Tonight’s SummerSlam could be the best in event’s history
The WWE presents the 29th-annual SummerSlam on the WWE Network tonight, and the card might be the strongest in the event鈥檚 history.
It will also have the most matches as well as there are 13 bouts scheduled and it is a safe bet that the event, which starts an hour earlier at 7 p.m., will run past the set end time of 11 p.m.
The countdown show will begin at 5 p.m., so there will be at least six hours of programming.
We are mere hours away, and the WWE still hasn鈥檛 announced what they main event will be.
Will it be Brock Lesnar versus Randy Orton?
Regardless of when the WWE runs this match, I am a firm believer that Orton needs to win the match.
When you figure that Lesnar has not been pinned since Mania 29, ended the Undertaker鈥檚 undefeated Mania streak a year later, never 鈥渓ost鈥� the WWE title at Mania 31, and just won a UFC fight six weeks ago, this is the prime time for someone to beat Lesnar.
Plus, it would give Smackdown with a huge bump towards the brand split.
Could the show close with a WWE championship match between Dean Ambrose and Dolph Ziggler?
Possible, but I can鈥檛 see Ziggler closing out the show.
What about the Universal championship match between Seth Rollins and Finn Balor鈥檚 鈥淒emon King鈥� persona?
Another possibility is the John Cena versus AJ Styles match.
Or what about the Women鈥檚 title match between Sasha Banks and Charlotte?
Don鈥檛 laugh, I鈥檓 telling you that someday, a WWE PPV will end with the main event being a women鈥檚 match.
Which of those matches will close the show?
We will find out tonight!
Other matches on the card include Cesaro versus Sheamus, Rusev defends the U.S. title against Roman Reigns, The New Day defends the tag titles against Gallows and Anderson, The Miz defends the Intercontinental title against Apollo Crews, Enzo and Cass face Chris Jericho and Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn and Neville face the Dudley Boyz, there is a 12-man tag match featuring Smackdown performers, and now a handicapped Diva鈥檚 tag match.
WWE suspends three
Within five hours Tuesday, both Alberto Del Rio and Paige were suspended for 30 days for failing the WWE Wellness Policy.
It will be interesting to see if Del Rio comes back as his contract is up in October and there has been talk for weeks that he is unhappy and is looking to leave.
Then on Thursday, Eva Marie was suspended for failing the policy.
She was scheduled to wrestle tonight so it will be interesting to see if the WWE replaces her or just cuts the match.
If she is replaced in the match, could the spot be filled by Nikki Bella, who was medically cleared this week?
Several emailers have reached out this week with questions about the suspensions, and Jeremey Gray from Connellsville is confused how Lesnar still has not been suspended for failing his test in the UFC.
While the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) announced that Lesnar failed two drug tests prior to his UFC win over Mark Hunt, the WWE countered that Lesnar is a part-time performer and does not adhere to the same drug testing policies as full-time WWE performers.
So Lesnar has not missed any time and will face Orton tonight.
WWE teasing a Lesnar and Goldberg rematch?
Goldberg is in the New York City area this weekend to promote WWE 2K17, and both he and Lesnar have posted videos about the other this week online.
The duo wrestled at WrestleMania XX, ironically in New York City, and both men were booed out of the building, as each made it known that they were finishing with the company that night.
Could Goldberg cost Lesnar his match tonight?
McGregor, WWE working together?
UFC star Connor McGregor, who faced off with Nate Diaz last night, has been throwing barbs towards the WWE and especially Cena, with other WWE stars standing up for their craft.
Several emailers have asked if this is legit or the beginning of a storyline leading to McGregor appearing in the WWE.
While I do not know for sure either way, I will remind everyone that the UFC owes the WWE a big favor for letting Lesnar fight last month.
1990s Mt. Rushmore returns next week
Due to the length of this week鈥檚 column, we will pick back up with our Mt. Rushmore series next week when we look at the 1990s.
Correction
I reported in this column last week that former WWE wrestler Damien Sandow would perform in TNA as Aaron Lee.
His name is actually Aron Rex.
Email questions/comments to Bill at powerhousehughes@gmail.com or tweet them to @BillHughes_III