Hello everybody! It’s @TheMagnumDA with yet another installment of the Pick’em report. Last year, we introduced the “King of the Summer” Pick’em series, where Colin and I made our picks from three different major shows happening on the same weekend.

I thought it was a lot of fun, so we’ve decided to run it back – introducing the KING OF THE SUMMER PICK’EM II (Electric Boogaloo). We’re going to make picks for three upcoming shows this weekend – select matches from NXT’s Great American Bash, the entire card of WWE’s Night of Champions, and a select match from AEW’s Forbidden Door.

As always, whomever has the high score is the rightful WOPC Champion, and if there’s a tie…? Just like in Wrestling, the champion retains on a draw.

What are we waiting for?! Let’s find out who’s going to wear the Crown!! 👑

ON WITH THE PICKS!

NXT Championship
Tony D’Angelo (c) vs. Naraku

Magnum: We kick off the Summer Pick’em series with an intriguing match-up. The former EVIL has immediately landed a place as the #1 Contender to the NXT Championship. Will Mason Rook get involved? Will Tony be able to recover from his eye injury? I can’t say for sure, but I’m going to run with the “new guy” logic – a debuting big name that is not “homegrown” is going to take a loss before becoming champion. I’ll take Tony to retain over Naraku.

Colin: To be honest, Tony D’Angelo never did anything for me and while his gimmick worked at the time, he’s not champion material. There’s a reason he’s been stuck in NXT since 2021. Naraku is a former IWGP champion and I’m hoping he does EVIL things and wins the title on Sunday.

NXT Women’s Championship
Lola Vice (c) vs. Kendal Grey

Magnum: These two have been too nice to each other. It’s time for someone to step up and embrace that killer instinct. These are both badass performers, but I think Kendal will put in a little more time in NXT before she takes that next step. I’ll stick with Lola to retain, but similar to Tony/Naraku, this one is far from over.

Colin: Kendal Grey could very well be the best women’s wrestler at the moment. So smooth, so sharp. I think she will be a big hit on the main roster with her talent. Vice has been doing great so I don’t think they’re ready to take that title away from her, so I’m picking Lola to retain.

King of the Ring Finals
Jey Uso vs. Oba Femi

Magnum: Okay, now we’re getting into the Night of Champions part of this Pick’em. I’ve shared some pretty strong opinions on this final – I am concerned that Brock is going to cost Oba the match, and that would be a very tired and predictable way to set things up. If someone in TV land is seeing this, you’d be better off doing the following: Have Oba win this thing, and have him challenge Cody for the WWE Title…only…don’t do it at Summerslam. Do it at Saturday Night’s Main Event at MSG. Full circle moment between Oba and Cody. At that show, you can have Brock cost Oba the title to set up the final chapter. Whatever they decide, please do not give us Jey vs. Cody at Summerslam. Nobody wants that. Nobody is asking for that. Jey’s trajectory should lead him to LA Knight at Summerslam. If they are smart (and I hope they are), Oba wins this in convincing fashion.

Colin: I am not ready for the Summer of Jey. We already had one and it didn’t really set the world on fire. The dude just gasses out after he does his stupid hand moves on the turnbuckle. There’s going to be a lot of angry people if Jey wins, and you know what, I feel that’s what they’re going to do. Someone will screw Oba and Jey will be crowned King of the Ring.

Queen of the Ring Finals
Iyo Sky vs. Liv Morgan

Magnum: Now here’s a situation where they can cash in on Liv’s greed. As everyone knows, Liv is the Women’s World Champion, and if I’m not mistaken, she hasn’t defended the title ONCE since winning it at WrestleMania. But that’s besides the point. Tonight, she has a chance to win the QOTR and challenge Rhea Ripley (?) at Summerslam for the WWE Women’s title. Talk about a Blonde Ambition Tour. Anyways, her plan is going to come crashing down thanks to an implosion within the Judgment Day. Iyo wins, and from there we may get Iyo vs. Rhea at Summerslam. Maybe. As long as Rhea is not injured. Who knows, at this point.

Colin: Either scenario where Iyo or Liv win here is good, I think. Liv and Rhea obviously have a huge history together and Iyo and Rhea are BFFs. The only good thing I do not like if Liv wins is that her title won’t be up for grabs at SummerSlam and unless they’re unifying them, it makes no sense for her to win. I’m hoping Iyo gets the victory here but I have a feeling Liv will snatch it.

