WWE 2016 Draft Matchbets For July 15th

As covered in the last two posts, betting odds for next week's WWE Draft have been republished on the websites that have been offering WWE Draft coverage since early June. In this post, I'll go over the matchbet odds and compare the current prices to earlier this week.

For those of you who aren't aware - a matchbet market lists two individuals and you have to punt which of the two will be drafted ahead of the other. There are a handful of markets available, so I'll start from the bottom and work my way up.

Charlotte .vs. Sasha Banks

This is a new addition. Both wrestlers are a 17/20 pick 'em as of the time of writing. As WWE Women's Champion, Charlotte might not even be entered into the draft. Therefore, I predict this will be settled as void. If she is in it, then Charlotte would be the right pick. But like I stated, I doubt she'll be eligible. 

Samoa Joe .vs. Shinsuke Nakamura

Samoa Joe's odds have been readjusted from 11/10 to EVENS since Monday. I can't see why as he's the NXT Champion and is therefore tied to NXT. Nakamura, who is also stuck with NXT for the time being, is now 18/25. He had been 13/20. This is another market that will be voided as both wrestlers have to be drafted for a winning bet to be determined. 

Samoa Joe .vs. Finn Balor

Balor's odds have been shortened from 11/10 to 13/20 and Joe's have improved from 13/20 to 11/10. I am confident that Balor will be selected, but Joe won't be. I'm counting this as another potential void result.

Shinsuke Nakamura .vs. Finn Balor

Once again, with Shinsuke Nakamura on NXT up to at least August's NXT TakeOver show, I'm reluctant to bet on either of these names in this situation. For what it's worth, Finn Balor's price has dropped from 17/20 to 3/5 while Nak is now 6/5 - he had been 6/5.

Bray Wyatt .vs. Cesaro 

In early June, Bray Wyatt was 1/2 and Cesaro was 7/5. It became clear that the customers sided with Cesaro as his price moved to 11/10 while Wyatt improved to 13/20. This has now changed up with the clients now seeming to have sided with Wyatt. He's now a short 3/10 with Cesaro out at 11/5. 

Kevin Owens .vs. Bray Wyatt

Wyatt has seen action in this market as well. His price has dropped from 7/5 to 13/10 between Monday and today. As a result of this change, Owens' price has moved out from 1/2 to 11/20.

Kevin Owens .vs. Sami Zayn

Sami Zayn's odds have drifted out from 23/20 to 6/5 since Monday. Kevin Owens is now 3/5 from 8/13. The two will wrestle each other for what could be the final time for the foreseeable future at Battleground. I am keen to see if the person who is drafted first (my guess Owens) will end up doing the job five days later to balance things out. 

Brock Lesnar .vs. John Cena

All of Brock Lesnar's match markets were taken down before UFC 200, so I'm working on odds from July 7th. In this case, his price has been shortened from 11/10 to 9/10 with John Cena's number improving from 13/20 to 4/5. 

In my opinion, the company should have Brock go first overall. Therefore, the adjustment makes sense. 

Brock Lesnar .vs. Roman Reigns

The two were 17/20 each on July 7th. Lesnar's price has now tumbled to 18/25 with Reigns backers being offered even money for a winning punt.

Brock Lesnar .vs. Seth Rollins

Lesnar's price has dropped in this market as well. He's now 19/20, but had been 11/10 a week ago. Rollins' price has increased to 3/4 from 13/20. 

AJ Styles .vs. Kevin Owens

More love for Kevin Owens. His price has dropped from 7/4 to 1/1 while AJ Styles - who was 2/5 at the start of this week - is now 18/25. They're back to square one as this is how the market was priced up when it first went live on June 2nd. With Styles in the midst of a program with John Cena, I think he has a good chance of being selected ahead of Owens.

AJ Styles .vs. Finn Balor 

I have sided with both options since the market was first installed. I don't even know who to pick as of right now. I can make a case for both workers. For what it's worth, the oddsmakers have moved Balor down from 7/5 to 11/10 since Monday and have increased Styles' price to 13/20 from 1/2.

This is a coin flip.

John Cena .vs. Randy Orton

John Cena is now 2/5 from 4/9 and Randy Orton's price has now improved from 31/20 to 7/4. I'm surprised that Orton's odds weren't snipped as he's going to have to be positioned prominently with his match against Brock Lesnar on the horizon.

John Cena .vs. Seth Rollins

Rollins' price has been cut from EVENS to 17/20 while Cena's number is now 17/20 from 18/25. I have been strong on the latter in this spot since the market opened. Reports of Cena having a lesser schedule have entered the fray since then, though. Despite this, I am still confident he'll be selected ahead of Rollins.

Roman Reigns .vs. John Cena

The oddsmakers have cut Reigns from 7/4 to 6/5. Cena is now 3/5 from 2/5. So, a slight increase for Cena. 

Dean Ambrose .vs. Roman Reigns .vs. Seth Rollins

This is a Shield special where there are three possible outcomes. Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins are available at EVENS each while Roman Reigns is 3/1. 

The differences between Monday and today points to Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins as the traders have changed Reigns' price from 7/2 and Rolins' from 11/10.

Dean Ambrose's price has improved a tad. It had been 4/5.

My head is telling me to take Reigns at 3/1 on the off-chance that (a) Ambrose is eligible or (b) the title is held-up after Monday's Raw. 

If Ambrose is ineligible, the market will be voided.

Seth Rollins .vs. Dean Ambrose

I have already broached the possibility that the WWE titleholder will be exempt from the draft. If this is the case - all bets will be off here as well

Dean Ambrose's price has shortened since Monday's check, He was 3/4, but is 18/25. Seth Rollins has moved out from 19/20 to EVENS.

Roman Reigns .vs. Dean Ambrose

Another matchbet that might end up being voided if Ambrose isn't included in the 2016 WWE Draft. For what it's worth, this is the only market that hasn't changed between Monday and today.  The odds are still showing:

Roman Reigns 7/5
Dean Ambrose 1/2

Roman Reigns .vs. Seth Rollins

This is the market that I have paid the closest attention to. I have the opinion that Roman Reigns will go ahead of Seth Rollins. I thought so before Reigns' suspension and this feeling hasn't shifted. All of Rollins' actions on the most recent episodes of Raw - where he's mocking Reigns for getting suspended - is leading to him being drafted after his rival.

When I checked in last night, I noted that Roman Reigns' odds had fallen from 21/20 to 17/20. Seth Rollins' price had moved out to 17/20 from 17/25. These numbers have changed overnight and the action appears to have gone the way of Seth Rollins as he is now 39/50. Reigns' odds have gone out to 23/25.

I believe this action is a result of the reports that Vince McMahon is unhappy with Roman Reigns for failing his wellness test.

To counter, TV has been building to Rollins getting his comeuppance and Reigns was still booked to be in the main event of Battleground AFTER failing the test. Even though McMahon may be angry at his chosen one, the actions seem to indicate that the push will still continue for the time being at least.

This could end up biting me next week, but Roman Reigns will go ahead of Seth Rollins. I am sure of it.

Odds correct as of the time of publishing. The latest - if available - can be found under 'WWE' on the websites listed on this page.