SummerSlam 2016 tips: Brock Lesnar v Randy Orton and more WWE odds

WWE Universal Championship: Finn Balor v Seth Rollins

This bout to crown the inaugural Universal champ is a close call. It all depends on how swiftly WWE creative want to put a major title on recent main roster call-up Balor.

Rollins gets over as a heel champion that a face can chase, yet is rated less likely to leave SummerSlam with the strap at 10/11.

Irish wrestler Balor, nicknamed The Demon King, is a narrow 8/11 favourite to become WWE Universal Champion, but it might be wiser to wager on Rollins, who will look to live up to his own in-ring moniker – The Architect.

WWE World Championship: Dean Ambrose (c) v Dolph Ziggler

The Lunatic Fringe’s run with this belt is set to continue here with Ambrose an overwhelming odds-on 1/10 match favourite.

Ziggler, who had the old World Heavyweight Championship put on him briefly during a feud with Hall of Famer Edge a few years back, is a rank 5/1 outsider to add the WWE title to his career achievements.

For all his in-ring theatrics, The Showoff is little more than a best of the rest opponent for Ambrose, because other top stars like Roman Reigns, John Cena and AJ Syles are engaged in other feuds presently.

John Cena v AJ Styles

In a battle that is billed for being about the right to call themselves ‘The Franchise of WWE’, established company face Cena holds WWE odds of 9/4 to defeat The Phenomenal One.

Styles, who won their singles bout at Money In The Bank, is a 2/7 chance to make it 2-0, though was on the losing side in the Battleground six-man tag last time out.

What purpose having Cena go over here would serve when both wrestlers are now on different brands is hard to establish. Siding with Styles, however, could pay off with a world title run surely in his future.

WWE United States Championship: Rusev (c) v Roman Reigns

Although recently returned from a drugs ban, you can’t discount a US title run starting for Reigns here at 15/8.

Putting him in this bout with Rusev is a clear demotion from main event status, but The Roman Empire may ride out the storm caused by his suspension with this secondary strap round his waist.

Yet, WWE could use this opportunity to make an example of Reigns. ‘Bulgarian Brute’ Rusev is 1/3 to leave SummerSlam still United States champ.

WWE Tag Team Championship: The New Day (c) v Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson

New Day member Big E is sidelined by injury, leaving smaller stablemates Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods to fend for themselves with their tag titles at stake against the old Bullet Club duo.

A 15/8 price on The New Day winning does not appeal, but taking 1/2 on Gallows and Anderson to take the belts would form part of an acca nicely.

WWE Intercontinental Championship: The Miz (c) v Apollo Crews

Like Rollins above, The Miz is just one of those heel champions that gets under the skin of wrestling fans, and that is why he features among SummerSlam 2016 tips.

In his fifth reign with the IC belt, Miz is 8/13 to defeat up-and-coming challenger Crews, who is 6/5 to snatch the strap.

WWE Women’s Championship: Sasha Banks (c) v Charlotte

With Banks an 11/8 outsider to still be on top of the women’s division, it falls to Charlote, the daughter of two-time Hall of Famer Ric Flair, to be 1/2 match favourite here.

Enzo Amore and Big Cass v Chris Jericho and Kevin Owens

A promising tag team take on a couple of Canadians, who are already over either globally or enjoying a cult following.

Y2J and KO are 8/13 to beat the exuberant Enzo and Cass, with their great on the mic entrance gimmick.

Siding with the newer faces at 6/5 makes sense as WWE continues to try and get them over.

Best-of-seven series match 1: Cesaro v Sheamus

‘Swiss Superman’ Cesaro is hugely popular with wrestling fans, but starts as an 11/10 outsider to win the opener of seven battles with The Celtic Warrior.

Former world champ Sheamus starts as 4/7 favourite, and the European market to whom these superstars most appeal can check out this match on the SummerSlam kick-off show.

SummerSlam selections

Randy Orton to beat Brock Lesnar

Seth Rollins to become inaugural WWE Universal Champion

Dean Ambrose to retain WWE World title

AJ Styles to beat John Cena

Roman Reigns to win WWE United States Championship

Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson to win WWE Tag Team titles

The Miz to retain WWE Intetcontinental Championship

Charlotte to win WWE Women’s title

Enzo Amore and Big Cass to beat Chris Jericho and Kevin Owens

Sheamus to take a 1-0 lead in best-of-seven series against Cesaro

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