Update: check out our review for WWE Super ShowDown 2020 right here.
The Road to WrestleMania has one extra pitstop in 2020 and it’s actually overseas – Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
And we all know what that means – WWE is heading back to the Middle East for the latest installment of Super ShowDown. This time, the Superstars of Raw and SmackDown Live will compete within the grand King Fahd International Stadium in front of a raucous crowd. And judging by past WWE events from Saudi Arabia, Super ShowDown 2020 will give us at least one dream match between two Hall of Fame legends. Alongside that matchup will be a host of big-time bouts that may even rival the ones we’re set to see at WrestleMania 36 a few months later. Major match outcomes may take place here and produce some out-of-nowhere speedbumps on the Road to WrestleMania 36.
Before we take to the skies for Saudi Arabia, let’s take a look at all the matches that are set to go down at Super ShowDown 2020.
The Viking Raiders (Erik and Ivar) vs. The O.C. (Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson)
WWE
Predictions & Winners: Remember when The O.C. defeated The Viking Raiders to capture the WWE Tag Team World Cup at last year’s Crown Jewel? It only makes sense for Erik and Ivar to get their revenge with a rebound win, right? That’s exactly what’s going to happen here.
Humberto Carrillo vs. Angel Garza
WWE
Predictions & Winner: For the past few weeks, Raw has been the battleground for WWE’s top luchadors – Rey Mysterio, Andrade, Humberto Carrillo, and the newly added Angel Garza. The first two participants in this feud will most likely cross each other again during this event’s Gauntlet Match, while the other two will be having a rematch that follows up their last bout on Raw. Since Angel ended up on the winning end of his last meeting with Humberto, I foresee Humberto being the one to even up the score and get a win over his opponent. Once the Elimination Chamber PPV rolls around, I think all four men will settle this ongoing beef in a Fatal Four Way Match for the US Championship.
Mansoor vs. Dolph Ziggler
WWE
Predictions & Winner: Mansoor is always counted on to do two things when WWE flies over to Saudi Arabia – pop the hometown crowd and get a decisive victory to keep his native fans happy. Dolph Ziggler is obviously being put here to keep that trend going, so it’s safe to say that Mansoor is winning here.
Bayley (c) vs. Naomi (WWE SmackDown Women’s Championship)
WWE
Predictions & Winner: For some reason, I figured this title bout would be saved for WrestleMania 36. But seeing as how SmackDown’s women’s division isn’t exactly flowing with worthy challengers, WWE probably felt the need to make this match happen sooner rather than later. Plus you have to consider the fact that Bayley and Naomi are being selected to make history in Saudi Arabia by having another women’s match take place there. Now I’m among that group of fans that doesn’t really care for Bayley and her incredibly boring heel run as champion (the soccer mom haircut, generic theme song switch up, and lackluster performances do nothing for me). But besides Sasha Banks and Alexa Bliss, she’s the only other option worth going with as the champ.
Bayley’s been champion this long and I honestly don’t see her dropping the title right now, especially at this glorified house show. Naomi’s decent in her own right, but she’s just not championship material at the moment. So it’s pretty clear that Bayley’s retaining her title here and possibly walking into WrestleMania 36 with the title still within her grasp. Who will her challenger be at that major event, you ask? You heard it here first – it’s going to be someone who gets called up from NXT and wins the Elimination Chamber match for a chance to face Bayley. You heard it here first.
Seth Rollins and Murphy (c) vs. The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford) (WWE Raw Tag Team Championship)
WWE
Predictions & Winners: The main storyline taking the closing slot of recent Monday Night Raw’s has actually been fun to watch. Seth Rollins and his loyal followers (who are composed of fellow tag team champion Buddy Murphy and The Authors of Pain) have run roughshod over anyone that steps in their way. But they’ve had a tough time beating back the formidable alliance of Kevin Owens, Samoa Joe, and The Viking Raiders. The ongoing war that has erupted between both factions has given fans some pretty satisfying matches and will hopefully reach its conclusion in an incredible feud ending match at WrestleMania 36. But right now, Rollins and Murphy will have to contend with a duo they probably weren’t expecting to face – Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford, The Street Profits.
Dawkins and Ford have gotten caught up in Raw’s most heated feud and have earned themselves a tag team title shot in the process. I’m actually looking quite forward to watching these two teams work together, especially since Rollins and Murphy are always primed to put on a great performance. I love The Street Profits and everything they do, but it’s just too soon for Rollins and Murphy to drop the titles. Plus Dawkins and Ford aren’t quite at a level that makes them worthy of holding the Raw tag team titles just yet. The Church of Rollins will continue to reign once this match concludes.
AJ Styles vs. Andrade vs. Bobby Lashley vs. Erick Rowan vs. R-Truth vs. Rey Mysterio (Tuwaiq Trophy Gauntlet Match)
WWE
Predictions & Winner: We’re getting another overseas Gaunlet Match? And this time it features singles competitors? That’s quite a nice surprise, plus it looks like it’ll be better than most Gaunlet Match affairs due to the uber-talented athletes announced for it. I can already envision how this situation will break down – R-Truth and Rowan will lock up first, which will lead to the big brute getting rolled up for a shocking win by the comedic showman. R-Truth will then go on to face Bobby Lashley, who’ll quickly overpower and vanquish the lovable babyface. Once R-Truth has been dispatched, Rey Mysterio will be forced to come face to face with the much larger Lashley.
While this matchup looks like an easy win for Lashley on paper, I think Rey will pull out a surprise victory by rolling up the behemoth and catching him off guard to the delight of the crowd. Rey will then go onto face AJ Styles and give the crowd an entertaining sequence that will see Rey still hold on somehow and take down the “Phenomenal One.” The final matchup for this Gaunlet setup will rekindle the lucha libre war we’ve seen countless times between Rey and Andrade. Even though Rey will look to be on his last legs, he’ll still find a way to defeat his final foe and get revenge for the damage done to him during their recent Ladder Match. Rey’s going to take down three men in one night and proudly walk away with the Tuwaiq Trophy.
