SummerSlam 2019 Preview: WWE Legend to turn on Lesnar, Top challenger injured

It's time for the biggest party of the Summer! SummerSlam 2019, as you know, is the second biggest show of the year and although there's relateively little hype for the PPV as compared to previous years, let us remind you of what we've been saying the last few PPVs - when it's underwhelming and it seems as though it's not going to deliver - that is exactly when WWE does deliver in a big way.

It happened for Stomping Grounds - a PPV that had no hype whatsoever and even for Extreme Rules - a better card on paper but still not up to par. All said and done, WWE has been on a decent PPV streak if you exclude Super ShowDown (which we will, because it's more of a special attraction show than an actual PPV).

There are a lot of things that can happen at WWE SummerSlam 2019 and here is what you need to look forward to for tonight's big SummerSlam party! Just as a preface, we assume that Drew Gulak vs Oney Lorcan for the Cruiserweight title will be on the kickoff show.

Also read: 5 reasons why Roman Reigns isn't a part of the SummerSlam 2019 card

#9. Trish Stratus vs Charlotte Flair

The dream match is finally upon us! Trish Stratus - a 7-time Women's Champion - and one of the most highly regarded female wrestlers in history, will take on a woman who has already surpassed her records and accomplishments - Charlotte Flair.

While Flair is busy blazing the trail for her own legacy, she has to go up against the biggest name in WWE Women's history to prove that she truly is The Queen like she says she is. This is such a fascinating match-up because of the story of the current generation vs the old.

We expect Flair to handily pick up a win.

#8. Finn Balor vs "The Fiend" Bray Wyatt

Finn Balor lost the Intercontinental Championship to Shinsuke Nakamura and has since been terrorized by "The Fiend" Bray Wyatt - who made him his first victim. Wyatt has been seen on Firefly Fun House - the eerie and creepy "children's show".

However, Wyatt has now unleashed his alter ego - The Fiend to the world and he looks more terrorizing than ever. He has already added Balor, Mick Foley and Kurt Angle to his hitlist and he'll look to send Balor away in his big return after one full year.

Despite visible fear, Balor challenged The Fiend to a match and Wyatt said that The Fiend accepted his challenge. Balor isn't expected to be The Demon King heading into his fourth SummerSlam, so expect his streak of 3-0 to end at the hands of WWE's biggest threat this year.

#7. Bayley (c) vs Ember Moon - SmackDown Women's Championship

This is a match that has relatively flown under the radar because there hasn't been much promotion or hype to it. While it hasn't been a particularly friendly rivalry, Ember Moon does seem to have the respect of Bayley - who handpicked her as her challenger at WWE SummerSlam 2019.

It's a battle of two former NXT Women's Champions and they could low-key end up having an extremely good match together. They certainly would at NXT. However, this match presents a very important step in Bayley's redemption and reign as Women's champion.

2019 has been the year where her fortunes have changed - winning the inaugural Women's Tag Team titles, the Money in the Bank and the SmackDown Women's title - all in a span of 3 months.

Her tale of redemption will depend on this big challenge and we expect her to step up to the plate and deliver.

#6. Goldberg vs Dolph Ziggler

Goldberg had a rather disgraceful period in June when he took on The Undertaker in the main event of WWE Super ShowDown. As expected, the match turned out to be rather disastrous because it was a battle of two old men and Goldberg, who suffered defeat - was given a huge amount of criticism from peers and fans alike.

While Matt Riddle has always been vocally against Goldberg, his name hasn't exited the mouth of one superstar - Dolph Ziggler. The Showoff has constantly taken Goldberg's name and mocked him for being ineffecient in the ring and for the embarassing perfomance at Super ShowDown.

Ziggler was scheduled to face The Miz, but The A-Lister and Shawn Michaels instead manipulated him into signing a contract to face none other than Goldberg. Given Ziggler's recent run of form, expect him to get squashed in under 20 seconds.

