A firm fixture of the wrestling calendar, WWE’s staple event SummerSlam is almost upon us. Scheduled to take place in Orlando, Florida, the pay-per-view will be played out in an arena that accommodates a ‘virtual fan experience’. What this actually means remains to be seen but the lack of a live crowd hasn’t stopped WWE from entertaining fans in recent months. With the card that they have for this event, we don’t see viewers switching off their devices in disappointment this time around either. Let’s take a look through the headline-grabbing clashes that SummerSlam has to offer and pick out the likely winners and losers on the night.

Kicking off this analysis appropriately, we begin by examining the only ‘luchas de apuestas’ taking place. Literally translated as gambling fights, these bouts involve competitors each putting something on the line, such as a mask or their hair. When Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville square off it’s going to be the latter. Rose is out for revenge on Deville after she had her hair cut in a backstage ambush. Wanting to prove that Deville’s attack didn’t affect her, Rose put what’s left of her hair on the line for this match. We respect this gutsy tactic and think that it will hold Rose in good stead. She will have Deville’s shorn locks before the night’s out.

Staying with the Women’s Division, Japanese superstar Asuka is set for a busy night as she competes in separate matches for the Raw and SmackDown Women’s Championships, taking on Sasha Banks and Bayley respectively. The Empress of Tomorrow, as Asuka is known, showed that she isn’t afraid to fight dirty to win gold so we wouldn’t be surprised to see her walk away from SummerSlam with two belts. Why else would the WWE bother to book her in to fights on both of their brands? The pay-off is surely two Asuka wins.

Worlds collide when Braun Strowman defends his Universal Championship against fellow big boy Bray Wyatt. Expect a clash filled with power moves, a battle between two giants that will leave the ring shaking for the rest of the card. The Fiend has challenged for Strowman’s belt before but has come up short. The feud intensified following the recent Extreme Rules event, when Wyatt used a number of illusions to his advantage in a ‘Swamp Fight’. This broke Strowman mentally and he emerged afterwards with a darker, more intense persona. It’s bound to come into play in what should be a fierce match. Back a brutal Strowman win.

Looking at the top two fights on the card, veteran superstar Randy Orton is after the WWE Championship again and has to get through reigning champion Drew McIntyre to get it. Babyface champ McIntyre has been pushed to breaking point by Orton’s ‘RKO outta nowhere’ shtick and it’s all set up for an entertaining bout. Will McIntyre land a Claymore Kick or succumb to Orton’s deadly punt kick? We think the latter. This feud could go on for a while yet and WWE will want to develop it further. They need Orton to win if they are to have it fulfill its potential.

The Tag Team Championship match between reigning champions The Street Profits and the combination of Andrade and Angel Garza could be a perfect palate-cleansing closer. Fan favourites The Street Profits surely won’t lose to the underhand tactics of their nefarious opponents. It would sour the event to have too many heels triumphing. So, we say, let the light in and side with The Street Profits to make a profit on this event. If you’re looking to stick a wager on any of the matches at SummerSlam, we suggest going with 22bet. For a full review of their site, and every other betting site, refer to Sportytrader’s comprehensive guide. It’s good to know the site that you’re betting on and Sportytrader cover the pros and cons thoroughly.