Top 5 WWE performers of the week (13th to 19th July 2019)

After a much improved WWE product on Raw and SmackDown Live recently, the hope was that WWE would continue their momentum with their Extreme Rules pay per view and subsequent television shows.

Extreme Rules was much better than expected with numerous storyline developments and gripping in-ring action. The post-Extreme Rules editions of Raw and SmackDown also wasted no time in getting the ball rolling for SummerSlam

Both shows weren't perfect but plenty happened and lots of wrestlers got the chance to shine.

Without further delay, let's delve into the last week's television and see which WWE performers earned some vital momentum as the road to SummerSlam began.

Agree? Disagree? Let us know in the comments below!

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#5 Brock Lesnar

The Beast is back! Brock Lesnar made a surprise appearance at the conclusion of the Seth Rollins/Becky Lynch versus Baron Corbin/Lacey Evans main event bout at Extreme Rules.

After vanquishing Corbin with three Curb Stomps to retain his and Lynch's gold, the familiar opening bars of Lesnar's theme music began to play on the sound system.

Lesnar marched down to the ring with a smile on his face and cashed in his Money in the Bank contract to defeat Rollins and win the Universal Championship for the third time.

It was quick and decisive and puts Lesnar right back in the centre of proceedings on Monday Night Raw.

Lesnar subsequently appeared on the post-Extreme Rules Raw on July 15, 2019, too.

The Beast allowed his advocate, Paul Heyman, to boast about his title victory and watched on as Rollins won a Battle Royal to become the number one contender for the title at SummerSlam, to set up a WrestleMania re-match.

Expect that clash to be much longer than the 'Mania collision was. Lesnar and Rollins should be a fun SummerSlam bout and the Beast is back in a big, big way

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#4 Bayley

Bayley: Walked in and out of Extreme Rules with the Smackdown Women's Title

The women's divisions on Raw and SmackDown have both struggled since WrestleMania. However, one woman who has benefited from the absences of Ronda Rousey, Sasha Banks and others is Bayley.

Pitted versus Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross in a Handicap Match at Extreme Rules, the SmackDown Women's Champion, overcame the odds to retain her title in an entertaining match.

Bayley's SummerSlam feud was set up on this week's edition of SmackDown, wherein she teamed with the severely underutilized, Ember Moon, to defeat the team of Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville.

Following the victory, Bayley challenged Moon to a title bout which Moon accepted. This face versus face collision will be an interesting programme. One hopes that Bayley will turn heel and unleash a new side of herself to truly cement herself as a major player in WWE's women's revolution. If she does so, she will no doubt become a regular fixture on this list.

#3 Randy Orton

The Viper: Made a statement on Smackdown Live

Randy Orton made his return to WWE television and was one of the contenders in the Battle Royal to determine Brock Lesnar's challenger at SummerSlam on August 11, 2019.

Orton did not win but gave a good account of himself in an excellent match by delivering RKO's to virtually everyone, but after showboating in front of Brock Lesnar, who was stationed at ringside, left himself open for Seth Rollins's Blackout and was eliminated last as Rollins won.

However, Orton's week was not finished. On SmackDown Live, The Viper appeared in the typical revolving door segment as contenders to Kofi Kingston's WWE Championship stated their case for a title shot.

A six-man tag team match ensued wherein Orton nailed Kingston with an RKO to earn the victory and with it, a likely Championship shot at SummerSlam.

Considering their decade long history, that is a very enticing title programme.

#2 Bray Wyatt

Bray Wyatt as the "fiend" made his first appearance outside the Firefly Funhouse

He's back.....

Bray Wyatt or at least his "Fiend" persona finally found his way out of the confines of the Firefly Funhouse this week and re-debuted on the July 15, 2019, edition of Raw.

At the conclusion of the Samoa Joe versus Finn Balor contest, the lights went out. When they flickered back on, Wyatt was in the ring and hit Balor with Sister Abigail and posed atop his victim.

How will Wyatt's new persona fare in front of a live crowd and will he wrestle Balor at SummerSlam? This feud makes sense, as the pair battled in Autumn 2017, before their feud ending conclusion was cancelled, owing to Wyatt's sudden bout of Mumps.

It seems likely and the ride is certainly going to be an exciting one. Wyatt has made his impact felt once more. One hopes that he can continue to be the most entertaining star on WWE television.

#1 Kevin Owens

Kevin Owens: Looks set to clash with Shane McMahon at Summerslam

Kevin Owens is killing it right now!

The WWE Universe has spoken and their choice to rid WWE television of Shane McMahon is none other than KO.

After being placed in an impromptu match at Extreme Rules, Owens made short work of his opponent, Dolph Ziggler, dispatching him with a Stunner in seconds before taking the microphone and berating his boss once again.

The KO/McMahon war intensified on the July 16, 2019, episode of SmackDown Live as Owens book-ended the show. Initially, McMahon would not allow him into the building for McMahon's address to the roster and banned him for the evening.

At the conclusion of McMahon's berating of his talent, an incensed Owens re-entered the building and nailed him with a Stunner.

Owens as punishment was pitted against Ziggler in the main event, wherein he overcame the odds from McMahon's hangers-on, nailing all with Stunners before walking out of the match.

Technically he lost the match but KO has won over the WWE Universe and his pending SummerSlam clash with McMahon could well steal the show at the biggest event of the Summer.