WWE Women’s United States Championship
Tiffany Stratton (c) vs. Jade Cargill

Magnum: Speaking of “who knows”, here we are circling back to these two. Didn’t they just fight months ago for a bigger title? WHAT ARE WE DOING HERE. This is the kind of stuff that people are talking about (when they talk about the product having no direction). Where are we going and what are we doing here. If I am forced to think about this any more than I have to, I’m going to need to lie down. Just give me Jade so we can move on from this.

Colin: Jade looked good wrestling Rhea Ripley at Clash in Italy, I thought it was her best match yet. But of all people, please, not these two again. I’m a big fan of Tiffany Stratton and would have preferred if she took on someone else more her caliber. No matter what, it’s Tiffy Time for me.

WWE United States Championship
Trick Williams (c) vs. Ricky Saints

Magnum: Poor, poor Melo. Once again, he’s on the outside looking in, while Ricky Saints continues to do his best Rock impression. I know he wants to be Dwayne Johnson, but it comes off more like Jim Varney. If you know, you know. Again, we need to get away from whatever this is and move on to what the people want to see – Trick vs. Melo. Summerslam. As for tonight? Trick retains.

Colin: I am not particularly looking forward to this match because it does not interest me that much. I don’t get the Saints hype, not in AEW, and not in WWE. There should only be one winner here and that’s Trick Williams.

Steel Cage Match
Bron Breakker vs. Seth Rollins

Magnum: I’ve been going back and forth on this one – I think I figured out the loophole. In a cage match, you don’t have to pin someone to get the win. That means Seth could technically defeat Bron without anyone taking the fall. Ultimately, this program was designed to get Bron over, so let’s hope they can get to the finish line. As for Night of Champions? Give me Rollins to escape the cage and get the W.

Colin: Hopefully this is the last time The Vision and Seth Rollins collide. Both parties need to move on to something fresh and new. I would hope that Bron Breakker is the one that goes over today because he’s the one who needs it. Somehow, someway, Bron gets it.

Undisputed WWE Championship – Triple Threat
Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Gunther vs. Sami Zayn

Magnum: I like how Sami slithered his way into this match. Pretty greasy stuff from the last real good guy. But hey, his ride or die fans still love him…I think. At least, I hope. I really don’t care. As for this match? This could be the low-key show stealer. I don’t think we’re quite done with this angle, so expect another f*ck finish and Cody to retain.

Colin: I was thinking it was Gunther’s time to get the title here, but if CM Punk is coming in for a program with Rhodes for SummerSlam, then I think that Cody will somehow retain the title. Punk vs Rhodes interests me more and is a bigger SummerSlam match than whatever they can come up with for the other two that’s for sure. Cody retains.

Owen Hart Cup – Men’s Final
Will Ospreay vs. Swerve Strickland (with Prince Nana)

Magnum: Ooooh a BONUS match! We rarely do AEW Pick’ems, but hey, it felt right. This is the SUMMER PICK’EM SERIES and damn it all, we’re Kingmakers here at W-O. As for this tournament…I was disappointed by how predictable each round of the tournament has been. At least the final has some intrigue. Swerve has been a man on a mission, but Will’s comeback from his neck injury is the real story here. Or maybe it’s him trying to fit in with the Death Riders. Or maybe it’s the morality play he’s having with Kenny Omega. Again, who knows. Either way, the spotlight is going to shine bright on Ospreay as he will win the Owen Hart Tournament and go on to All In and face WHOMEVER the AEW Champion is (please don’t be Mark Briscoe).

Colin: I don’t even have one shadow of a doubt that this won’t be Will Ospreay’s time. They’re heading into All In at Wembley where 3/4ths of the stadium is empty. They could move some more tickets probably having Ospreay main event going for the title. Without question, Ospreay wins it.

All right, that’s going to do it for us here at the Pick’em report. To our American fans, HAPPY 250th BIRTHDAY ya bunch of yanks! Enjoy your Summer and we’ll see you next time for the Pick’em report RIGHT HERE on Wrestling-Online (cheap pop!) @TheMagnumDA signing off.