10 potential opening matches for SummerSlam 2017

The dust has settled on Battleground and we’re well on the road to the biggest party of the summer, with a series of matches already being pencilled in for the big event in Brooklyn. As is the case with many big cards, however, the first few bouts of the show aren’t as easy to predict as the big world title matches from both Raw and SmackDown Live.

That’s why we’ve decided to take a long and hard look at some of the potential show openers for next month’s extravaganza, with some sounding a touch more appealing than others. With Takeover: Brooklyn III also taking place just 24 hours prior there’s a great deal of pressure on the main roster performers to shine when the lights are bright.

Of course, SummerSlam is usually a fun enough show but with no babyface win to end the show since 2010, we feel as if the crowd needs to be popped hard in the first match of the night regardless of the outcome. So from The Big Show all the way down to the cruiserweights, there’s a rhyme and reason to all of our selections.

With that being said, here are 10 potential opening matches for SummerSlam 2017.

#1 Big Cass vs. Big Show

This is a rivalry that has been simmering nicely for quite some time now, which may not come as much of a surprise after hearing the complaints of Show over the last few months. "The World’s Largest Athlete" has clearly been clamouring for more opportunities and worthwhile storylines, and his prayers seem to have finally been answered.

A big man feud with someone like Cass can only serve to elevate both men, with Cass proving that he can go in the ring, meanwhile Show can continue to show the world why he’s one of the best big wrestlers in the history of professional wrestling.

If this were to open the show at the Barclays Center, it’s a win-win scenario for everyone involved.

#2 Naomi vs. Natalya

We don’t want to show any disrespect to Naomi or Natalya because they are certainly two of the most accomplished and talented superstars on the female roster – but this match just shouldn’t be happening on this stage. Our gut is telling us that it’s being done purely for Total Divas purposes, which isn’t how things should be.

All signs pointed towards Naomi vs Charlotte Flair in the match that we never got to see an extended version of, and it feels like the rug has been pulled from under us just for the sake of it.

Still, Naomi’s entrance being the first thing that the fans hear inside the arena is bound to create a good atmosphere and get the show off to a solid start.

#3 The New Day vs. The Usos

This feud between New Day and The Usos has been pleasantly surprising, with more eyes being on the SD Live tag team division than ever before.

Unfortunately, they risk overdoing it with their third consecutive pay-per-view title match against one another, but at least we know that the two teams can put on great matches.

Their chemistry is what leads us to believe this is a good idea, and if they can surpass either of their previous efforts at Money in the Bank or Battleground, then we as fans are in for a good night.

#4 Sheamus & Cesaro vs. The Revival vs. The Hardy Boyz vs. Gallows & Anderson

Heel or babyface, these guys know how to succeed

In what may seem like a rematch to many from WrestleMania, the swap in of The Revival for Enzo & Cass could add a whole new layer to this potential match up.

Sheamus & Cesaro have shocked a lot of people in their run as champions, and there’s more than enough reason to believe that they could carry the belts for many months to come.

Of course, there are a few teams who would disagree with that sentiment, and allowing them all to showcase themselves in yet another gimmick match could be exactly what the Raw tag division needs.

Sure there wouldn’t be too many high flyers, but they could more than makeup for that with their overall physicality.

#5 The Miz & Miztourage vs. Seth Rollins, Dean Ambrose & TBD

We already saw a definitive ending to the handicap match on Raw, so now we need to see them up the stakes just a little bit.

In this scenario, the Miztourage would probably have to add another member into the mix in order to seem like more of a threat, meanwhile, the two former Shield brothers could really get people talking with their teammate.

Obviously, Roman wouldn’t be likely to get involved given his participation in the Universal title match, so why not get a glimpse into what the original Shield could’ve been by having Kassius Ohno team up with Seth and Dean?

After all, that’s what the original trio was supposed to be, and it could create an interesting story moving forward.

#6 Neville vs. Cedric Alexander

Yes, we know, we talk about this match a lot, but it’s the next logical step on the road to Neville holding the purple belt for an entire year.

It seems like Akira Tozawa is more likely to get the shot but Alexander makes more sense in pretty much every way, and you just know it’d be an absolute barnstormer.

The cruiserweights really don’t deserve to be relegated to the pre-show at such a big event like this one, and whilst it worked at WrestleMania, it won’t work here unless you really give the fans a reason to invest in them.

If Cedric and Neville can put on a 15-minute clinic, then maybe a few people will start tuning into 205 Live. Just maybe.

#7 Jason Jordan invitational

So Jason Jordan is Kurt Angle’s biological son, and in order for us to be invested in this story, we need to accept that reality. It may be a silly storyline and doesn’t make a whole lot of sense, but the same can be said of many wrestling feuds over the years, so who are we to judge as fans?

Jordan needs to get over but there isn't really enough time to build up a proper story for him heading into the biggest party of the summer, so an invitational match in which he takes on a random mid card/upper mid carder could work wonders for him. Some good possible opponents could be Dolph Ziggler, Goldust, or anyone since it's a dual branded PPV!

If it’s against someone who is established, then a victory would certainly thrust Jordan into that next level.

#8 Alexa Bliss vs. Bayley vs. Sasha Banks

Alexa = money — Alexa Bliss makes any feud interesting

Despite what the ending of Bayley vs Sasha from Raw may suggest, we’re confident that this will end up being a triple threat match. It makes sense given the history of all three women, doesn’t feel too clunky and it could give Alexa an easier route to retaining the title which would allow for the long awaited Banks heel turn.

That’s a sentence that we’ve heard quite a lot of the last twelve months, but come on, "The Boss" turning to the dark side is just best for business and we do not use that sentence lightly.

This would be one hell of a way to prove that there is a multitude of main events going on at this year’s SummerSlam, firmly establishing it as the second biggest PPV in wrestling.

#9 AJ Styles vs. Kevin Owens

Styles vs Owens never gets old - kind of

We’ve seen this match a million times now, but AJ Styles and Kevin Owens seem dead set on battling one another until only one man is left standing.

Of course, this is great news for the credibility of the United States Championship, but for fans who want new and fresh match-ups, it leaves us a tad underwhelmed.

That being said we know these two can go 15-20 minutes, and the quality will probably be extremely high – so maybe AJ stealing the show for a second consecutive SummerSlam isn’t the worst idea in the world. In fact, it could end up heightening expectations for the remainder of the night.

#10 Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Baron Corbin

Will the rematch surpass their first two matches?

Perhaps the most boring option of all, and one that seems more and more likely given that John Cena and Shinsuke Nakamura are set to square off on SmackDown Live next week.

The story is simple: Nakamura looks like he’s getting the better of Cena until a ref bump gives Baron Corbin the opportunity to cost Shinsuke a shot at the WWE Championship.

A lot of people still think a triple threat between Mahal, Cena and Nakamura could happen, but Corbin needs something to do given that he’s Mr Money in the Bank – even if that ‘something’ is jobbing to the King of Strong Style for the second time.

Edited by Nishant Jayaram