The New Day (Big E and Kofi Kingston) (c) vs. John Morrison and The Miz (WWE SmackDown Tag Team Championship)
WWE
Predictions & Winners: Ever since The Miz reverted back to his Hollywood heel persona, he’s gotten himself a few worthwhile victories. And the best part about it is the fact that he earned those wins alongside his returning partner, John Morrison. The parkour extraordinaire is back in WWE and helping his “Dirt Sheet” compadre raise his stock amongst the tag team ranks over on SmackDown. After getting the win during a hotly contested Fatal Four-Way Tag Team Match, Morrison and Miz finally earned themselves a tag team title shot. Which is fitting since it’s against the very same men they’ve been feuding with since getting back together – Big E and Kofi Kingston, better known as The New Day.
This match has all the workings of being good or possibly even great. Morrison and Kofi have the ability to produce all the daredevil, high-flying action fans have become accustomed to. Plus Big E’s an underrated big man who works well with men of equal or lesser stature in the weight department. And The Miz is no slouch himself, but he tends to work better within the confines of a multi-man matchup. With all those factors in mind, this tag team title match has a lot going for it. The New Day have been tag team champions a record-setting number of times. And whenever they drop the titles, their credibility with the fans is never hurt in the process. I think they’ll be taking the loss here in order to further rebuild The Miz and give Morrison a “Welcome Back to WWE!” award. Once Morrison and Miz get the big win here, I don’t see them dropping those titles for a very long time.
Roman Reigns vs. King Corbin (Steel Cage Match)
WWE
Predictions & Winner: This feud is never going to end, is it? At this point, it’s looking like Roman Reigns and King Corbin will be brawling into the next decade. It’s not like we’ve been treated to amazing matches, strong promos, and loud crowd reactions whenever these two men meet. There’s just nothing all that exciting about Corbin cosplaying as royalty and Reigns butting heads with him at every turn. Reigns handily defeated Corbin at the Royal Rumble during their Falls Count Anywhere match, but Corbin’s verbal lambasting of the man who defeated him has led to yet ANOTHER REMATCH! It’s in a Steel Cage this time, so hopefully, it’s at least a bit more entertaining than their previous bouts.
So the last time Reigns found himself competing in a Steel Cage match in Saudi Arabia, he was handed a controversial loss to Brock Lesnar. Trust me when I tell you, folks – that definitely won’t be the case here. In order to overcome Corbin one last time and possibly go on to compete in some sort of Elimination Chamber match to determine the #1 contender to the Universal Championship at ‘Mania 36, Reigns will tear through the “king.” There’s no doubt in my mind regarding this match’s outcome – Reigns is spearing Corbin one last time (fingers crossed), walking out of the cage and moving past this lame ass feud (hopefully).
“The Fiend” Bray Wyatt (c) vs. Goldberg (WWE Universal Championship)
WWE
Predictions & Winner: Goldberg still has a lot left in the tank these days. After his atrocious performance against The Undertaker at last year’s Super ShowDown, the big man redeemed himself by cutting through Dolph Ziggler in just a few minutes at SummerSlam 2019. Now that the fans have a positive memory of Goldberg to go back to as of late, he’s put himself in a position where he’s looking to keep producing worthwhile showings. I’m a bit worried about how he’ll do against his next opponent, though – WWE Universal Champion, “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt.
When Bray and Daniel Bryan put on a banger of a match at the 2020 Royal Rumble event, it had one major positive going for it – the complete lack of red lighting. I hope that the same lighting option is used once again for this major title match. As for the match itself, I don’t see this one going too long. Goldberg will probably get the upper hand early with a Spear and a Jackhammer, but Bray will shock the world when he kicks out at two. This will shock Goldberg to his core and force him to try that same move combination once again, but this time Bray will catch him off guard and plant him with a Sister Abigail. But this time, Goldberg will be the one kicking out at two. Afterward, both men will exchange a few more blows and power moves before the inevitable outcome – Bray delivering one more Sister Abigail and chocking out Goldberg with a devastating Mandible Claw to end the legend’s suffering.
Brock Lesnar (c) vs. Ricochet (WWE Championship)
WWE
Predictions & Winner: At the 2020 Royal Rumble, Drew McIntyre blew people’s minds when he used a Claymore Kick to send WWE Champion Brock Lesnar flying over the top rope. What fans tend to forget about that shocking moment is what led to Brock’s weakened state in the first place – a low blow from Ricochet of all people. Two weeks later, Ricochet came out on the winning end of a Triple Threat Match and earned himself a WWE Championship title shot at this international event. So it looks like Brock may finally get his revenge on the man that caused him to literally get booted out of the 2020 Royal Rumble.
This first-time meeting between Brock and Ricochet won’t fall along the lines of “The Beast’s” weaker performances. For some reason, Brock puts his working boots on extra tight and delivers a more entertaining effort against men much smaller than him. His recent bouts against AJ Styles, Daniel Bryan, Rey Mysterio, and Finn Bálor produced nail-biting near falls and plenty of satisfying action throughout.
I think that’ll be the case here, especially since Ricochet’s high-flying moveset meshes well with the powerhouse game Brock relies on. We should know the Brock vs. smaller opponent formula by now – Brock controls the first half, his foe catches him off guard then gets the upper hand during the second half, then Brock shakes off the cobwebs and puts his opponent in the dirt. But that approach has delivered in spades for Brock thus far, which is why I haven’t tired of it yet. Ricochet’s definitely losing here, but he’ll look so good while doing it.