WWE SummerSlam 2018 Rumor Round-up: No match for top Raw Superstar, 3 new champions to be crowned

Another week has passed by in the higgledy-piggledy world of the WWE and it was as eventful as always.

Roman Reigns earned (read was handed) another chance at experiencing coronation three years in the making, AJ Styles rekindled an old rivalry against the real Prize Fighter (sorry KO) in WWE, Samoa Joe, and many other SummerSlam-related developments formed the crux of WWE’s programming.

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And of course -- the HISTORIC FIRST TIME EVER women’s PPV -- WWE Evolution’s announcement was made by the Meekmahans. Let’s keep history aside for a minute and focus on the biggest party of the summer.

This week, the SummerSlam card was boosted by the additions of Reigns vs. Lesnar, Styles vs. Joe, Carmella vs. Becky Lynch and Braun Strowman vs. Kevin Owens. A few more matches are expected to be added in the coming weeks as the intensity for the build-up towards all SummerSlam feuds will be turned up a notch.

The rumor mill has also upped the production of speculation coming out regarding the second biggest show of WWE’s calendar year and this slideshow takes a deeper look at the best of the lot.

#5 Roman Reigns is the favourite to win at SummerSlam but…

As much as a majority of the fans hate to accept it, Roman Reigns vs. Brock Lesnar is set to happen yet again. Reigns is THE guy; deal with it!

It’s no secret that Brock Lesnar prefers the adrenaline rush that comes from competing inside Octagon more than orchestrating a suplex party inside the squared circle.

His recent exploits at UFC 216 all but confirm his impending fight against Daniel ‘champ champ’ Cormier in the near future. For that, he will first have to drop the Universal Championship and there can be no better stage to get that done than SummerSlam.

CageSideSeats reports that Reigns winning the big red belt for the first time in his career is indeed the favored plan going into the PPV; however, there is one small problem. WWE’s think-tank is concerned about how the fans in Brooklyn would react to the match.

Recent history suggests that Brooklyn fans will surely make their displeasure known if they don’t like the match and it’s The Big Dog we’re talking about here. It’s surely going to be a chorus of boos and outrageous chants right?

While we badly need a new champion, is Reigns the right man to do the honors? I, for one, wouldn’t mind it as long as we get a new champion who shows up every week, though personally, I am still holding onto to hope of Bobby Lashley being added to mix, making it a triple threat match.

As if they care about us fans though right? Anyway, talking about the Dominator….

#4 No SummerSlam plans for Lashley?

Lashley returned to WWE on April 9th this year, got into an abominable feud with Sami Zayn, lost to Roman Reigns this week, and as things stand, may not even be featured at SummerSlam. Trust WWE Creative to screw it up like Joel Schumacher did with Batman and Robin.

Dave Meltzer touched upon the situation and said that the former ECW Champion may not even have a match the PPV. “I have no idea. Hopefully, it’s not Sami Zayn I know he’s had the shoulder surgery. Yeah, he may not have a match. Not everybody gets a match these days,” said the veteran pro wrestling journalist.

Lashley vs. Lesnar was the dream match we all deserved to witness, instead, we get Reigns vs. Lesnar III. Not even a triple threat. Come on WWE!

#3 The Undertaker's status

Reports of Cena vs. Undertaker being nixed started doing the rounds at the beginning of the week, but recent ‘backstage rumblings’ paint a slightly different picture.

The Wrestling Observer Newsletter reports that the powers backstage are contemplating on having Cena vs. Undertaker rematch on September 19th. Don’t be fooled by the lack of hype on TV as WWE is known for its last-minute surprises. Cena, though, is up to his usual antics on Instagram and hinted at the match happening in his own distinct style:

The Phenom and the Cenation Leader ought to be given another chance of undoing the debacle of their first outing. Do you want to see the two veterans in a longer affair this time around?

#4 New Women’s Champions

Great on the mic, not that in the ring? — Great on the mic, not so in the ring?

WWE will leave no stone unturned in making the first ever Women’s PPV feel like a big deal. Yesteryear legends returning to the company’s fold and new faces joining the fray are expected to happen but that’s not the only plan in the pipeline.

WWE is considering crowning two new Women’s Champions and it could happen at SummerSlam itself. The timing could not be any better for Ronda Rousey to get her hands on the title as one of the biggest PPV draws in UFC history could, and ideally should, headline WWE Evolution.

However, there’s another reason why WWE would take the titles off Carmella and Alexa Bliss and as usual, good ol’ Dave Meltzer gave us a clear picture as to why WWE would do the same.

“If they’re going to do a women’s only PPV, and your champions are Carmella and Alexa Bliss, that’s tough—Because if you end with those two, there is going to be a struggle.” “They may have to change those titles because Carmella and Alexa Bliss matches have not been good,” stated Meltzer.

While the Rowdy One as champion would be a refreshing change, the Irish Lasskicker deserves the title more than anyone else.

#5 A new Mr Money in the Bank?

Stephanie McMahon gave Owens what he wanted this week on Raw and now, Mr.Monster in the Bank is unexpectedly on the brink of losing the coveted briefcase.

It may actually happen as Meltzer notes on the Wrestling Observer. The on-going programme between Owens and Strowman has been a success thus far, which is why WWE is continuing to add new dimensions to the feud.

Owens is doing what he’s paid to do and that is to get the heat while Strowman is as popular as he’s ever been. Owens has come out as the sympathetic babyface as he’s tried everything in his might to get the Monster down only to be humiliated and destroyed every single time.

Meltzer explained, “The idea is that Kevin Owens is right but he is annoying, and when you’re right and annoying it means that you’re supposed to get heat. That’s actually true.” “The only problem is that Owens is not that annoying and the other guy (Braun Strowman) is, but the other guy is really, really popular. Braun Strowman is super-over.”

Having the MITB on a heel has been the norm and it could very well happen again in a few weeks’ time. Strowman is seen as a misfit with the MITB briefcase, however alluring his cash-in may seem, and the Creative would rather prefer entrusting the briefcase with a villain who can cash-in on a helpless champion.

Win or lose, Strowman is still destined for greatest and we doubt his popularity will take a hit anytime soon.

We’ll round it up with the confirmed match card along with a few other matches that are rumored to make the cut:

WWE Championship Match: AJ Styles vs. Samoa Joe

WWE Universal Championship Match: Brock Lesnar vs. Roman Reigns

Smackdown Women’s Championship Match: Carmella vs. Becky Lynch

Money in the Bank Contract On the Line: Braun Strowman vs. Kevin Owens

Raw Women’s Championship Match: Ronda Rousey vs. Alexa Bliss

WWE Intercontinental Championship Match: Dolph Ziggler vs. Seth Rollins

Smackdown Tag Team Championship Match: The Bludgeon Brothers vs. TBA

Rumored matches

Finn Balor vs. Baron Corbin

Bobby Roode vs. Mojo Rawley (pre-show)

United States Championship Match: Jeff Hardy vs. Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Randy Orton

Cruiserweight Championship Match: Cedric Alexander vs. Drew Gulak

Rusev vs. Andrade ‘Cien’ Almas or Aiden English

John Cena vs. The Undertaker

Satisfied with how the card is shaping up to be? You know where sound off folks…