley prevail?
Charlotte Flair is currently out of action, Naomi can’t seem to buy a big win and Jade Cargill and Bianca Belair seem destined for a singles program with each other. That would leave room for Chelsea Green, who, while technically heel, is getting increasingly over with live crowds each appearance. Bayley vs. Chelsea Green is a feud I can get behind.
Jax, on the other hand, has had many solid wins since coming back to WWE. While she didn’t defeat Ripley at this year’s Elimination Chamber, it was arguably her best showing in a WWE ring to date. Jax would become “Queen of the Ring,” putting her in position for this very match. In recent weeks, Jax has been tied to Money in the Bank winner Tiffany Stratton, including a spot where she stopped Stratton from cashing in on her contract opportunity. Stratton will almost assuredly appear with the Money in the Bank briefcase during the match, and it’s a matter of whether she cashes in or merely plays spoiler to Jax.
This match could go either way, but Jax looks dominant capturing gold, and fans will get behind Stratton in the long run.
Matt’s Pick: Nia Jax -140
WWE United States Championship Match
(c) Logan Paul +300 | L.A. Knight -500 |
SummerSlam will mark 267 days as United States Champion for Logan Paul when he marches into his home state of Ohio to defend his title for only the third time in his reign. L.A. Knight is looking to seize singles gold for the first time in his WWE career. The leader of the Yea! Movement has been wildly close to holding a title multiple times over the last year. Knight is the -500 to reach the summit, and WWE is no stranger to having hometown talent fall short. WWE wants the U.S. title back on TV more often than Paul has provided in his tenure, leading to Knight finally achieving glory.
Matt’s Pick: L.A. Knight -500
WWE Women’s World Championship Match
(c) Liv Morgan -600 | Rhea Ripley +350 |
This storyline is white-hot and could credibly close the show. Rhea Ripley was out of action for three months after being attacked by Liv Morgan, causing her to vacate the very title that Morgan now holds. Morgan vowed to take everything from Ripley and has mostly done so. She became champion, helped Finn Balor and JD McDonagh become World Tag Team Champions and was a temptress to Dominik Mysterio. The personal nature of this feud, with Morgan’s betrayal of Ripley and her subsequent rise to power, has made this match a must-see for all WWE fans.
Things have progressed across WWE TV between Morgan and Mysterio. Now, it seems the latter could ultimately cost Ripley the win in this highly personal feud. A secondary possibility is that betrayal comes from Finn Balor. Balor has had questionable discernment in dealing with Morgan and was the only member of Judgement Day that wasn’t crossed out in spray paint during Liv Morgan’s promo on the go-home episode of “Monday Night Raw” last week.
Morgan is favored at -600 and my choice to retain. This only helps to further the ongoing storyline, which could easily play out all the way until next year’s WrestleMania in Las Vegas. The outcome of this match will significantly impact the ongoing storyline, potentially shaping the future of WWE for the coming year.
Matt’s Pick: Liv Morgan -600
Special Guest Referee Match
CM Punk +215 | Drew McIntyre -325 |
One of the best feuds that has been stifled because of injury – like Morgan and Ripley – somehow has fresh legs. The rivalry looks electric heading into SummerSlam 2024. CM Punk and Seth Rollins have spoken about each other publicly over the years. It’s no real secret that the two were set to meet at WrestleMania before Punk was injured in the Royal Rumble. McIntyre is -325 to go over here, and ultimately, this match will likely give fans the Punk and Rollins (now revealed as the Guest Referee) feud they’ve been craving while keeping McIntyre in the main event scene. I like McIntyre to prevail.
Matt’s Pick: Drew McIntyre -325
WWE Intercontinental Championship Match
(c) Sami Zayn +900 | Bron Breakker -3000 |
Sami Zayn has had an impressive championship run since taking down Gunther at WrestleMania. He’s a fan favorite. He’s shared some fantastic entrances. He puts on solid matches week after week. Unfortunately for Zayn, Bron Breakker is a runaway train that can’t be stopped. Every week, Breakker obliterates someone else on the roster. Fans know the lineage of his father, Rick Steiner, and his uncle, Scott Steiner. Fans want to like him. More dog barks can be heard throughout the crowd every week despite Breakker’s heel actions. Breakker is sitting at a hefty -3000 to capture gold, and I think he does just that.
Matt’s Pick: Bron Breakker -3000
Thanks for reading my WWE betting odds, picks & predictions for SummerSlam 2024! Find more entertainment content here on our website and our YouTube channel. Find me on Twitter for more sports, wrestling and everything in-between @ThatMattKelley
*Photo Credit: Joe Camporeale – USA TODAY Sports*