WWE SummerSlam 2018: 5 possible shocks

The 2018 WWE SummerSlam pay-per-view takes place in Brooklyn, New York on Sunday.

Thirteen matches have been confirmed for the event, including Brock Lesnar vs. Roman Reigns (Universal Championship), AJ Styles vs. Samoa Joe (WWE Championship), Dolph Ziggler vs. Seth Rollins (Intercontinental Championship) and Daniel Bryan vs. The Miz.

Both women’s divisions will also be represented on the show, with Ronda Rousey challenging Alexa Bliss for the Raw Women’s Championship and Carmella putting her SmackDown Women’s Championship on the line in a Triple Threat match against Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair.

Elsewhere on the card, Jeff Hardy will attempt to regain the United States Championship from Shinsuke Nakamura, Kevin Owens will challenge Braun Strowman for his Money In The Bank briefcase, The New Day will face The Bludgeon Brothers for the SmackDown Tag Team Championships, and Finn Balor will take on Baron Corbin.

On the event’s kickoff show, there will be three matches: Cedric Alexander vs. Drew Gulak (Cruiserweight Championship), The B-Team vs. The Revival (Raw Tag Team Championships), and Andrade “Cien” Almas & Zelina Vega vs. Rusev & Lana.

It's indeed praiseworthy that the WWE's go-home edition of Monday Night RAW as well as SmackDown Live served to hype up the WWE Universe for this Sunday's blockbuster event. The stage is set for perhaps one of the most exciting professional wrestling events of the year--and needless to say, the WWE Universe is chuffed.

In this article, let’s take a look at five possible shocks that could happen at this year’s “Biggest Party of the Summer”.

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#5 Dean Ambrose helps Seth Rollins defeat Dolph Ziggler

Drew McIntyre and Dean Ambrose will be in opposite corners at SummerSlam

Dean Ambrose made his long-awaited return from injury on this week’s Monday Night Raw, joining forces with Seth Rollins ahead of his fellow Shield member’s Intercontinental Championship match against Dolph Ziggler (w/Drew McIntyre) on Sunday.

“The Lunatic Fringe” has come back to WWE with a new look – a heel look, you could say – and many fans are predicting that he could become a bad guy just days after receiving a huge babyface reaction on Raw.

Four-and-a-half years on from his last heel run, it’s about time Ambrose underwent a drastic change in attitude. However, with so many people predicting a heel turn at SummerSlam, it would probably be a bigger surprise if he stayed loyal to his Shield buddy and helped him defeat Ziggler.

#4 The Miz defeats Daniel Bryan

The Miz has mocked Daniel Bryan on a weekly basis recently

We’ll run through our full list of last-minute predictions for SummerSlam later this week, but one of the most shocking outcomes could see The Miz prevail in his eight-years-in-the-making match against Daniel Bryan.

“The Leader of the Yes Movement” has struggled to deal with his long-term rival’s mind games in the build-up to their much-anticipated encounter this Sunday, which looks set to be the first of many matches between the two men over the next few months.

If that is the case, the series of matches will likely begin with a win for The Miz, who would be able to gloat about his accomplishment on SmackDown Live ahead of a higher-stakes rematch (with D-Bry’s WWE career on the line, perhaps?) in the future.

#3 Paul Heyman turns against Brock Lesnar

Brock Lesnar recently attacked Paul Heyman

The Universal Championship storyline took a bizarre twist on the latest episode of Raw when, moments after trying to convince Roman Reigns to become his new client, Paul Heyman sprayed pepper spray into the eyes of “The Big Dog”.

This led to a surprise appearance from Brock Lesnar, who took full advantage by attacking Reigns six days before their match at SummerSlam.

“The Beast” seemingly cut ties with Heyman on Raw two weeks ago, but it appears that they are now on the same page again ahead of Sunday’s match… or are they?

There have been so many twists and turns in the relationship between Heyman and Lesnar recently, so you cannot put it past the former ECW owner to spring another surprise on the WWE Universe by aligning himself with a new Universal Championship-holding client on Sunday!

#2 John Cena makes an appearance

John Cena hasn't appeared in WWE since defeating Triple H at the Greatest Royal Rumble

Less than a month ago, it looked like John Cena would appear at this year’s SummerSlam, possibly in a WrestleMania rematch against The Undertaker. However, he has not returned to WWE television in the build-up to the event and speculation about his comeback has gone eerily quiet.

As things stand, we know that “Big Match John” will compete in matches in Shanghai on 1 September and Melbourne on 6 October, but it remains to be seen when he will have his next meaningful WWE rivalry.

Cena has competed at SummerSlam in each of the last 14 years, so we can’t rule out an appearance this Sunday in some capacity, even if he doesn’t get involved in an official match.

#1 Braun Strowman cashes in his Money In The Bank contract

Braun Strowman won the Money In The Bank contract in June

WWE has kept fans guessing about the next holder of the Universal Championship by advertising #1 contender Roman Reigns in matches against “Mr. Money In The Bank” Braun Strowman and possible “Mr. Money In The Bank” Kevin Owens after SummerSlam.

Either way, if Reigns defeats Brock Lesnar for the Universal Championship this Sunday, it looks like he could instantly feud with whoever wins the MITB contract match between Strowman and Owens, which suggests that there could be a possible cash-in in Brooklyn.

While a KO victory and Universal title win isn't impossible, Strowman is the obvious favorite right now to retain his contract and interfere in Sunday’s main event.