WWE SummerSlam 2017: Updated Match Card Predictions After Battleground

The America vs. the world storylines from Battleground threaten to merge at WWE SummerSlam 2017.

Sunday's pay-per-view saw John Cena stand tall in defense of Old Glory. In the main event, though, the foreign heel beat out the patriot in Jinder Mahal vs. Randy Orton. The surprise arrival of The Great Khali in the Punjabi Prison match for the WWE Championship opens the door for SummerSlam to add a surefire clunker to the card.

Battleground pointed to a number of rematches happening at the summer blockbuster, as well. AJ Styles and Shinsuke Nakamura don't appear done with their current rivals.

The one certain addition to the SummerSlam lineup came courtesy of Natalya winning the Fatal 5-Way match. The victory earned her a shot against Naomi for the SmackDown Women's Championship.

What does WWE have in mind for Cena, The New Day and others, though? Who will battle for the Intercontinental Championship? Which big names will be left off?

Storyline analysis of recent Raw and SmackDown episodes and what unfolded in Philadelphia at Battleground helps figure out what SummerSlam will end up looking like come Aug. 20.

Kevin Owens vs. AJ Styles (United States Championship)

In one of many curveballs from Sunday night, Kevin Owens reclaimed the United States Championship from Styles. KO ended Styles' reign at just 16 days.

Their clash at Battleground didn't feel like a climax to their rivalry.

Instead, there is controversy to build on moving forward. Styles looked to have Owens beat with the Calf Crusher, but the referee was out cold when The Phenomenal One had the submission locked in. And the official was out of commission thanks to Owens throwing Styles into him. That all points to this feud continuing.

Seeing how both Styles vs. Owens I and II ended less than decisively, SummerSlam could finally be their chance to let loose and create the classic we've been expecting.

The Miz vs. Seth Rollins (Intercontinental Championship)

Dean Ambrose has been tangling with The Miz since the end of last year. He's set to give way to an old ally taking his place as the top contender for the Intercontinental Championship—Seth Rollins.

The Miz's insults have drawn out Rollins. The Kingslayer has taken to trading blows with the heel but has found himself surrounded by The Miztourage.

For now, Ambrose and Rollins are battling those baddies together. That isn't likely to last, though. Ambrose has had a multitude of title shots in the past several months.

At SummerSlam, it will be Rollins' time to try to dethrone The Miz.

The New Day vs. Luke Harper and Erick Rowan (SmackDown Tag Team Championship)

The New Day knocked off The Usos in Battleground's opener to become SmackDown tag champs. The trio is likely to collide with the twins once more, but a new threat looms.

Breezango suffered a sneak attack in the latest "Fashion Files" skit. Tyler Breeze and Fandango have eliminated The Ascension, The Colons and The Hype Bros as suspects for who has been terrorizing them. They have not, however, accounted for Luke Harper and Erick Rowan.

The former members of The Wyatt Family haven't been seen in weeks.

Their absence may be a means to make their re-emergence and reunion more shocking. And it makes sense that these two have been hiding in the dark, looking to prey on the Fashion Police. They are shadowy creatures who plain like to hurt people.

After taking down Breeze and Fandango, Harper and Rowan would be a win or two away from earning a crack at The New Day.

Finn Balor vs. Bray Wyatt

As Finn Balor looks to wrap up his rivalry with Elias Samson, a monster lurks behind him.

Bray Wyatt has appeared on the big screen in recent weeks in order to mock Balor. He's laughed at the former NXT champ's pain and his failures.

Samson isn't a SummerSlam-worthy opponent for the rising Balor. Wyatt is, even after all the major losses he's suffered. Plus, WWE Creative would have tons to play with.

The supernatural nature of Wyatt's character and Balor's demon alter ego is a perfect pairing.

Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Baron Corbin

So much for Shinsuke Nakamura vs. AJ Styles in a dream match at SummerSlam. Styles doesn't look finished with Owens, just as Nakamura isn't through with Baron Corbin.

