SummerSlam is a pay-per-view that can sell tickets solely based on its name value. Even if WWE puts together a random card, the fans are going to buy tickets and watch the show since it is the next big thing after WrestleMania.
Despite this, WWE has lined up a solid card for the pay-per-view this year. And one of the major reasons that pushed them to do so is the brand split.
SummerSlam will be the first full-blown pay-per-view after WWE’s 2016 brand split, and as they say, it’s all about the first impression. While treading a path well-travelled is indeed an option for WWE, they could also pull off a few twists while they are at it.
Honorable Mention or least possible Twist: Conor McGregor shows up
Conor McGregor appearing at SummerSlam and setting up an appearance for WrestleMania 33 could be a dream scenario. McGregor stirred a lot of controversy with his Tweets recently and the way in which the entire WWE roster reacted to him was suspicious.
It could’ve been a work from WWE’s side to get some heat on the UFC featherweight champion and since WWE and UFC have already tied up for the Brock Lesnar scenario, we never know what could happen.
Then again, McGregor is fighting on UFC 202 just the day before, making this scenario highly unlikely.
#5 A mid-card return or debut
WWE fans have been witnessing a string of returns and debuts lately, thanks to the brand split. While such segments happening on weekly television shows do create a buzz, it will not be equal to the impact these debuts or returns could cause while implemented on a grand stage like SummerSlam.
The rumors suggest a lot of names that could return including MVP.
Bayley is another name that could return to the mix as Sasha Banks and Charlotte will be battling it out for the Women’s championship. By this time, you might be wondering why the word ‘midcard’ is attached in the headline of this slide. Well, you will find out soon.
#4 Randy Orton gets a win
WWE has tried their best to put over Brock Lesnar vs. Randy Orton as an equal contest. However, when the starting bell rings, everyone will be aware of the fact that Lesnar is the clear favorite.
He is coming in after his tainted win in UFC over Mark Hunt and ever since he ended Undertaker’s streak, WWE has not allowed Lesnar to take a clean pin.
Naturally, this makes everyone assume that Lesnar is going to walk out of SummerSlam as the winner. Orton getting a win over Lesnar will do nothing much for Orton’s star power as he is already a big name in the business.
Yet, if WWE lets Orton get a clean win over the beast, it will be a headline that will break the internet and serve as a swerve for the show.
#3 WWE Championship becomes a Triple Threat
The WWE championship will be on the line at SummerSlam when Dolph Ziggler will go up against Dean Ambrose. Ziggler’s rise as the number one contender was something that caught everyone’s attention but then again, WWE has been keeping Bray Wyatt close to the situation.
Bray made it clear that he wants the WWE championship and is yet to get a match at SummerSlam.
If Bray interferes at some point during the Ziggler vs. Ambrose match at SummerSlam we could see the match turned into a triple threat since Daniel Bryan wouldn’t want to see his brand’s title match end in no-contest.
It makes sense to see Bray in the title scene as well, so it’s a win-win situation for everyone involved.
#2 Seth Rollins joining The Club
Seth Rollins will go up against Finn Balor at SummerSlam this year for the WWE Universal championship. One major factor that the fans expect to see during the match is the interference of The Club.
Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows teased an association with Finn Balor from the start itself but due to one reason or the other, it did not happen. And now that AJ Styles is no longer leading the pack, fans would naturally expect Finn Balor to step in and fill the gap.
But instead of letting the obvious thing happen, WWE could add a twist to the tale and make Seth Rollins the new leader of The Club. Rollins, as a heel leader,will flourish and he will be a more effective leader than Balor in the current scenario.
#1 Goldberg returns to confront Lesnar
While Orton winning clean is clearly one option, WWE could book the ending in a different way as well. The Goldberg vs. Brock Lesnar match is being talked about for quite some time now and it gained momentum when Goldberg appeared for the WWE 2K17 advertisement.
To make matters more interesting, Goldberg was seen looking at a ‘suplex city’ sign in the video.
A company like WWE, unintentionally placing a suplex city sign in their video is certainly not feasible. WWE might be looking to build up Lesnar vs. Goldberg for WrestleMania 33, and Goldberg coming in and costing Lesnar his match against Orton will be a good start.
