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Keeping up with WWE television can be hard work given that Monday Night RAW and SmackDown Live clock in at five hours alone, and that's before we get into NXT, NXT UK, 205 Live and whatever other shows WWE decides they want to put on (I'm looking at you, Sackville).
But, with SummerSlam fast approaching, as well as NXT TakeOver: Toronto and NXT UK TakeOver: Cardiff, WWE television is hotting up at an alarming rate with all these shows firing on all cylinders to make these upcoming events as huge as possible.
This last week of WWE television was certainly no exception to this with a couple of huge SummerSlam matches being announced and some other feuds being launched into hyper-drive.
But don't worry, I'm here to make things easier and condense things for you and give you the 6 crucial storyline developments from last week's WWE shows that you need to know before this week's WWE television starts!
#6. Kofi Kingston chooses Randy Orton as his SummerSlam opponent - SmackDown Live (23rd July, 2019)
Any wrestling fan will undoubtedly be all too familiar with the history between Kofi Kingston and Randy Orton with the latter using his backstage pull to halt the former's onscreen push after he was left unhappy with Kingston's in-ring safety.
Read Also: 6 unannounced matches we'll probably get at SummerSlam
This led to the now-iconic onscreen moment from a few years ago when a clearly unhappy Orton put Kingston away with an RKO and then shouted 'stupid, stupid' at him. Something that Kingston was able to return the favour for earlier this year.
So, when Orton teamed up with Elias and Samoa Joe against The New Day on the previous week's SmackDown Live and picked up a pinfall victory over the current WWE Champion Kofi Kingston, many people were hoping that Orton would be named as Kingston's opponent and that WWE would lean into the real-life animosity and history between the two guys.
And that's exactly what they did!
Now, a lot of people aren't too high on Orton being in the main event picture, but Orton and Kingston together have always been gold and WWE's decision to use the real-life non-kayfabe elements of these two Superstar's past to build the feud could lead to another classic at SummerSlam.
Either way, it's a perfect way to bring their rivalry full-circle onscreen on the second biggest WWE show of the year. And people say WWE can't do long-term storytelling!
#5. Charlotte Flair says she'll wrestle at SummerSlam; Who will her opponent be? - SmackDown Live (23rd July, 2019)
Just when you thought there was a chance that 'The Queen' Charlotte Flair would be left off of the SummerSlam card WWE come through with a last minute intriguing build that could lead to a very interesting and, actually rather major, match.
After losing to Ember Moon thanks to a distraction from Bayley, Charlotte Flair conducted a backstage interview where she demanded a match at SummerSlam and indicated that she'd prove she's the best female Superstar in the world.
Immediately after this Pro Wrestling Sheet broke the news that Charlotte Flair's opponent for the show would be none other than the legendary Trish Stratus, the woman that Flair has overtaken as the female Superstar to hold the most world titles ever.
Read Also: 5 possible opponents for Charlotte Flair at SummerSlam
Even though Charlotte's wording during the above promo hinted at it being a legend like Stratus and despite Ryan Satin's report, some were still sceptical. That is until, hopefully, news of Stratus appearing on the next SmackDown Live broke.
So, thanks to Charlotte's promo and Jerry Lawler's announcement it seems that we'll be getting a match between the two most successful female WWE Superstars ever confirmed for SummerSlam!
#4. Walter and Imperium dominate NXT UK - NXT UK (24th July, 2019)
Heading over the pond now and we got the latest development in the ongoing feud between the marauding Imperium and the hometown heroes British Strong Styles as a vengeful Trent Seven picked a fight with the dominating and imposing Walter.
Despite hitting Walter with his best show it didn't seem to be nearly enough for Seven who ended up feeling the wrath of not one, not two, not three, not four but five huge powerbombs at the hands of Walter who, by refusing to pin Seven, forced the referee to end the match via TKO.
With Seven completely obliterated and Imperium standing strong to end this week's NXT UK it seems that there's no-one around that can stop them. With Walter steamrolling opponents in the title picture and the rest of Imperium looking strong as well, who will emerge as the next challenger?
#3. Candice LeRae attacks Io Shirai
The NXT TakeOver: Toronto card is looking pretty great already, we already know we're getting the third match between Johnny Gargano and Adam Cole, Shayna Baszler Vs. Mia Yim, The Street Profits Vs. Kyle O'Reilly and Bobby Fish and Velveteen Dream Vs. Roderick Strong Vs. Pete Dunne.
But it looks like there's at least one more match to be added to the card, at least if this week's events on NXT are anything to go by.
A fully heel Io Shirai debuted a new darker look and slightly more evil entrance as she prepared to take on Kacy Catanzaro. However during the match Candice LeRae appeared and attacked Shirai as payback for the latter's turn against her previously.
This feud has been building for a while now and is bubbling up at just the right time for TakeOver: Toronto meaning I fully expect it to become the second women's match on the card. Something NXT has received criticism for not doing in the past.
Let's hope it is added as LeRae and Shirai are bound to put on a great match!
#2. Drake Maverick and Mike Kanellis to have unsanctioned match
Drake Maverick has been incredible as one half of the comedic centre that is the 24/7 Championship storyline with R-Truth, but those also watching 205 Live will have seen Maverick finally snap and attack Mike Kanellis on the episode previous to this week's.
Read Also: 205 Live star hospitalised before show forcing it to be rewritten
On this week's episode there was supposed to be a contract signing between Maverick and Kanellis, but due to a real-life health-scare pregnant Maria Kanellis was rushed to hospital earlier on in the day, leading to the segment being scrapped and the show rewritten.
What we got instead was an impromptu backstage promo from an impassioned Maverick who announced that his last match as 205 Live General Manager will be to make his match against Kanellis unsanctioned.
We got a whole load of stuff here, Maverick's time as an authority figure coming to an end, Maverick getting involved in a serious feud where he'll be properly wrestling and not as a comedy character and finally a great, brutal, match to look forward to!
#6. Finn Balor challenges Bray Wyatt, Wyatt responds
Following 'The Fiend's attacks on Finn Balor and Mick Foley, Balor took to the ring on SmackDown Live to call-out Bray Wyatt and challenge him to a match at SummerSlam. It didn't take long for Wyatt to respond.
But how he responded was pure genius as he brought back a special episode of Firefly Funhouse where 'children's TV presenter' Bray Wyatt issued a chilling warning to Balor,
This was just about the best way WWE could have built upon Wyatt's initial attack on Balor to lead to the match at SummerSlam as it still leaves a lot of intrigue surrounding Wyatt's motivation and characterisation.
Read Also: The secret way Bray Wyatt chooses who to attack revealed
So, the match between these two is now official and as things currently stand Balor isn't slated to call upon 'The Demon' to take on Wyatt, which means that he is going to lose his unbeaten streak at SummerSlam (albeit unbeaten as 'The Demon' not ordinary Balor)
Still, there could be even more twists in this demonic saga yet!