At Battleground, Corbin decided to avoid defeat by hitting The King of Strong Style with a low blow.

This story is not about to end with a disqualification finish. Nakamura is sure to seek revenge. And he may have to wait until SummerSlam to get it.

Nakamura vs. Corbin hasn't felt like a marquee feud thus far, but WWE will want to showcase both rising stars at the upcoming big event.

Cesaro and Sheamus vs. The Hardys vs. The Revival (Raw Tag Team Championship)

After Cesaro and Sheamus dethroned The Hardy Boyz at Extreme Rules, Matt and Jeff Hardy have struggled to start winning again. Their slump has kept them in the spotlight, though.

The Hardys look to be on the verge of a major character change, incorporating their "broken" personas from their days at Impact Wrestling.

If that's the case, WWE will make putting The Hardy Boyz on PPV an even higher priority than normal. But they won't be alone in the hunt for the Raw tag team title. One of the teams that extended the Hardy brothers' streak is charging toward contention.

The Revival hasn't lost since moving to Raw earlier this year. It is a perfect fit style-wise with Cesaro and Sheamus. A tag title match feels inevitable.

But WWE rarely books heel vs. heel matchups.

Going with a Triple Threat match allows The Revival to jump into the fray while also varying up the latest clash between The Hardy Boyz and Cesaro and Sheamus.

Alexa Bliss vs. Sasha Banks vs. Bayley (Raw Women's Championship)

The Raw women's division is poised to go with a three-way clash of its own.

Sasha Banks and Bayley both have reason to believe they deserve the next shot at Alexa Bliss. Bayley beat the champ on Raw. Banks had Bliss in retreat mode when they met at Great Balls of Fire. On Monday's Raw, the two friends will meet in a No. 1 Contender's match to settle things.

A tie or a no-contest of some sort is a safe bet for that bout.

There won't be great interest in seeing Bayley face Bliss alone. She was outmatched in their previous matches, which will create little electricity for this one. Adding The Boss would mix things up in a big way.

Banks and Bayley's alliance could begin to splinter, adding a strong subplot for the Raw women's title bout.

It's possible, too, that Nia Jax forces her way into this match. She's currently Bliss' bodyguard, but their partnership hasn't exactly been ironclad.

Jinder Mahal and Great Khali vs. John Cena and Randy Orton

This tag team clash would be a bad move for a number of reasons, but it's not hard to imagine it materializing at this point.

The Great Khali returned to WWE at Battleground to assist Mahal in retaining his world title. That has to leave Orton incensed at the giant.

Cena, meanwhile, charged ahead Sunday by taking down Rusev in a Flag match.

That bout felt like a SummerSlam warm-up from the get-go. And it makes little sense to keep that feud going after having a big gimmick match like that, especially because those two already had a lengthy feud in 2014.

Cena's increased focus on patriotism has him on a collision course with Mahal, the foreign heel atop the company.

Cena vs. Mahal is certainly a strong possibility. But if WWE wants to showcase Khali, as well, it will likely want to mask his limitations by putting him in a tag team contest. Normally, not having a WWE Championship would be a huge deal, but the universal title can headline this time around.

Brock Lesnar vs. Samoa Joe vs. Roman Reigns vs. Braun Strowman (Universal Title)

Brock Lesnar will find the ring crowded with gold-hungry gladiators at SummerSlam.

Roman Reigns, Braun Strowman and Samoa Joe are all coming for him. That was made crystal clear by how last week's Raw ended. Reigns and Joe collided to decide the next Universal Championship challenger. Strowman, though, stormed in and mauled both men.

The no-contest decided nothing.

Raw general manager Kurt Angle is set to announce how he will handle this situation on Monday's Raw. Signs point to him simply allowing all three men to compete with The Beast Incarnate.

That will cram a number of Raw stars into one bout to make room elsewhere on the card. Plus, that amount of beef in the same ring is bound to be a violent delight.