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The SummerSlam pay-per-view is right around the corner and while WWE has already done an amazing job with their booking for the show, there are other things they have seemingly let fall through the cracks. In fact, there are several popular superstars that won't be at the show at all for various reasons.
Why would several top Superstars be missing from the biggest party of the summer, which is one of the big four pay-per-views of the year? Furthermore, What effect will it have on SummerSlam in the long run? While its impossible to know exactly what's going on and how things will play out, here are five superstars that won't be appearing at the PPV.
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As always, a reason will be given as for why they will not be at the pay-per-view and the effect that their absence has on the rest of the pay per view, their career and the storyline will also be discussed. Make sure to let us know what you think in the comments below and feel free to let us know which absence you are most saddened by!
#6 Jason Jordan
Jason Jordan, who had been revealed last year as Kurt Angle's son for a storyline, hasn't been seen since injuring his neck and now it looks like he won't be seen at SummerSlam either. With that being said, several outlets are reporting that when he does return, he will be reunited with Chad Gable to form American Alpha, which is a plus for him.
Whether WWE chooses to follow up on his storyline with Kurt Angle or not remains to be seen and will depend on what their intention is once he returns to the main roster. Unfortunately for Jordan however, being put back in the tag team he started his main roster career on could be a step backwards considering how high profile his storyline with Kurt was.
#5 Dean Ambrose
In what has to be the not-so-wise decision WWE could make, it looks like Dean Ambrose will be another Superstar that won't be appearing at SummerSlam. That is what's being reported by several news outlets right now and some are even speculating that his return won't be until a little after SummerSlam.
With that being said, the news pretty much ruins any chance of Rollins teaming up with Ambrose to face Dolph Ziggler and Drew McIntyre at Summerslam. It also opens up the possibility of Ambrose not appearing until a couple of weeks after SummerSlam, which could hurt his momentum if WWE holds off on this return for too long.
#4 Nia Jax
Nia Jax hasn't been seen or heard from since Alexa Bliss hit her with a DDT on a steel chair to win back the women's title and it seems that the reason for this is an injury incurred during the match. Jax announced the injury during a post on Instagram where she told fans that she would be rehabbing for a while.
While injuries are a normal thing in WWE, especially after the dangerous looking chair shots Jax took during the match, it feels like The Irresistible force keeps losing her momentum whenever WWE tries to push it. In fact, if you look at her WrestleMania 34 win over Alexa Bliss, it almost means nothing when you look at how Jax lost the title a short time later.
Jax then lost in pretty one-sided extreme rules match for The Women's title and got injured in the process. If nothing else, she is not having the kind of career that should be having in WWE at this point and her sitting out one of the big four pay-per-views like SummerSlam isn't going to help things at all!
#3 Stephanie McMahon
Where is Stephanie McMahon?
While Vince McMahon's daughter has been playing a key role in pulling strings on WWE television, she hasn't actually been there all that much. In fact, most of the time that McMahon is referred to on Raw is either on a telephone or by other people in conversation, which feels like a real waste of heel character like McMahon
Maybe WWE will try to do a surprise return and have her cost Rousey the match at SummerSlam or even interfere in the Universal title match between Brock Lesnar and Roman Reigns, but there is really nothing that hints at this being the desired direction by WWE. In fact, it seems like WWE has no plans to follow up on what she has been doing as COO of Raw over the past couple of months.
Not only is that extremely troubling from a storyline perspective, especially since she is playing a big part in several feuds right now, it also disallows WWE to use her character to help bring new energy to a storyline. In the end, WWE could be using Stephanie McMahon in several ways, but refuse to do so, which is just a waste of great talent.
#2 John Cena
John Cena, who last appeared for WWE at WrestleMania 34, is apparently not scheduled to make an appearance at SummerSlam either. Maybe that has to do with his recent break up with Nikki Bella after months of trying to reconcile or maybe it's his filming schedule that's holding him up, but he seems to have less and less time for WWE now.
While that's not necessarily a bad thing, especially since it allows for stars like Finn Balor, Roman Reigns, Baron Corbin, Bobby Rhoode, AJ Styles, Samoa Joe and Bruan Strowman to all work to make a name for themselves, it's still sad that their top Superstar isn't going to be there this year.
Let's be honest here. John Cena draws money and while other Superstars are capable of doing that too, not one represents the junior audience more then John Cena. With that being said, a big PPV without Cena is a huge risk and could end up with several younger fans feeling isolated as a result.
#1 The Undertaker
Believe it or not, WWE currently have no plans for The Undertaker to appear at this year's edition of SummerSlam. This comes after a constant slew of fan speculation that Undertaker versus John Cena part two would take place at the big four pay per view, but it looks that was never the plan at all.
Whether WWE did have other ideas for The Undertaker at SummerSlam or not remains to be seen, but he hasn't been scheduled for the event and there is little time for them to plan something at all. Unfortunately for The WWE Universe, that could mean that fans might not see The Undertaker until at least next year's WrestleMania or never again if he retires.
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