SummerSlam Odds: Major Shift in Lesnar, Rollins Odds Just Hours Before the Event

WWE’s second-biggest show of the year will take place Tonight at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. For the days and weeks leading up to SummerSlam, it looked like Brock Lesnar’s universal championship run was finally set to come to an end.

However, It wouldn’t be the first time that Brock and Vince McMahon reached an 11th-hour extension, and the movement in the betting odds today suggests there may be something afoot.

Brock's odds opened at nearly +300 to retain his championship, and are now at +155, still the underdog to Reigns' -195, but the odds for this match are much closer than they have been, even as late as yesterday.  

Lesnar has held the red brand’s title since WrestleMania 33 when he won it from Bill Goldberg in Orlando. August 19 will mark 504 days since Lesnar won the championship, which is significant, as it’s the longest uninterrupted heavyweight championship reign in the company since Hulk Hogan’s title run from 1984 to 1988 – a title run ended by the famous double Hebner finish. 

WWE Universal Championship - SummerSlam 2018

Odds as of August 19 at 5Dimes

• Brock Lesnar       +155
• Roman Reigns     -195

Ronda Rousey vs Alexa Bliss

The semi-main event will see another former UFC champion in a title match. “Rowdy” Ronda Rousey is expected to win her first WWE Raw women’s championship from current champion Alexa Bliss. Rousey has surprised doubters with her in-ring performances, albeit in her limited exposure to the audience. Her athletic skill is undeniable and, by all accounts, she has been a quick study in the WWE style of performance.

Rousey opened at a massive -600 for this match, but as we get closer to bell time, her odds have moved to -380. 

WWE raw women’s Championship - SummerSlam 2018

Odds as of August 19 at 5Dimes

• Alexa Bliss          +260
• Ronda Rousey    -380

Dolph Ziggler vs Seth Rollins

The return of Dean Ambrose as Monday Night Raw went off the air on Monday has flipped the entire script of this match. Rollins was once -300 to win this match, but now, just hours before the show, Dolph Ziggler is actually the favorite. 

WWE Intercontinental Championship - SummerSlam 2018

Odds as of August 19 at 5Dimes

• Dolph Ziggler    -125
• Seth Rollins       -115

Aj Styles vs Samoa Joe

The two former darlings of the independents and current SmackDown Live superstars will hook up for the WWE championship. Styles, in his second run with the blue brand’s big belt, is favored to retain his title in this match before the final two matches of the night see title changes.

Former NXT champion Samoa Joe has not been able to capture the same mainstream popularity of Styles during his first 20 months on the main roster. A strong performance and storytelling with Styles at SummerSlam could further his chances of winning the belt further down the road. 

WWE Championship - SummerSlam 2018

Odds as of August 19 at 5Dimes

• AJ Styles        -390
• Samoa Joe    +270

Becky Lynch vs Carmella vs Charlotte Flair - Triple Threat

The odds for this match are very intriguing with Becky Lynch as a favorite but nobody as a favorite against the field. Looks like insiders haven’t been able to figure this out yet. Lynch has been getting a bigger push lately and Carmella hasn’t been an overwhelmingly popular champion. Charlotte Flair is still one of the biggest stars in the women’s division and can never be considered out of the equation. 

WWE Smackdown Women’s Championship - SummerSlam 2018

Odds as of August 19 at 5Dimes

• Becky Lynch                           +170
• Field to beat Becky Lynch       -230

• Carmella                                 +145
• Field to beat Carmella             -185

• Charlotte Flair                         +205
• Field to beat Charlotte Flair     -285

