By Brandon Albright, @B_Rock1978
Wrestling Lockup with Brandon, brought to you by Triple Threat CLE brings you the WWE Summer Slam 2016 Preview. Summer Slam takes place Sunday, August 21st, live at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. This year's event will be the 29th Summer Slam in WWE history. This year's event will hold history of its own as WWE crowns the first ever WWE Universal Champion. If you can't catch the event I'll have the full recap for you on Monday afternoon.
- "WWE Universal Championship Match": Seth Rollins vs. Finn Balor: Back on July 19th, the WWE brought back the Brand Extension and Draft to try to jump start the New Era. Dean Ambrose successfully retained the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at WWE Battleground and made it a Smackdown Live only title. Stephanie McMahon and RAW GM Mick Foley created the newly designed WWE Universal Championship as a tribute to the fans and made it RAW's top title. Seth Rollins was chosen as RAW's #1 Draft pick and was automatically placed in the first ever WWE Universal Championship Match. Former NXT World Champion, Finn Balor, became Rollins' opponent for the title after winning a fatal four way and then defeating Roman Reigns for the title spot. Will Seth Rollins walk out the first ever WWE Universal Champion over the Independent wrestling icon? Will Finn Balor bring out The Demon inside, defeat Rollins and become the first ever WWE Universal Champion?
- "WWE World Heavyweight Championship Match": Dean Ambrose (c) vs. Dolph Ziggler: Last month at WWE Battleground, Dean Ambrose defeated Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins in a Triple Threat Match to retain his WWE World Heavyweight Championship. Dolph Ziggler, meanwhile, has become a frustrated superstar, claiming to being held back by the WWE, as he was stuck in a feud with Baron Corbin the past few months. Ziggler did the unthinkable on the first edition of Smackdown Live when he defeated AJ Styles, John Cena, Apollo Crews, Baron Corbin and Bray Wyatt in a Six Pack Challenge to become the new #1 Contender. Ziggler has promised to finally prove to the world that he belongs in the world title picture and will fulfill his childhood dream of being a WWE World Heavyweight Champion. Dean Ambrose sets out to destroy Ziggler's dream and prove to Ziggler that he was never held down, he was just never good enough.
- "WWE Intercontinental Championship Match": The Miz (c) vs. Apollo Crews: The Miz is now closing in on 150 days as WWE Intercontinental champion and successfully got past Darren Young at WWE Battleground. Who's next? Former NXT upstart Apollo Crews. Crews defeated Baron Corbin and Kalisto in a triple threat match to earn the opportunity to face The Miz for the WWE Intercontinental Championship. Will The Miz come out victorious and continue his Hollywood success story? Can the up and comer Apollo Crews defeat Miz and win his first title in his WWE career?
- "WWE United States Championship Match": Rusev (c) vs. Roman Reigns: Last month at WWE Battleground, Rusev successfully defended the WWE United States Championship against Zack Ryder and continued to have the United States held in the palm of his hand. Roman Reigns wasn't as lucky as he lost in the WWE World Heavyweight Championship Triple Threat Match. Rusev would then go on to defeat Mark Henry on RAW when Reigns confronted Rusev. Reigns again confronted Rusev and his wife Lana during their wedding ceremony celebration in the ring and issued a challenge for the title. Rusev said no which resulted in a brawl between the two erupting. RAW General Manager, Mick Foley, signed the match and made it final at Summer Slam. Can the Bulgarian Beast defeat the former Hound of Justice? Can Reigns break out of his current slump and win the WWE United States Championship?
- "WWE World Tag Team Championship Match": The New Day (c) vs. Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson: The New Day became the longest reigning WWE...World...Tag...Team...Champions, however, the celebration was cut short as Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson attacked and beat down New Day. New Day would go on to defeat Gallows and Anderson in a tag team match, however, all three members of New Day were beat down again and this time Big E was left with a groin injury. The rematch was made official for Summer Slam as Xavier Woods and Kofi Kingston defend the tag titles against Gallows and Anderson. Can New Day continue on as the longest reigning champions? Will Gallows and Anderson finally bring gold to the WWE's version of The Bullet Club?
