WWE SummerSlam 2012: Early Predictions for Marquee Show's Biggest Matches

SummerSlam is still a couple of weeks away, and the entire card should starting taking shape soon. The most important matches have already been announced, though, and there's no shortage of star power headlining one of the year's biggest shows.

Let's take an early look at the key SummerSlam matchups and make a prediction for how each of them will turn out. The storylines that emerge from the show will shape WWE programming for the rest of the year, so it will be an interesting night.

Sheamus vs. Alberto Del Rio

Sheamus and Del Rio will face off for the second straight pay-per-view.

The "Great White" won their match at No Way Out to retain his title and will enter SummerSlam on one of the most impressive runs the WWE has seen in quite some time. He's been built into an unstoppable force since Royal Rumble and has been in control of the World Heavyweight Championship since WrestleMania, the last major event.

On the flip side, Del Rio hasn't been receiving the type of push normally associated with a top title holder.

The added factor here is Dolph Ziggler. He holds the heavyweight title briefcase, and SummerSlam would seem like the perfect chance for him to start a huge run of his own. That said, Sheamus should come out on top of Del Rio to retain, at least for the time being.

Prediction: Sheamus

CM Punk vs. John Cena vs. Big Show

Even though it's being billed as a Triple Threat match, there are really only two superstars with a realistic chance of walking away with the WWE title: Punk and Cena. Big Show's odds of victory are slim to none and probably closer to the none.

Like Sheamus, Punk is in the midst of an extended title reign. He won the belt all the way back at Survivor Series with a victory over Alberto Del Rio. Despite holding the belt for so long, he's still spent a lot of time playing a secondary role behind Cena.

Look for this match to change that. Punk's encounter with The Rock during the 1,000th episode of Raw signals bigger things on the horizon. Beating Cena and Big Show will give him the boost he needs to start getting top billing on PPVs.

Prediction: CM Punk

Triple H vs. Brock Lesnar

Lesnar's absence has really hurt the momentum for this match. His limited schedule has killed all of the momentum he had when he showed up on the night after WrestleMania and attacked Cena. And it will be tough to get it all back.

Triple H, who has taken on a much larger role backstage in recent years, understands that. That's why he inserted himself into the match instead of another one of the company's top stars right now—he can afford to lose.

It should be an entertaining all-out brawl from start to finish, which is what made Lesnar a star during his first WWE run. He should earn the victory to get himself back on track, but he won't have true success until he starts showing up on a more consistent basis.

Prediction: Brock Lesnar