This Sunday marks the first major WWE pay-per-view since the brand split as the company presents their 29th annual Summerslam event. Like last year, the event will last four hours, with 10 matches scheduled for the main show. A strong card top to bottom, expectations are high for the biggest party of the summer. Let's take a look at the matches.
Suplex City or Viperville?
Two days before Brock Lesnar's fight with Mark Hunt at UFC 200, WWE announced that Randy Orton as his opponent for Summerslam. After Lesnar's victory in the octagon, multiple news sources reported Lesnar's failure of in and out of competition drug test leading up to his fight with Hunt. WWE did not suspend Lesnar due to his status as a part-time performer. On the WWE Draft edition of SmackDown Live, Stephanie McMahon and Mick Foley selected Lesnar for RAW. Shane McMahon and Daniel Bryan picked Orton for the blue brand.
At WWE Battleground, Chris Jericho invited Orton as a guest on The Highlight Reel. Orton claimed it only took one RKO to send Lesnar to "Viperville" "no enhancements needed". Orton's comments drew "oooohhhh's" from the audience. Jericho pestered Orton throughout the segment. "The Legend Killer" had enough and dropped "Y2J" with an RKO. Orton defeated The Miz in his first match back on the July 26 SmackDown.
Lesnar and Paul Heyman appeared on the August 1 RAW, their first appearance since WrestleMania season. Heyman ranted and raved about Orton never being able to hit the RKO on "The Beast Incarnate". Before Heyman finished, Orton ran through the crowd and surprised Lesnar with his signature move. Orton escaped through the crowd before security and the RAW locker room ran out. The next night on SmackDown, Lesnar parted through security and dropped Orton with an F-5.
On the August 8 RAW, WWE conducted sit-down interviews with Orton and Lesnar. Orton felt Lesnar was underestimating him. He vowed to beat Lesnar at SummerSlam. Lesnar dismissed Orton as merely a "star" while championing himself as a "mega-star". Orton defeated Alberto Del Rio via disqualification the next night. Del Rio struck Orton twice with a chair for the DQ. As Del Rio set up for more punishment, Orton recovered and hit the RKO.
On the go-home RAW, Heyman and Lesnar delivered their final sales pitch for the inter-promotional match. Heath Slater, continuing his free agent storyline, interrupted Heyman. Slater asked for a match with Lesnar to earn a contract. Lesnar invited the West Virginia native in the ring and told him he "didn't give a shit about his kids". The former Minnesota Golden Gopher told Salter to leave the ring. Slater charged at Lesnar and ate a clothesline for his troubles. Lesnar finished Slater off with the F-5. The next night, Slater face Orton for a SmackDown contract. Orton lost via disqualification but beat down Slater after the match. Orton tossed Slater around with german suplexes, imitating Lesnar. Orton finished off Slatter with the RKO.
Who will be the first Universal Champion?
At Battleground, Dean Ambrose defeated Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns to retain the WWE Championship. Ambrose's win left RAW without a heavyweight champion. The next night, Stephanie and Foley announced the creation of the WWE Universal Championship, named for the WWE Universe. Of course, Stephanie gave Rollins a bye to SummerSlam since he was not pinned at Battleground. Foley announced two fatal-four-way matches for the night, with the two winners facing off in the main event. Finn Balor and Roman Reigns won their respective matches. Balor pinned Reigns in the main event after a Coup de Grace. The next week, Balor and Rollins said they would beat one another to become the first Universal Champion. Rollins attempted a cheap shot, but Balor blocked and hit his overhead kick.
On the August 8 RAW, Rollins cut a promo on Balor, mocking his name and claiming he was "no Seth Rollins". Rollins said he would add to his legend and become the Univeral Champion. On the go-home RAW, Rollins spent the whole show looking for the "Demon King". Once Rollins got to the ring, "The Demon" was not far behind. Balor made his entrance, wasting the first appearance of "The Demon" on free TV. Balor and Rollins brawled, with the Irishman hitting another overhead kick on "The Architect".
Can Ziggler silence the critics?
