WWE SummerSlam 2012 Lineup: Breaking Down Perfect Match Order for Huge Card

We have reached the final stages of the build for SummerSlam. The go-home Raw show on Monday night provided the drama that had been lacking for the last month. With the final lineup (mostly) set, it is time to build the card. 

WWE puts a lot of time and effort into determining where each match fits in order to keep the crowd hot for the matches it should care a lot about, so that is the same approach we are going to take. 

I do want to note that we are only using matches that are official as of this writing, so there is no World Championship Match or anything rumored to be happening. 

With that said, here is a look at how we think the SummerSlam card should go.

YouTube Match: Santino Marella vs. Antonio Cesaro for U.S. Title

Nothing much to say about this since we already know that this is relegated to pre-show duties. I do think Santino Marella will win, but it doesn't matter either way. 

No. 1: The Miz vs. Rey Mysterio for Intercontinental Title

This is the best choice to start the show. You don't want a potentially great match to kick things off to get the crowd too hot so they only go down from there, but Mysterio and Miz are good enough to have a solid opening match that gets the crowd ready for what's to come. 

No. 2: Kane vs. Daniel Bryan

I have no idea what to do with this match. I think it will get some time because Bryan is so good, but Kane can't go longer than 10 minutes. Slotting it in right after the opener will be a nice way to showcase Bryan. 

No. 3: Chris Jericho vs. Dolph Ziggler

After the crowd gets a little breather from the previous match due to Kane's limitations, things will pick up in a big way with what could easily end up being the best match on the show if it gets enough time. 

Jericho vs. Ziggler has all the potential in the world. The more I have seen from WWE, the more I think Jericho is going to win, which would be odd given that he is leaving. Ziggler needs the rub, but perhaps he will find a way to cash in his briefcase soon. 

No. 4: R-Truth and Kofi Kingston vs. Prime Time Players for Tag Team Titles

As sad as it is to say about the tag titles, this match is going to be nothing more than a buffer between the great Jericho-Ziggler match and the two main event matches. This will give the audience—both in the building and watching on TV—to get some food or go to the bathroom. 

No. 5: CM Punk vs. John Cena vs. The Big Show for WWE Title

CM Punk's streak of consecutive shows without a main event continues, as he is relegated to semi-main duty even with John Cena in the match. I just don't sense a lot of buzz for this match, and the fact that Raw clearly treated the next match as the main event makes this choice a lot easier. 

Main Event: Brock Lesnar vs. Triple H

On paper, there really is no other choice to close this show. Triple H and Brock Lesnar is the only match that is selling the show. Even the John Cena fans would tell you that his appearance in the WWE Championship Match means almost nothing. 

Triple H vs. Lesnar has not had a very good build. There have been too many moving parts thrown into the mix, but when push came to shove, these two did their part to make sure the build was good enough at the end. 

Add to that the fact that Shawn Michaels and Paul Heyman will be in the corners of Triple H and Lesnar, and you have a potentially volatile, explosive and memorable SummerSlam main event. 

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