Most Intriguing Storylines to Track on Road to WWE SummerSlam 2024

SummerSlam is one of the premier events on the WWE calendar and on August 3, the company comes to Cleveland Browns Stadium for the annual spectacular, with a handful of intriguing storylines to keep an eye on.

From the latest Bloodline drama to Cody Rhodes' potential opponents, there are plenty of top stars and ongoing narratives to track on the road to the pay-per-view.

What are they and how might they play out? Find out with this look at the most intriguing story arcs.

Paul Heyman's Bloodline Dilemma and 'We Want Roman!'

Paul Heyman made it clear on Friday's SmackDown that he is not on board with Solo Sikoa's incarnation of The Bloodline, speaking out against the additions of Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa and warning Kevin Owens not to oppose the faction.

It was the first time The Wise Man took his concerns out of the backstage area and in front of the WWE Universe, a decision that could prove problematic for him.

How Sikoa responds to Heyman acting out of line and how it affects the overarching Bloodline story will bear watching on the road to SummerSlam, especially in regards to the potential return of Roman Reigns.

The former undisputed WWE universal champion made it clear at the Hall of Fame ceremony before WrestleMania 40 that he has a special bond and friendship with Heyman.

Heyman has struggled to get anyone to help or listen to his concerns because of his untrustworthy past. Putting him in harm's way, with the potential for a physical assault at the hands of the Sikoa, Loa and Tonga is the perfect way to bring Reigns back into the equation and deliver the unforgettable moment fans have demanded since The Show of Shows.

Reigns has been as over as any babyface on any show despite not once appearing on WWE TV since his loss to Cody Rhodes. The moment he emerges to spear the life out of Sikoa and Co. will likely draw one of the biggest pops in recent memory.

The Tribal Chief as the guy who stands up for Heyman is the perfect way to put an exclamation point on his return.

Whether it happens at SummerSlam bears watching and is dependent upon the timing of the larger storyline at play.

Who's Next for Cody Rhodes?

Cody Rhodes is the unquestioned quarterback of WWE at this point, the face of the company and its most popular babyface star. He is the guy in wrestling's most prominent promotion.

He is also a champion without many immediately recognizable opponents set up for him.

Friday night saw the intensification of his feud with AJ Styles, who feigned retirement to sucker The American Nightmare in. That rivalry will likely write its latest chapter at Clash at the Castle on June 15 in the form of a rematch of their Backlash classic.

With that feud unlikely to have the legs to last until August, it begs the question: Who's next for Rhodes?

Could it be Sikoa, who would introduce the undisputed WWE champion to the revamped Bloodline? During or after the match would be the perfect scenario to bring back Reigns and kick-start the next chapter in the family saga, if there are no plans for The Tribal Chief to compete at The Biggest Party of the Summer.

Perhaps the most intriguing option is Randy Orton, with whom Rhodes has a long history as a former member of Legacy. The Viper was his mentor and taught him everything he knew as a young star finding his way on the WWE roster.

A match between them, which starts as a showdown between babyfaces before instigating a heel turn for the future Hall of Famer, is a high-profile match befitting the SummerSlam stage.

Do not rule out a multi-man match that includes Styles, Orton and/or Owens, as WWE and Triple H try to navigate which direction to take Rhodes throughout the rest of the year in preparation for the teased match against The Rock at WrestleMania 41.

Damian Priest's Judgment Day Problem

The Judgment Day is not long for the WWE world. At least not in its current incarnation.

World heavyweight champion Damian Priest has spent weeks struggling at the helm of the faction, dealing with the failures of Finn Bálor, JD McDonagh and Dominik Mysterio, spreading himself too thin by putting out their fires while simultaneously dealing with the rash of contenders chasing his title.

Add to it his teammates' sneaky, behind-the-back conversations with Liv Morgan in Rhea Ripley's absence, and you have an Archer of Infamy who is one bad night away from blowing up the entire faction or being kicked to the curb by his teammates.

The question is whether Priest makes it to SummerSlam as world champion or begins his own revenge tour against those he has called friends since 2022.

The impending babyface currently finds himself a marked man, with everyone from Drew McIntyre to Gunther, Braun Strowman and the LWO seemingly targeting him and his title. With his attention divided, and The Judgment Day unable to get anything right, it is only a matter of time before he loses the one thing he has spent his entire career working for.

Whether it occurs in Glasgow, Scotland against McIntyre, at Money in the Bank in Toronto, or in Cleveland at SummerSlam, is the question.

One thing is for certain as the annual extravaganza rapidly approaches: Priest and the faction he helped found appear headed for a divorce.

The King and Queen's Championship Opportunities

Gunther and Nia Jax rode waves of momentum into the King and Queen of the Ring PPV, winning the namesake tournaments and earning opportunities at the world heavyweight and WWE women's titles, respectively, at SummerSlam.

For The Ring General, his title shot represents the culmination of an arduous journey to the top of the professional wrestling world.

As dominant and strongly booked as any Superstar in recent memory, Gunther has been carefully built into a character who can believably defeat any competitor on the roster, regardless of their star power.

While it is possible the Austrian is being built up as the big baddy to be vanquished, it would appear that he is headed toward his one true coronation as the top dog on Monday nights by defeating either McIntyre or Priest.

A championship opportunity for Jax is the culmination of a different journey.

Once fired from WWE, she has put in the work to earn another chance, getting into the best shape of her career and working on her in-ring game. The version we see today is her best version yet, an Irresistible Force who can beat any opponent for any title or put them over as a resilient and believable champion.

It remains to be seen if she will win her title match or if she is the greatest challenger to Bayley's belt. But with a few months to tell the story, she is the perfect opponent for an inspirational and beloved babyface titleholder.

Do We Finally Get CM Punk vs. Drew McIntyre?

CM Punk and Drew McIntyre have been at each others' throats since the former's return to WWE last November at Survivor Series.

And their rivalry intensified in January at the Royal Rumble, where The Scottish Warrior injured The Best in the World and cost him a match at WrestleMania 40.

Since then, Punk has made life a living nightmare for WWE's resident troll, costing him the world heavyweight title on the grandest stage and playing just enough mind games with him to keep him unfocused, even as his long-awaited rematch with Priest draws near.

It would not be surprising if Punk costs McIntyre the title one more time in front of his friends and family in Scotland. It would intensify the feud and make the eventual matchup between them that much hotter.

Punk told The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani in April that his triceps is coming along much quicker than the other did during his time in AEW and he could be back in a fraction of the time it took to return from the last one.

That suggests a summertime return is not out of the question, and WWE would be foolish not to run one of the biggest matches possible if that is the case, especially if Triple H and Co. do not have anything else laid out for either man at the show.