On the July 26 SmackDown Live, Dolph Ziggler won a six-pack challenge, earning a WWE Championship match at SummerSlam. After the match, Dean Ambrose marched down to the ring and stared down the number one contender. The next week, the champion tore into Ziggler, saying "The Showoff" was more concerned with stealing the show than winning matches. After Ambrose left, Bray Wyatt emerged from the darkness, dropping Ziggler with Sister Abigail. Wyatt challenged Ziggler to a match for the SummerSlam title shot. Ziggler accepted, against the pleas of Bryan and Shane. Ziggler pinned Wyatt after driving "The Eater of Worlds'" head into the exposed turnbuckle and nailing a superkick. After the match, Eric Rowan charged the ring and assaulted Ziggler. Ambrose, who sat in on commentary, slid into the ring to even the odds but got beat down as well.
On August 9, Ziggler and Ambrose brawled with the Wyatts. In the scrum, Ziggler accidentally super kicked Ambrose. Later in the night, Ziggler and Ambrose defeated Wyatt and Rowan in tag team action. Ambrose dropped Ziggler with Dirty Deeds after the match, returning the favor from earlier.
Ambrose and Ziggler appeared on Miz TV on the go-home SmackDown. Ambrose said he did not buy into "the new Dolph Ziggler" and would beat him at Summerslam. Ziggler responded with a fiery promo, claiming Ambrose would not have enough to beat him. Ziggler then kicked Ambrose's head off his shoulders and left him lying. Ambrose pinned Rowan clean later in the night.
Is Cena's time up?
On the August 2 SmackDown, AJ Styles called John Cena to the ring. Styles ranted about Cena manipulating the "weak-minded fans" (getting in a dig at TNA in the process) and wondered why "The Face that Runs the Place" was still in WWE. Cena responded with his semi-annual declaration of love for the WWE, saying it was his "home". Styles gave Cena mock clap and challenged him to a match at SummerSlam. Cena accepted the match without delay. Styles said Cena would have to admit "The Phenomenal One" was better than him. If Cena did not, he's a liar. If he does, he's a lose. "Either way, I win", Styles said.
On the August 16 SmackDown, Cena defeated Alberto Del Rio. Afterward, Styles, who was a guest commentator, caved in Cena's face with the Phenomenal Forearm. Styles told Cena that his time was up. Styles set up for the Styles Clash, but Cena countered and hit the Attitude Adjustment. Cena hit the move again moments later, this time flinging Styles through the announce table.
Roman Reigns: American Hero
On the August 1 RAW, Rusev defeated Mark Henry to retain the United States Championship. Roman Reigns interrupted Rusev's post-match rant about the banned Russian and Bulgarian athletes in the Olympics. They brawled to the ring floor, where Reigns hit the U.S. Champion with a Superman punch. The next week, Rusev and Lana celebrated their wedding. Reigns crashed the party and called Lana a mail-order bride. Reins challenged Rusev to a U.S. title match at Summerslam but Rusev declined. This led to another brawl, with Reigns sending Rusev into Lana and the "Ravishing Russian" falling face-first into her wedding cake. Mick Foley later booked Rusev and Reigns for the U.S. title at SummerSlam. Rusev defeated Cesaro later in the night to retain his title.
On the August 15 RAW, Rusev and Lana attempted to hold up the show until Reigns apologized. Stephanie and Foley attempted to diffuse the situation before Reigns came out. Reigns gave a sarcastic apology, reiterated his unfunny mail-order bride joke, and challenged Rusev to a match for RAW. Foley booked the non-title bout for the main event. Reigns pinned Rusev with a spear to close the show.
The era of "The Boss"
At Battleground Sasha Banks and Bayley defeated then-Women's Champion Charlotte and Dana Brooke. Banks forced Charlotte to tap out to the Bank Statement to secure the victory. The next night on RAW, Foley gave Banks a Women's title shot for later in the show. Once again, Banks forced Charlotte to submit, winning her first WWE Women's title. The nex week, Banks announced a rematch with Charlotte for SummerSlam. The former champ came out and compared Banks' reign to a one night stand. Chris Jericho and Enzo Amore came out to set up mixed tag team match, where Charlotte pinned the champion after interference from Brooke and Natural Selection.
