The singles match between Rhodes & Sandow has been made official for this year's SummerSlam. However, as of right now, the match doesn't appear to be for Sandow's WHC MITB briefcase.
I know matches have been done in the past that have been for the briefcase, and the feud has been primarily around the Briefcase, but whyshould it be when the heel has nothing to gain? I could see a situation where Cody goads Sandow into proving he was the one who carried Rhodes Scholars, and proving it by putting up the briefcase. But wouldn't him beating Rhodes in a one-on-one match have the same effect?
As next week is the go home Raw for SummerSlam, it's still possible that the stipulation will be added to the match.If the match ultimately is just a standard singles match, then I expect it to be very forgettable.
Despite the stupidity of putting up the briefcase in a match with nothing to gain, such as RVD and Mr. Kennedy did in the past, I agree. We're often, as fans, asked to forget logic when it comes to wrestling, and this one certainly would do that. Sandow, as a supposed intellectual, would look pretty dumb putting the case up just to get his hands on Rhodes.
The winner of this match will depend on the 'stipulation', I believe. If it's just a standard one-on-one match, I think Rhodes takes it. But if the case is on the line, Sandow wins in dirty fashion. I like Cody as a face right now, and having him win the case, as it usually does, would turn him heel again faster then Alberto Del Rio turned. Further, it makes for a more dramatic match.
I've enjoyed the build to this match, and if booked properly, could elevate both men here. But the only way to do that is for Sandow to win with the case on the line. He continues to be the "Uncrowned World Heavyweight Champion", as JBL puts it, and they could either re-visit the feud later when/if Sandow wins the WHC with RHodes challenging him, and perhaps winning. In the interim, it could make RHodes a strong challenger for either Axel as IC Champion, or Ambrose as U.S. Champion.
But for this match, and it being Summerslam, I think the stakes have to be higher, and the case should be on the line. If it is, Sandow wins. If it's a standard one-on-one match, Rhodes takes it.