It was announced on Monday Night Raw that Brock Lesnar’s SummerSlam opponent would be revealed on this week’s episode of Smackdown.
And for those of you who have been acquainted with the interviews that Lesnar has been doing for UFC 200, this move by the WWE smacked of riposte rather than rationality.
After he was distantly apathetic on the suggestion that the WWE brass weren’t too happy with his participation in UFC 200, announcing that Lesnar’s opponent would be revealed on this week’s episode of Smackdown was the WWE’s way of passively assuring everybody that he was primarily contracted to them.
And so we speculate who those (un)lucky individuals who may get to share a ring with Brock Lesnar are. Here are 6 possible opponents for Brock Lesnar at SummerSlam.
#6 Bray Wyatt
There was quite a bit of buzz heading into Wrestlemania that WWE’s showpiece occasion could feature a rollicking clash between the Wyatt family, which was laying waste to the roster at the time, and the unconquerable beast, Brock Lesnar.
Sadly, Lesnar ended up effectively squashing Dean Ambrose and the Wyatts were ‘quasi’ put over by The Rock, before being turned into a joke. Now, after a substantial layoff, they are back and seem to have retained that ominous aura that they always exuded.
And this could yet be a perfect opportunity for Bray Wyatt to go on to bigger and better things from here.
#5 Kevin Owens
Easily one of the most entertaining Superstars on the roster, Kevin Owens is certainly no slouch when it comes to his ringwork, the latest evidence of which came in this week’s episode of Raw when he nonchalantly nailed the World’s Strongest Man, Mark Henry with a Pop-up Powerbomb.
On the mic, and definitely in the ring, Kevin Owens can hang with the best of them and has long expressed his desire to test himself against the rough-house style of Brock Lesnar.
Especially if he goes clean over Sami Zayn at Battleground, a step-up into main event status could be on the card sooner rather than later.
#4 Finn Balor
This is a slightly dicey option, but one that could make for compelling viewing nonetheless. NXT’s Demon has teased a main roster call-up innumerable times, and as of now, it’s a question of when and not if.
The stylistic match-up would depict a David versus Goliath narrative succinctly, and Paul Heyman could certainly sell the novelty that the pairing presents to a tee.
It was long rumoured that Balor would probably be in league with the Club when he was called up, but Enzo Amore and Big Cass seem to have evened up the numbers game in the Cena – AJ Styles feud, leaving him to be presumably fitted in elsewhere.
Suplex City beckons.
#3 Winner of the Shield Triple Threat at Battleground
All three members of the Shield have had their brushings with the Beast; Reigns at Wrestlemania 31, Rollins at Royal Rumble and Dean Ambrose at Wrestlemania 32. And to be honest, the WWE could choose to have any one of them face Lesnar again and accordingly manipulate the concerned storyline.
Especially if Lesnar wins at UFC 200, placing him in the WWE Title picture would be a prudent course of action as he would have done his reputation as a legitimate bada** no harm at all.
And after Battleground, if there is a clean victory for one of the three former brethren of the Shield, a match against Brock Lesnar would merely be an eventuality.
#2 Shinsuke Nakamura
His rise in NXT has been prolific to say the least, and although he presents the most left field option of all the names in this list, Shinsuke Nakamura is one Superstar who fits the bill of a potential opponent for Lesnar perfectly.
He’s got charisma in generous measure, a stiff working style that is derived from a background in MMA and is an incredible in-ring worker to boot. Throw in the Paul Heyman factor and this feud could spell magic every step of the way.
The King of Strong Style has yet to meet his match in intensity, despite already having wrestled the likes of Sami Zayn and Austin Aries. Brock Lesnar, though, would be quite another animal altogether.
#1 Randy Orton
The Viper is still in the rehabilitation phase from his shoulder injury if reports are to be believed, but rumours abound this week that he may make his return on SmackDown, to be named as Lesnar’s opponent for SummerSlam.
Although both men were introduced into WWE programming at roughly the same time after graduating from the same OVW class, it is worth noting that neither has faced off with the other in a major PPV match till now.
Like the Undertaker – Sting dream match that never quite found fruition, the Orton – Lesnar match is also of the same ilk; but it remains to be seen if the WWE will pull the trigger on it.
And we won’t have to wait long to find out.