#5. AJ Styles (c) vs Ricochet - United States Championship

This is the match that we personally feel is going to be the best of the entire show. While AJ Styles and Ricochet have faced off on multiple occasions before, it's very likely that we're not even close to seeing what they're capable of at their very best.

AJ Styles, in his fourth SummerSlam appearance, is all set to defend the United States Championship against the man he won it from - Ricochet. Now, Ricochet has been under tremendous pressure and the fact that The OC keep getting involved means that it's only gotten harder and harder for him.

That hasn't stopped the persistency and "never say die" atttitude of The One and Only superstar. However, Ricochet is reportedly dealing with an elbow injury of sorts, so expect Styles to exploit that and weasel his way into another successful title defence.

#4. Kevin Owens vs Shane McMahon - If KO loses, he has to quit WWE

Even though there's no championship on the line in this match-up, the stakes and stipulation certainly gives it a far more important feeling than any of the thrown-together title matches. Kevin Owens has had a change in attitude and has once again began rebelling against Shane McMahon.

This time, the WWE Universe is on his side and he's been the voice of the voiceless - constantly expressing frustration at Shane McMahon's tyrany. The rivalry has been exhilerating and McMahon has been nothing short of ruthless.

He accepted Owens' SummerSlam challenge and doubled down on what Owens said - that if he lost to Shane McMahon, he might as well leave WWE. "Might as well" has now turned to "will leave" and Kevin Owens is going to do everything in his power to make sure that he can beat The Prodigal Son again.

Will Sami Zayn turn face and help him like he did in October of 2017?

#3. Becky Lynch (c) vs Natalya - RAW Women's Championship

Becky Lynch has finally moved on from Lacey Evans and her next challenger comes in the form of the Women's division veteran Natalya. Natalya had to get through multiple other superstars to earn her spot - but that's exactly what she did.

Becky Lynch didn't show any friendliness and this irked Natalya to the point that she had to show her real, ruthless side. She's been attacking Becky Lynch week after week and has tried to get into the head of The Man.

Many have questioned Natalya's ability to dethrone the champion, especially given her history of choking on big occasions. We also fully believe that Natalya will fall short on the big occasion once again and that Becky Lynch will retain.

However, we do expect Sasha Banks to return after nearly 5 months and challenge for the title.

#2. Kofi Kingston (c) vs Randy Orton - WWE Championship

There are a few exciting match-ups on the card, but for us, no match on the SummerSlam PPV is more exciting than the WWE Championship match between Kofi Kingston and Randy Orton.

We fully believe this should be the main event of the show because the story between the two is simply that big. Kofi Kingston has had a strong run as WWE Champion and his next challenger will be the most defining one of his title reign.

Randy Orton is the man who used his influence to pull down Kofi Kingston's rapidly rising career in 2009. Orton has shown no remorse over it and still doesn't believe that Kingston is a worthy champion.

As for Kofi Kingston, it all comes full circle and this is either going to be the most disappointing end to his title reign imaginable or it's going to be glory and redemption for the fan-favourite champion. Will Kingston finally be able to overcome the Demons of the past? Or will Randy Orton prove why he has so many world titles to his name?

#1. Brock Lesnar (c) vs Seth Rollins - Universal Championship

Seth Rollins and Brock Lesnar have met in a one-on-one match on 3 seperate occasions. All of them combined adds up to a matter of minutes and due to various circumstances, they've never had a proper match together like Roman Reigns and Brock Lesnar have.

Either way, Seth Rollins has a big chip on his shoulder because Lesnar won the MITB briefcase and cashed in on him to becomea 3-time Universal Champion. With nearly four months of hard work undone, The Beast Slayer will look to repeat what happened at WrestleMania 35 and capture the Universal title.

We believe that there might be a twist. Paul Heyman could cost Lesnar the title, not because he'll align with Rollins - but for the best interest of Monday Night RAW - a show that he is now running.