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The summer months that build to SummerSlam are known to be the 'down period' for WWE traditionally and things usually pick up for the company following the Biggest Party of the Summer. Obviously, this year is a lot different from years past due to the ongoing pandemic and WWE has had to make plans on the fly to keep audiences engaged.
And this is why we saw Randy Orton vs. Edge at a show like Backlash, which has usually been a B pay-per-view. WWE has embraced the cinematic format and it has become an integral part of the company's presentation at this point.
So, with all of this in mind, here are 5 surprises that could rock the company in the month of July and honestly, change the landscape of WWE for the better this month.
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A top AEW star just called one of his colleagues 'spoiled' and 'narcissistic' HERE.
#5 The WWE Universal Championship changes hands in a non-title match at Extreme Rules 2020
Yes, Braun Strowman and Bray Wyatt will meet in a non-title Swamp Fight at Extreme Rules, but that does not mean that another WWE Superstar may not be waiting in the wings for his opportunity to cash in and become the WWE Universal Champion. This is, of course, Otis. The non-title stipulation may be a red herring to make us forget that Otis could show up and potentially cash in his contract.
So, when Bray Wyatt lays Braun Strowman out in the swamp, Otis could come scrambling out of the bushes or the swamp itself, to cash in his Money in the Bank contract. This would be a great twist and a fantastic way to add stakes to this cinematic match, in my personal opinion.
Then both Bray Wyatt and Braun Strowman could come for Otis making for exciting content.
#4 MVP gets into a war of words with Paul Heyman on RAW, Brock Lesnar returns to WWE once again
There have been talks of WWE wanting to do a dream match featuring Bobby Lashley and Brock Lesnar for some time. Sportskeeda's own Tom Colohue reported the following about a possible encounter between the two MMA powerhouses inside a WWE ring:
I do know that there is a desperate need among some parts of the executive level in the WWE to get the Bobby Lashley vs. Brock Lesnar match coming. And as I have reported here previously, Brock Lesnar has been pencilled in for an appearance around SummerSlam, which means it is certainly possible that we are going to get that match.
And in line with this, MVP could call out Paul Heyman after Extreme Rules and incite him to such a degree that Brock Lesnar returns to WWE with hellfire and brimstone, leaving a trail of destruction. Yes, I know that travel from Canada is a problem but as WWE proved during WrestleMania, there's almost always a way when Vince McMahon so desires for something.
#3 Drew McIntyre and Randy Orton finally lock horns on WWE RAW at last
Drew McIntyre has been very vocal about wanting to face Randy Orton for the WWE Championship. In fact, during an interview I conducted with him not long ago, he would say the following about this dream WWE feud:
There's a reason I want to work with him for the world title because I want to learn. Because there aren't too many guys around anymore that have learned from the best. Been around for a long time and can really pull you up. So, anybody that works with him will absolutely benefit.
I mean no disrespect to Dolph Ziggler when I say this, but I think that it is very unlikely that he will become the new WWE Champion at Extreme Rules.
If Bobby Lashley could not defeat Drew McIntyre for the prestigious WWE Championship with MVP in his corner, there is no chance at all that Dolph Ziggler will be able to do so, unless Robert Roode makes a surprise return. Only time will tell.
#2 Liv Morgan and Ruby Riott become the brand new WWE Women's Tag Team Champions
I think WWE is doing a great job of rebuilding the women's tag team division on RAW with Liv Morgan and Ruby Riott teasing a potential alliance and also with Natalya and Lana coming together.
No, Lana isn't exactly Sasha Banks in the ring but at the same time, if there are other competent workers with her at the same time, she can be a good WWE asset. I genuinely think that Liv Morgan and Ruby Riott could defeat Sasha Banks and Bayley to become the new WWE Women's Tag Team Champions.
It is clear through the subtle hints that are being dropped right now that Ruby Riott and Liv Morgan will come together and that Sasha Banks and Bayley will face each other, presumably for the SmackDown Women's Championship at WWE SummerSlam (or down the line).
WWE will want them to drop the Tag Team Championships to some team in the roster and do we really want to see them work with Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross again?
#1 Tucker attacks Otis to turn heel on WWE SmackDown
I had a chance to connect with WWE Superstar Otis some time ago and I asked him if he was on the same page with Tucker Knight, his beloved tag team partner. This is what he said to be about the current status of Heavy Machinery in WWE:
It's full support from my big brother Tucky. There's been a lot of worries out there in the media that Heavy Machinery is not together as a team. But we are brothers. He is my big brother and I'm the little guy. Weight-wise that's not the case (laughs).
Of course, words only mean so much in WWE and I can honestly see the end of Heavy Machinery come sooner than later.
Tag team partners work fantastically with one another when it comes to WWE and I can totally imagine Tucky turning on Otis to become one of the most despised and hated heels in the current WWE roster.
Imagine Tucker costing Otis his big WWE cash in during the Swamp Fight.