On the August 8 RAW, Banks wanted Foley to change her title match into a handicap match with Charlotte and Brooke. Instead, Foley scheduled Banks vs. Brooke. If Banks won, Brooke was banned from ringside at SummerSlam. If Brooke won, it would be a handicap match. "The Boss" drove her knees into Brooke's sternum and picked up the pinfall. On the go-home RAW, Charlotte tore into Brooke, calling her an epic failure. The dissension turned out to be a ruse. Charlotte pinned Alicia Fox clean and called Banks down to the ring. Once the champion entered the ring, Brooke attacked from behind. Charlotte applied the Figure Eight and left Banks lying and selling a knee injury.
Dr.'s Anderson and Gallows eye the Tag Team Titles
On the July 25 RAW, The New Day celebrated their record-breaking reign as WWE Tag Team Champions. As they danced in the ring with "Sonny Boy", Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows attacked the champs and left them laying. The next week, Anderson and Gallows faced Kofi Kingston and Big E with Xavier Woods banned from ringside. The Club lost in mere seconds. After the match, Gallows and Anderson laid out New Day. The former IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions drove Big E crotch-first into the ring post, sidelining him. Gallows pinned Kingston in a quick match the next week. Woods grabbed a steel chair and saved Kingston from a crotch shot. On the go-home RAW, New Day beat the Dudley Boyz in a non-title match. Following the match, Anderson and Gallows dressed up as doctors and made light of Big E's injury. Later that night, The Club beat The Golden Truth. New Day came out afterward and tried to hit Gallows low with Francesca II. Anderson saved his partner at the last minute.
JeriKO looks to shut up Enzo and Cass
After the aforementioned mixed tag team match, Y2J hit Enzo with a codebreaker. Big Cass came out to the aid of his partner and chased Jericho from the ring. Later in the night, Jericho vowed to find help to combat Enzo and Cass. After Jericho struggled to tell Tom Phillips who his partner was, Kevin Owens entered the picture and said he had Jericho's back. The next week, Jericho defeated Enzo by disqualification. Then, Enzo and Cass challenged Jericho and Owens to a tag team match at SummerSlam, which Owens and Jericho accepted. Cass and Owens' match the next week also ended in a DQ. The heels left Enzo and Cass lying at ringside.
It's Crews
On the August 2 SmackDown, Apollo Crews defeated Baron Corbin and Kalisto to become the number one contender for the Intercontinental Championship. After the match, The Miz laid out Crews with the Skull Crushing Finale. Two weeks later, Miz ranted about "Apollo Creed' (referring to Daniel Bryan mispronouncing the challenger's name the previous week) on his talk show during the commercial break. Crews came out to explaining he was not Carl Weathers character in Rocky. Miz continued to call the number one contender. Crews responded with a sit out powerbomb.
Who replaces Eva Marie?
On the July 26 SmackDown, Becky Lynch beat Natalya in a return match from Battleground. After the match, all the SmackDown women's wrestlers came punctuated by the "bewitching" entrance of Eva Marie. The next week, Eva Marie forfeited her match with Lynch, citing a knee injury. Later in the show, Carmella claimed Eva faked the ailment before exchanging words with Natalya. Natalya assaulted Carmella before their match, locking "The Princess of Staten Island" in the Sharpshooter.
On the August 9 SmackDown, Eva and Lynch attempted to face off again. This time, the "Total Divas" star suffered a "wardrobe malfunction", once again canceling their match. "The Lass Kicker" cut a great promo challenging anyone in the back to a match. Alexa Bliss answered the call and beat Lynch after an Eva Marie distraction and Twisted Bliss. Later in the show, Carmella forced Natalya to tap out to the Code of Silence.
On August 16, Naomi returned to in-ring action but her opponent Eva Marie was "stuck in traffic". Eva came out during the Lynch and Carmella/Natalya and Bliss match. Naomi came out and chased Eva around the arena. This distracted Natalya long enough for Lynch to lock in the Disarm-her for the win. Later in the show, WWE announced Lynch/Carmella/Naomi vs. Natalya/Eva Marie/Bliss for the pay-per-view.
On Friday WWE suspended Eva Marie for 30 days, citing her first violation of the Wellness Policy. WWE wove this into the storyline, questioning who could replace Eva in the 6-woman tag for Sunday.
It all goes down Sunday on the WWE Network.
