WWE SummerSlam 2014 : Early Match Card Predictions for the pay-per-view

SummerSlam is arguably one of the most awaited pay-per-views of the year. And after a disappointing outing at Battleground, the WWE is feeling pressure from all corners to deliver the goods on August 17 at the Staples Center.The company struck almost all the right chords at Rawand has left the fans wanting for more. The major angle heading into the pay-per-view would be the match between Brock Lesnar and John Cena for the WWE title.No other matches have been booked for the big event but from the developments that took place at Raw this week, here is a look at the possible match card for SummerSlam.

#6 AJ Lee vs. Paige

The long awaited heel turn of Paige finally happened this week on Raw and the fans seemed to be excited about the prospect of seeing these two talented names go at it with the basic dynamics set now.

Paige was just too good as a heel and AJ being the prey was something that the fans hadn’t seen for a long time. When the match finally arrives, it will be WWE’s opportunity to show that the Divas division is still alive and running.

As far as the title is concerned, there is also a chance of it exchanging hands which makes the match unpredictable.

Paige still has a long way to go before she could be at AJ’s level of popularity and this is a feud that could propel the Anti–diva to the level that she deserves to be at.

#5 Bray Wyatt vs. Chris Jericho

The match between Bray Wyatt and Jericho carried a lot of expectations at Battleground but fell flat when it finally came to the action in between the ropes. This has forced the WWE to work overtime to make the feud look credible and Bray hosting the Highlight reel was the first step.

There is clearly more to come from this angle and the coming weeks are going to unfold all the packages that the company has to offer.

The involvement of Erick Rowan and Luke Harper is something that the company should keep a tab on as it is one of those things that made Bray suffer during his feud with Cena. Apart from that this has the potential to be a good one if a solid buildup is given.

#4 Stephanie McMahon vs. Brie Bella

After what happened this week on Raw, this is a match that has to happen at SummerSlam. The way in which the WWE Universe reacted to the segment between the two was an indication of how effective the match could be even if it is not technically sound.

The integral part of the angle would be the hate that Stephanie has been gathering in the recent past and WWE fans would be eager to see a McMahon get the beating of her life.

Brie’s job could be on the line to give more depth to the match and Nikki could also be involved to some capacity since she has also been on the receiving end of Stephanie’s wrath. It will be a catfight that the fans would accept with glee and should be a good program for the WWE to fill in the match card.

#3 Dean Ambrose vs. Seth Rollins

One of the main reasons why the fans tuned into Battleground was to see Ambrose and Rollins deliver a breathtaking daredevil match. It didn’t happen due to WWE’s love of disappointing the fans once in a while.

And now, the WWE owe their fans a great match at their next pay-per-view outing which is SummerSlam. There won’t be a bigger stage to unleash these two and the creative team might’ve been saving for the same by calling off the match at Battleground.

Knowing how rooted Ambrose’s current character is, the company might choose a no disqualification match as the normal format increases the chance of the match ending in another screw job.

Having the briefcase on the line would also be a great idea to raise the stakes for a big match like this that could steal the show from the big names.

#2 Randy Orton vs. Roman Reigns

The fans that are expecting to see Triple H and Reigns face off at SummerSlam will most probably be disappointed as Hunter looks set to skip the pay-per-view in terms of in ring action.

Meanwhile, WWE was seen busy building up a match between Orton and Reigns though Kane would be left without a feud because of this. Despite not being very much over with the fans, Orton still is a big draw when it comes to situations like this and can put over Reigns well.

As mentioned earlier, the only problem the creative would have with this angle is Kane’s status as he is someone who needs to have a match at SummerSlam.

A triple threat match to determine the Number one contender would be a dream scenario but it doesn’t look likely with Lesnar in the title scene.

#1 Brock Lesnar vs. John Cena (WWE World Heavyweight Championship)

Aided by Lesnar’s momentum after breaking the Undertaker’s streak and Cena’s 15th championship win, this is going to be the poster match for SummerSlam.

Being the first match announced for the pay-per-view suggests that WWE will be pushing hard to promote this one and they have all the reasons to do so. Cena is the face of the company while Lesnar has reached a different level of popularity after WrestleMania.

The only problem that could arise from the situation is a badly booked match. The fans might not forgive the creative if they mess up a highly promoted encounter like this which will add more pressure.

Possibility of a title change will be the highlight of the night as it could be Lesnar’s ascension to heights that no wrestler has reached before.