Hello everybody! This is @TheMagnumDA with a special edition of the Wrestling-Online Pick’em report. This is turning into one of the most packed weekends (in terms of American pro wrestling) that we’ve had in some time.

Colin and I couldn’t resist the chance to turn this into an opportunity for one of us to become the “King of the Summer Pick’em”. I’ll be defending the WOPC Championship in this pick’em, which will come from a hodgepodge of events happening this weekend.

We’ll cover NXT’s Great American Bash, AEW All-In, Saturday Night’s Main Event, and finally the second edition of WWE Evolution. Each match will be worth 1 point, and the man with the most correct picks at the end of this weekend will be the WOPC Champion heading into SummerSlam 2025!

With that, it’s time to establish some royalty around here!

ON WITH THE PICKS!

We’ll start with NXT’s Great American Bash:

NXT Championship
Oba Femi (c) vs. Yoshiki Inamura (with Josh Briggs)

Colin: I feel like the past several months has been the “weakest” NXT men’s division in a long time. Oba Femi looks good as the champion but there haven’t been much proper challengers for him. It doesn’t change today either. Femi retains.

Magnum: This has been a unique time for Oba – he’s had a lot of challengers come his way in a short amount of time, and somehow Inamura has been flying under the radar since becoming the #1 Contender. At the same time, his tag team partner (Briggs) seems to cast a looming shadow over the proceedings. Don’t be surprised to see Briggs involved in the finish, costing his buddy Yoshiki the title in the process. Oba retains.

NXT North American Championship – Falls Count Anywhere
Ethan Page (c) vs. Ricky Saints

Colin: Page and Saints have a good program going on but these two should really be on either Raw or Smackdown. This will probably be the best match on the card as both men can go. It’s also time to end this feud and go separate ways and I am picking Saints to become the new champion today.

Magnum: I love this group backing Ethan (The Vanity Project) – these dudes are very young, and have a very bright future ahead of them. As for this match, I do think the VP will interject themselves into this no DQ match. Both performers are great, and I don’t think they’ll be in NXT too much longer before they get the call to the main roster. Thanks to the VP, though, I’m going to take Ethan Page to retain.

Next, we’ll move on to AEW’s All-In:

AEW Women’s World Championship
“Timeless” Toni Storm (c) vs. Mercedes Moné

Colin: It’s really going to be all-belts Mone. I’m not sure who is going to be the first person to pin Mone but all the momentum is with her, plus she really is creating history winning all these belts at the same time. I think Mone is going to win this one and walk out of All In with another piece of gold to carry around. #AndNew

Magnum: I cannot wait for this match. I love the way this has evolved over the last few weeks – it seemed like innocent tit-for-tat when it came to the verbal jabs, but all of that went out the window when Storm told Mone to “EAT SHIT, BITCH.” That was the point where I realized that it’s on like neckbone. I hope they can deliver in the ring the same way they did out of it – even though the endgame is Mone with the gold, I’m actually going to pick Storm to fire the opening salvo and get the win over Mercedes.

Winner Takes All – AEW Unified Championship
Kazuchika Okada (Continental) vs. Kenny Omega (International)

Colin: I was really disappointed when TK said that both titles will remain and the winner will have to carry all three of them. Why is this the Unified championship when both titles stay? I don’t understand it. Whatever. Should be a banger of a match this one and I’m not expecting anything less. How much more can Omega go? I don’t know, but it’s time to put a rocket behind Okada. Okada wins.

Magnum: Another dream match that the world can’t wait to see – myself included! I am part of the chorus that believes they had two of the greatest matches in the history of NJPW. Now we’ll get to see it one more time in all of its glory. I don’t need to put too much more thought or time into this…just can’t wait to enjoy what happens. Omega wins.

AEW World Heavyweight Championship – Texas Death Match
Jon Moxley (c) vs. “Hangman” Adam Page

Colin: This is going to be a bloodbath and the finish is going to be overbooked to hell and back just like the main event of WrestleMania XL was. Just wait for it. Everybody wants “Hangman” to win. I think it is time to get the belt off Moxley…but will they pull the trigger tonight? I’m afraid there will be some fuckery which will screw with Page, allowing Moxley to retain.

Magnum: One of the matches we didn’t post was the Bucks vs. Ospreay and Swerve. In that match, I look for the Bucks to win and keep their EVP titles. From there, I think they’ll do everything in their power to stop Hangman from winning. I look forward to an incredible fight with some amazing cameo appearances. In the end, I’ll go with Hangman to end the nightmare that has been the Death Riders.