Complete odds for the rest of the matches can be found below:

money in the bank contract - SummerSlam 2018

Odds as of August 19 at 5Dimes

• Braun Strowman     -260
• Kevin Owens          +180

WWE United States Championship - SummerSlam 2018

Odds as of August 19 at 5Dimes

• Shinsuke Nakamura    -530
• Jeff Hardy                    +350

WWE Smackdown Tag Team Championship - SummerSlam 2018

Odds as of August 19 at 5Dimes

• The Bludgeon Brothers    -140
• The New Day                   +100

WWE - SummerSlam 2018

Odds as of August 19 at 5Dimes

• Finn Balor           -270
• Baron Corbin      +190

WWE - SummerSlam 2018

Odds as of August 19 at 5Dimes

• Daniel Bryan     +140
• The Miz             -180

WWE Cruiserweight Championship - SummerSlam 2018

Odds as of August 19 at 5Dimes

• Cedric Alexander     -180
• Drew Gulak              +140

WWE Tag Team Match - SummerSlam 2018

Odds as of August 19 at 5Dimes

• The B Team          -290
• The Revival          +210

WWE Mixed Tag Team Match - SummerSlam 2018

Odds as of August 19 at 5Dimes

• Rusev & Lana                         +210
• A.Cien Almas & Z.Vega          -290

Archived Articles

The WWE takes its biggest party of the summer to Brooklyn for the third straight year when it takes over the Barclays Center for SummerSlam. The show is loaded with some big-time matches but is highlighted by the massive main event, a fatal four-way between Brock Lesnar, Roman Reigns, Samoa Joe and Braun Strowman for the WWE universal championship.

Lesnar enters the event as the -365 fave to retain his title. With the added wrinkle that a Lesnar loss means that the Beast Incarnate and Paul Heyman will leave the WWE, it stands to reason why he is such a big favorite. That being said, Lesnar losing would also be a good way to write him off for a few months and set up a climactic battle with someone (maybe Strowman) at WrestleMania.

If one is to believe that the victor this Sunday walks into Mania as the champion, you would assume Strowman offers the best value for bettors. Both Joe and Reigns have already had high-profile matches with Lesnar in the past and the WWE is clearly high on Strowman. A lengthy title run would help solidify him as a devastating monster who could beat Lesnar one-on-one.

Over on Smackdown, Jinder Mahal will aim to defend his WWE championship against Shinsuke Nakamura. Mahal will have the numbers advantage over Nakamura but there is no doubt that the Maharaja’s reign has been a disappointment for the WWE. Nakamura is one of the best pure wrestling talents on the roster and has more charisma than almost anyone in the business today.

WWE Universal Championship

Odds as of August 20 at 5Dimes

• Brock Lesnar Wins Fatal 4-Way -365
• Field +240

• Samoa Joe Wins Fatal 4-Way +450
• Field -99999

• Roman Reigns Wins Fatal 4-Way +1500
• Field -99999

• Braun Strowman Wins Fatal 4-Way +900
• Field -99999

WWE Championship

Odds as of August 20 at 5Dimes

• Jinder Mahal +500
• Shinsuke Nakamura -900

Alexa Bliss vs Sasha Banks

Odds as of August 20 at 5Dimes

• Alexa Bliss -260
• Sasha Banks +180

WWE United States Championship

Odds as of August 20 at Bovada

• AJ Styles -400
• Kevin Owens +250

WWE Smackdown Tag Team Championship

Odds as of August 20 at Bovada

• The Usos +415
• The New Day -750

WWE Raw Tag Team Championship

Odds as of August 20 at Bovada

• Sheamus and Cesaro +170
• Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose -250

WWE Cruiserweight Championship

Odds as of August 20 at Bovada

• Akira Tozawa +175
• Neville -260

Randy Orton vs Rusev

Odds as of August 20 at Bovada

• Randy Orton +525
• Rusev -950

John Cena vs Baron Corbin

Odds as of August 20 at Bovada

• John Cena +150
• Baron Corbin -200

Finn Balor vs Bray Wyatt

Odds as of August 20 at Bovada

• Finn Balor -600
• Bray Wyatt +350

Big Show vs Big Cass

Odds as of August 20 at Bovada

• Big Show +155
• Big Cass -220