- "WWE Women's Championship Match": Sasha Banks (c) vs. Charlotte: Last month at WWE Battleground Sasha Banks and Bayley defeated Charlotte and Dana Brooke in tag team action. The next night on RAW Sasha went on to defeat Charlotte for the WWE Women's Championship. Charlotte quickly invoked her rematch for the championship at WWE Summer Slam in her quest to win back the championship. Sasha accepted the challenge and also went on to defeat Dana Brooke, which made the stipulation that Dana would be banned from ringside, making Sasha vs. Charlotte a legit one on one match. Can "The Boss" retain her championship, or will Charlotte reclaim the championship and as she says "do it with flair"?
- "RAW vs. Smackdown Live Match": Brock Lesnar vs. Randy Orton: The Beast Brock Lesnar makes his return to the WWE after a victorious battle at UFC 200, that was surrounded with controversy. Randy Orton is also making his return from shoulder surgery and will compete in his first pay per view match since the injury. WWE officially announced the returning Randy Orton would battle Brock Lesnar back in July, before the Brand Extension and Draft. This match will be the first RAW vs. Smackdown Live match to take place since the draft. Lesnar and Orton haven't let the separate shows stop them from attacking, as both men took turns invading each others show to make a statement. Will the Mayor of Suplex City defeat Orton? Will Orton RKO Lesnar into Viperville?
- John Cena vs. AJ Styles: Two months ago at WWE Money In The Bank, Styles came out victorious over John Cena in their first ever encounter. Styles still not happy with his win over the WWE's franchise, sought out to attack Cena weekly with his buddies Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson. New comers Enzo and Big Cass seen enough and joined Cena in his battle with Styles and The Club, which led to a six man tag team match at WWE Battleground. Cena, Enzo and Cass went on to defeat The Club at WWE Battleground, but the war between Styles and Cena was far from over. Styles and Cena both got drafted to Smackdown Live and immediately started their feud back up. Styles wanting nothing more than ending Cena, challenged Cena to a one on one match at Summer Slam which Cena gladly accepted. Can Cena finally defeat Styles now that The Club is no longer a threat? Can Styles finish the job on taking out the WWE franchise?
- Chris Jericho and Kevin Owens vs. Enzo and Big Cass: Chris Jericho has had problems with Enzo Amore and Enzo's gift to talk smack on the microphone. After a mixed tag team match on RAW between Jericho/Charlotte and Enzo/Sasha Banks, Jericho attacked Enzo and beat Enzo down until Big Cass made the save. Jericho, not liking the disrespect that Enzo and Big Cass showed him, went out and recruited Kevin Owens to watch his back. Jericho battled Enzo in a one on one match that ended up breaking out in a brawl between Jericho, Owens, Enzo and Cass. Big Cass threw out a tag team match challenge for Summer Slam to Jericho and Owens, who gladly accepted. Can the veteran Jericho and Owens finally shut up Enzo and Big Cass? Will Enzo and Cass show that they can back up the smack that they talk?
- "Best Of Seven Series, Match #1": Sheamus vs. Cesaro: The past few weeks leading up to WWE Summer Slam, Cesaro and Sheamus have had a major feud going. Cesaro defeated Sheamus in a one on one match which led to Sheamus costing Cesaro the WWE United States Championship a week later. Sheamus said he was finished with Cesaro, but Cesaro would go on to cost Sheamus his match against Sami Zayn. Cesaro and Sheamus attacked each other backstage and were separated by WWE officials. RAW GM Mick Foley officially announced that Sheamus and Cesaro would face each other in a "Best of Seven Series" with their first match starting at Summer Slam. Which superstar will pull out the victory and take the commanding 1-0 lead in the series?
- "Six Women Tag Team Match": Becky Lynch, Carmella and Naomi vs. Nattie Neidhart, Alexa Bliss and Eva Marie: The Smackdown Live women's division heats up with a six women tag team match. Becky Lynch and Nattie Neidhart have been locked in a feud with each other for the past couple months. Carmella and Alexa Bliss both were called up from NXT and have been in a feud with each other since arriving. Naomi returned to Smackdown Live this past Tuesday night and immediately went after Eva Marie who has been coming up with ways to not wrestle in matches. Which team will come out victorious tonight?
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