SummerSlam 2018: 5 worst booking decisions WWE could realistically make

The 2018 SummerSlam pay-per-view is almost upon us, which means it’s time to take our monthly look at the worst booking decisions WWE could realistically make at the event.

Last month, we mentioned before Extreme Rules that it would be a bad call if Kane turned against Team Hell No tag partner Daniel Bryan against The Bludgeon Brothers, while we weren’t entirely convinced that Shinsuke Nakamura should win the United States Championship from Jeff Hardy.

Thankfully, rumours about Kane betraying D-Bry turned out to be incorrect, and while Nakamura did end up defeating Jeff for the title, the manner of the victory – and Randy Orton’s shocking return – was booked really well, so credit to WWE for proving us wrong!

Looking ahead to Sunday, a total of 13 matches are being advertised for this year’s “Biggest Party of the Summer”, including Brock Lesnar vs. Roman Reigns (Universal Championship), AJ Styles vs. Samoa Joe (WWE Championship), Alexa Bliss vs. Ronda Rousey (Raw Women’s Championship) and Daniel Bryan vs. The Miz.

So, with another stacked card confirmed and nine titles on the line, what unpopular outcomes and moments might we see at the August extravaganza?

Let’s run through five possible booking decisions that could upset some fans in Brooklyn.

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#5 No Bobby Lashley appearance

Bobby Lashley defeated Roman Reigns at Extreme Rules

Nobody is pretending that Bobby Lashley has lit up the world since his return to WWE in April, but the former ECW champion at least deserves to be included somewhere on the SummerSlam card.

Last month, he defeated the mighty Roman Reigns at Extreme Rules and at one point it looked like he was a serious contender to defeat Brock Lesnar for the Universal Championship at this Sunday’s event.

Instead, he finds himself without a match on the PPV – he has even been replaced on posters by Samoa Joe – and the only realistic way he can appear is if he gets involved in Elias’ concert segment.

Would that makeup for not headlining in a marquee match against Lesnar? Absolutely not, but it would be better than nothing at all!

#4 Shenanigan finish to Baron Corbin vs. Finn Balor

Finn Balor is undefeated in his previous two SummerSlam matches

The feud between Baron Corbin and Finn Balor on Raw hasn’t exactly been bad – in fact, Corbin has been quite entertaining – but it’s about time the rivalry was settled once and for all and both men moved on to new storylines.

Raw’s Constable has a whole host of babyfaces on the red brand who he could target next, from Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose to The B-Team and Bobby Lashley, while Balor wouldn’t look out of place in either the Intercontinental or Universal Championship storylines after SummerSlam.

Whoever gets the victory in Brooklyn, let’s just hope the match has a clean finish and both guys can receive new rivals on the next episode of Raw.

#3 Seven-hour show

Would a one-hour kickoff show and four-hour main show be better?

With Raw and SmackDown-exclusive pay-per-views now a thing of the past, WWE’s monthly events finally feel like special attractions again, but does that mean they need to last seven hours? No. No, they do not.

This year’s SummerSlam is being advertised with a two-hour kickoff show, followed by the main show lasting four hours and 30 minutes, with no WWE Network post-show currently scheduled.

Judging by the run times of recent events, it wouldn’t be at all surprising if the main show overran and lasted close to five hours, making the overall broadcast a seven-hour show.

As much as we all want to see an entertaining event, seven hours is far too long for a wrestling show, even for a ‘Big 4’ PPV like SummerSlam.

#2 Brock Lesnar retains the Universal Championship

Brock Lesnar has been Universal champion since WrestleMania 33

In almost every prediction article about SummerSlam this week, including our own, people are anticipating that Brock Lesnar will finally lose the Universal Championship this Sunday when he takes on Roman Reigns.

Even if “The Big Dog” doesn’t get the victory over “The Beast” that he craves so much, there’s always a possibility that the winner of Braun Strowman vs. Kevin Owens will cash in the Money In The Bank contract to win the title at short notice.

Whether it’s Reigns, Strowman or Owens, fans desperately want to see a new full-time Universal champion, so it’d be hugely underwhelming if SummerSlam closed with Lesnar retaining his title yet again.

#1 Another unfair Carmella victory

Carmella won the SmackDown Women's Championship in April

The SmackDown Women’s Championship never really felt like a priority throughout 2017. However, in 2018, for good and bad reasons, it has become more relevant than it has been in over 18 months.

Carmella’s reign began well with victories over Charlotte Flair, the second of which ended in relatively clean fashion, but her triumphs over Asuka were ruined by James Ellsworth, leaving fans wondering why “The Empress of Tomorrow” hasn’t been granted a fair rematch.

“The Princess of Staten Island” will put her title on the line against Becky Lynch and Charlotte at SummerSlam, and it’d be disappointing if she retained against two of SmackDown Live’s top Superstars with another shenanigan finish.