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It looks like this year’s WWE SummerSlam main event will be Brock Lesnar defending his Universal title against Roman Reigns…again.
But it’ll be a big mistake to put Lesnar vs Reigns on last, with the New York crowd likely to verbally destroy the two. Instead, WWE should give that slot to another title match: The Raw Women’s Championship bout between Ronda Rousey and Alexa Bliss.
AJ Styles and Samoa Joe’s WWE Championship match can also lay claim to the main event spot, but while this match will almost certainly be excellent, Rousey has the bigger name. Moreover, having two women main event will be a big statement.
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Styles vs Joe is just another wrestling match, but having the SummerSlam main-event headlined by women would be relevant to the direction WWE seems to have taken of late.
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Here are four more reasons why Alexa Bliss and Ronda Rousey should go on last at this year’s SummerSlam.
#1 Lesnar vs Reigns will bomb
The likely main event will be the umpteenth Brock Lesnar vs Roman Reigns match. The crowd at WrestleMania 34 turned on this match in a big way; it’ll be even worse at the Barclays Center.
This match may be a deja vu experience for Lesnar. It’s no secret that this is Lesnar’s last match of his contract, and that will be in front of a hostile New York crowd – just like his previous farewell match at WrestleMania 20.
The vicious reaction that Lesnar and his opponent Goldberg got that time was so fierce that WWE had to tone down the chants on the DVD version of the event.
If Lesnar and Reigns do go on last, then Braun Strowman will saunter out and cash-in his Money in The Bank contract. It’s Lesnar’s final match, so he won’t leave with the belt, and having Reigns walk out as champion goes against the company policy of “sending the fans home happy” at big events (although that has not stopped them before).
Having the match in the mid-card will create more intrigue. They can have Reigns win the title, and then quickly move on to something the fans want to see.
The Lesnar/Reigns feud has had its time in the spotlight. It’s time for others to shine. Talking about spotlight…
#2 Bliss is ready for the mainstream
As Brock Lesnar gets ready to return to the Octagon, his fellow fighter Ronda Rousey has taken the baton as WWE’s biggest mainstream star.
To keep interest in Rousey, WWE needs to match her with high profile women. That was why her first match in the company was against Stephanie McMahon; no other woman on the roster has a bigger profile than the Chief Brand Officer.
When it comes to promoting WWE’s ‘Women’s Evolution’, Ronda Rousey is front and center in the campaign. After Ronda, you've got Charlotte (who will likely wrestle Rousey at WrestleMania 35) and Nia Jax (whom Ronda has beaten on house shows).
Alexa Bliss is far more marketable than any other full-time woman on the roster. Her most obvious asset is her looks; no one can deny that Bliss is stunning. Her diminutive height may seem like a negative, but it sets her apart from all the other women on the roster.
Her success on the main roster - holding the Raw and SmackDown Women's Championships for as long as she has - is another huge thing in her favor.
They already have a ready-made storyline with a lot of heat, when Ronda was suspended after attacking Bliss on Raw. Bliss had taken away Ronda's opportunity at Gold, by cashing in her Money in the Bank briefcase at the opportune time.
Bliss’s story to get to WWE is remarkable - she overcame an eating disorder when she was younger. That tale can serve as encouragement to millions also suffering through the same illness.
Behind the scenes, Bliss is very different from the heelish character she plays on screen. Outside of the ring, she’s shown to be likable, friendly and a little eccentric. Did you know she has a pet pig that has its own Instagram?
It’s time the rest of the world learns about ‘The Goddess’ too.
#3 It will serve as a prelude to WrestleMania
WWE’s women's roster has been outspoken about wanting to headline WrestleMania. Having Rousey vs Bliss headline SummerSlam will precondition the audience for a WrestleMania women’s main event – and to see Rousey closing shows.
If women are to main-event at WrestleMania, Rousey would have to be one of them; no other female has the star power she has.
The women have headlined two shows before - Sasha Banks and Charlotte’s Hell in a Cell match at the titular pay-per-view in 2016, and the Women’s Royal Rumble earlier this year. Having women headline WrestleMania will lead to a ton of mainstream attention, which WWE desperately seeks.
But the company shouldn’t just stop there.
The goal of the ‘Women’s Evolution’ should be to normalize seeing females at the top. The UFC – whose success with their women’s division is what partially inspired WWE - have reached a point where no one blinks an eyelid when a women’s bout is the headliner on a fight card.
The day that a women’s match can be the main event without Stephanie McMahon appearing to pat herself on the back, is the day when the women will have finally made it.
#4 What goes on last doesn’t really matter
The days of pay-per-views are over. WWE doesn’t have to reel in fans to pay $50 for a single show; the goal now is to get the audience to subscribe for $9.99 to the WWE Network.
Due to this, WWE can be more flexible with pay-per-view main events. Dolph Ziggler and Seth Rollin’s Intercontinental Championship match went on last at Extreme Rules a few weeks ago. While the match wasn’t a blow-away success, at least it was something different on top.
The days of Hulk Hogan, Steve Austin and John Cena front and center on posters are gone. These days, WWE shows are an ensemble. The brand name “WWE” is what sells the show, not one person.
Having Bliss and Rousey go on last will not damage WWE financially. SummerSlam will likely sell out, and Network subscriptions will not be affected.
Whether Rousey lifts the title or Bliss finds a way to get a win, the last image at SummerSlam will be a refreshing sight for fans.
Agree or disagree? Tell us what you think should headline SummerSlam in the comments below.
