Summerslam Approaches

 

In just a few weeks the second biggest WWE show of the year, Summerslam will be upon us.  We have five matches on the card so far.  With only a few weeks left until the show, there are a few questions remaining.  How will the rest of the card shape up?  What's likely to happen?  And how does this position things going forward?  What do I think so far?

• The Main Event - John Cena is defending the WWE World Title against Brock Lesnar.  We've known about this one ever since the poster leaked over a month ago, but that doesn't mean it will be any less important.  This is Lesnar's first big match since ending the Undertaker's streak at WrestleMania, and this is the first real challenger for the title since Cena got it back at Money in the Bank.  This could go down one of many different ways.  We could get the standard Cena retaining the title ending (the worst possible and least likely finish, in my opinion), a Brock title victory (also unlikely at this point given his sparse schedule), or some kind of non finish (my pick).  If the non finish happens, then the question will be whether or not Seth Rollins cashes in on Money in the Bank to take advantage of a beaten down Cena after the match is finished.  Right now that's my pick, but we'll see.

• Roman Reigns vs. Randy Orton - This is an important test for Reigns; he's obviously going over Orton in this match but this is first major singles match on a pay per view show.  So far this year on pay per view he's been in the Royal Rumble, four straight six man tag team matches, an eight man ladder match, and a Fatal Four Way; this time around he'll be tasked with going out there and giving a good 10 to 15 minute match without any tricks.  Orton is a good worker, but a bit overrated in my book.  He can hold up his end of a good match but doesn't carry anyone beyond what they're already capable of.  If Reigns isn't read to hold up his end, this could be a bad sign for his future.  If he's going to be a face of the company kind of guy, then he's going to be able to go 15 to 20 minutes in a pay per main event against an opponent.  I don't doubt that he could work well with Daniel Bryan or Cena, but what happens when they need a simple no drama title defense against say, Mark Henry?  Last year was able to get two very good matches against Ryback and a decent one against Mark Henry over three straight months.  That's the kind of thing that Reigns will be required to do if he becomes champ.  If he doesn't look like he can do that he could very well be the next Lex Luger, a guy who is always the 'future champion' without ever beating the main guy.

• Chris Jericho vs. Bray Wyatt - This is the rematch from last month.  Everybody assumed Jericho would be jobbing to Wyatt at Battleground but he inexplicably got a clean win.  My guess is that the favor get returned here and we get a big blowoff match at Night of Champions before Jericho rides off into the sunset until next year.

• Jack Swagger vs. Rusev - Another rematch from Battleground.  The first was supposed to be another win for Rusev on his way up, but the reaction Swagger started getting warranted stretching this out a little.  Either Rusev gets the win this time and moves on or we get another non finish to set up a final chapter in September.

• Stephanie McMahon vs. Brie Bella -  This is mainly a way to keep Daniel Bryan's name alive while he's out.  I'm sure Stephanie will perform better than expected in the ring, and might even get the win in order to keep the program going.

As far as the rest of the show, there are probably two or three more matches to add.  At least one of the other titles needs to be defended, and at some point we need to actually get a Dean Ambrose-Seth Rollins match. We have a few weeks so we'll see how it shakes out.