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The fact that WWE no longer has brand-specific pay-per-views must be music to the ears of the WWE writing team. There are only two pay-per-views between now and Summerslam 2018, those being Money in the Bank on June 17th and Extreme Rules on July 15th.
The writing team must have been under considerable pressure recently, dealing with brand-specific events, WrestleMania and the Greatest Royal Rumble all scheduled so close to one another. Now that those things are no longer an issue, the company has some breathing room to plot out and develop some great feuds for the second biggest pay-per-view of the year, Summerslam. A stacked card packed to the brim with quality matches must be a given for such a big event.
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So without further ado, let's check out six matches that need to happen at Summerslam 2018.
#1 AJ Styles vs. Samoa Joe
Samoa Joe interrupting AJ Styles on the go-home show of Smackdown Live before Backlash must have been a dream come true for anyone who has followed these two wrestlers in ROH and TNA. A few years ago, the prospect of Styles and Joe being in the WWE and being treated like a big deal must have been a fantasy.
But that fantasy is now a reality and assuming that AJ Styles drops the title to Nakamura at Money in the Bank (which he should) and loses the rematch that will presumably take place at Extreme Rules, Styles will need a rivalry to get him through the summer months. This is where Joe comes in. He doesn't have a clear feud yet on Smackdown Live and pitting him against AJ Styles would lead to some fantastic programming.
The prospect of Samoa Joe trying to burn the 'house that AJ Styles built' would be a huge deal. Joe's booking in the past makes him a genuine threat to Styles' seat on the throne of Smackdown Live. Giving these two the opening slot at Summerslam in a match that goes on for 15-20 minutes would rev up the crowd, and just thinking about how great the promos between these two would be is enough to get anyone excited.
#2 Kurt Angle vs. Triple H
These two already faced off against one another in a mixed tag-team match at WrestleMania 34. However, that match wasn't really about Kurt Angle or Triple H; it was more about Ronda Rousey's in-ring debut and Stephanie McMahon being knocked down a peg or two. If WWE does decide to pit these two legends against each other, the story pretty much writes itself.
Angle's issues with The Authority are well documented and those issues could once again surface in the summer, with a match between the two deciding who controls Raw. If The Authority loses, they leave the show for good. This would be a great way of writing them off the show, because they've considerably outstayed their welcome.
Angle has shown that he still has a few matches left in the tank, and saving him for big events like Summerslam makes sense; meanwhile Triple H has it in him to carry Angle to a great match between the two.
#3 Asuka vs. Charlotte Flair (WWE Smackdown Women's Championship)
Asuka vs. Charlotte Flair was one of the best matches of WrestleMania 34. It is a safe assumption to make that Asuka will win the Smackdown Women's Championship from Carmella at Money in the Bank and will hold onto the belt until Summerslam.
Adding Flair to the Championship scene at this point is easy. Charlotte is the only woman to have pinned Asuka in singles competition and will use that to position herself as the #1 contender. Asuka is not one to back down from a challenge and will face off against Flair at Summerslam. These two have already shown that they can deliver in the ring on the Grandest Stage of Them All, so it's a safe bet they can burn the house down at Summerslam as well.
#4 John Cena vs. Shinsuke Nakamura (WWE Championship)
John Cena hasn't been a full-time active wrestler in the WWE for quite a while now. He pops up every now and then, wrestles a few matches, and disappears for a few months again. But to assume that he is done with the WWE is foolish. There is a very high likelihood that Cena will break Ric Flair's long standing record of 16 WWE Championship wins, and it is probably going to happen on a big stage, perhaps Summerslam.
Nakamura doesn't necessarily need to drop the title to Cena at Summerslam, but the storyline and the timing makes sense. Cena wants to break Flair's record and he hasn't surfaced since his pummeling at the hands of The Undertaker at WrestleMania 34. He's definitely going to play a role at Summerslam, so pitting him against Nakamura is a no-brainer. We've seen these two face-off before, so we know that they can work a great match.
#5 The Miz vs. Daniel Bryan
The Miz vs. Daniel Bryan is precisely the kind of match a big event such as Summerslam is meant for. A match between these two seemed impossible some time ago, but with Bryan cleared for in-ring action and performing at his best, a match between these two is bound to take place at some point.
It's almost as if the WWE is stalling till Summerslam for a match between these two, by putting Bryan in a second-rate feud against Big Cass and having The Miz be made a fool of by The New Day. In the two months between now and Summerslam, Bryan can be built back up again and The Miz can let loose on the mic, absolutely obliterating Bryan in the process.
Add Bryan's fantastic in-ring work - The Miz has been stellar too - and you have a great match on your hands.
#6 Seth Rollins vs. Brock Lesnar (Title vs. Title)
This match is a bit of a long shot, but there is no denying how wildly popular Seth Rollins has become over the few months, and is poised to replaced Roman Reigns as 'The Guy' in the long run. Also, it is not a coincidence that Rollins has brought up Lesnar's name and his part-time schedule on Raw. Rollins doesn't need to drop the Intercontinental Title to face Lesnar; he can face The Beast in a title vs. title match, much like he did against John Cena three years ago.
Rollins has all the necessary qualities to be the top guy, and considering the amount of momentum he has gathered over the past few months, he should dethrone Lesnar and become the new Universal Champion at Summerslam 2018. This would firmly establish Rollins as the face of Raw and it would be so refreshing to have a Universal Champion that works matches week-in and week-out.
What matches do you think should take place at Summerslam 2018? Will dropping brand-specific pay-per-views prove to be a good idea? Share your views in the comments below!