Now, we’ll take a look at Saturday Night’s Main Event:

LA Knight vs. Seth Rollins

Colin: When was the last time LA Knight won a proper match? I like the guy, but I can’t see him as a main eventer with a major title. With that said, Rollins is on a roll and there’s no way he is losing this one.

Magnum: As a side feud, I’ve really enjoyed this. These two will likely tear it up in the ring, but don’t be surprised if a schmoz finish messes with things. I’ll actually take LA Knight to win this after Bron/Bronson interference.

Randy Orton vs. Drew McIntyre

Colin: This match can hardly go wrong with these two in the ring, right? Not sure why they got involved with Jelly Roll/Logan Paul last night…unless it’s going towards a tag team match, which I don’t agree with. Why waste Orton and McIntyre in a tag match on a big show like SummerSlam? Whatever. Drew wins.

Magnum: This suddenly got interesting with the additions of Logan Paul and, of all people, Jelly Roll after that segment on Smackdown. I could see this leading to a tag match at Summerslam where Jelly Roll and Randy Orton take on Logan Paul and Drew McIntyre. As for tonight, look for Drew McIntyre to take the first battle in this war. Drew wins.

WWE World Heavyweight Championship Match
Gunther (c) vs. Goldberg

Colin: My prediction is that Goldberg is going to be gassed the f out before the first 60 seconds on the clock. It’s nice they’re giving him this retirement match and by all means, he deserves it, but please, make it quick and painless. I don’t want my last image of Goldberg in the ring being gasping for air. Gunther wins. Any other result, we riot!

Magnum: It started on September 22nd, 1997. It ends tonight. Bill Goldberg has one last chance to make everything right. Will we see both a victory and a retirement for Goldberg this weekend? By all rights, he should go out on his Shield. Will he? Well, I’ll say this…anything is possible. Personally? I don’t think Goldberg is walking out with the title. So by proxy, I’ll take Gunther to retain.

Finally, from WWE Evolution:

NXT Women’s Championship
Jacy Jayne (c) (with Fallon Henley and Jazmyn Nyx) vs. Jordynne Grace

Colin: Jordynne Grace should be on the main roster and not in NXT. Nice little run, but get her on Raw or Smackdown already. She doesn’t need the NXT Women’s title and I have a feeling some interference will cause her the win tonight. Jacy retains.

Magnum: At first glance, this seems like Grace should win this in a squash. At the same time, I don’t believe that Jacy is going to be a transitional champion. At least, not yet. Something could happen involving Blake Monroe – worth keeping an eye on. I’m going to take Jacy Jayne to retain.

WWE Intercontinental Championship – Triple Threat
Becky Lynch (c) vs. Bayley vs. Lyra Valkyria

Colin: This was a bit of lazy booking in my opinion. Becky vs Bayley one on one should have been saved for this show. So much history there and it would have made more sense. I get it why Lyra is in there, but at this point she didn’t need to be. Picking Becky to retain.

Magnum: Personally, I am looking forward to this match more than anything else on the card. I am intrigued by the Bayley/Lyra dynamic – there’s a lot of directions you could go with this. Could Lyra finally snap on Bayley? I think both of them will cost each other the match, leading to Becky holding onto her title.

WWE Women’s Championship
Tiffany Stratton (c) vs. Trish Stratus

Colin: I wish they got more time over the past few weeks to make this feud work. Yeah they were partners at Elimination Chamber…but other than that, what? Should be a good match regardless and in 2025, Trish Stratus does not need a title around her waist. Tiffy Time baby!

Magnum: Little bit of an inorganic feud put together here at the last minute. Trish deserves better – that said, she’s good enough to give Tiffany the match of a lifetime. I think this has a chance to steal the show. I also think Tiffany will get her biggest win to date!

Women’s World Championship
Iyo Sky (c) vs. Rhea Ripley

Colin: This show is main eventing Evolution. Rhea has never beaten Iyo. Kinda sets it all up for a Ripley win, isn’t it? I love Iyo Sky. One of the best ever. Rhea is over like crazy and I’m predicting there will be a lot of fireworks to close off the night with a new champion crowned. Ripley for the W.

Magnum: For Rhea Ripley, the one thing missing in her career is a win over Iyo Sky. I really like this storyline, but at some point you start to think…should they continue to string this out? You could have Iyo continue to be the one who has Rhea’s number. But if Rhea wins, it would be the right place to finally avenge these losses. This will be great! Can’t wait. I flipped a coin and made Iyo heads. It came up tails. Rhea wins.

All right, everyone! That’s going to do it for the Pick’em Crew – we will see you next month for the first ever two-night SUMMERSLAM!! Until then, this is @TheMagnumDA signing off for Wrestling-Online.