WWE SummerSlam 2013: Biggest Storylines Heading into Monday's Raw

The 2013 edition of SummerSlam was one of the wildest pay-per-views of the year, but the WWE will follow it up with an amazing episode of Raw on Monday night.

The company blew out the second-largest show on the calendar, but following it up with interesting storylines will be key to the WWE’s success heading into the fall.

All of the following angles will be a focus of wrestling fans after an unforgettable SummerSlam.

The WWE Championship Scene

Not only did Daniel Bryan beat John Cena clean to win the WWE Championship, but Triple H also turned heel and helped Randy Orton cash in his Money in the Bank briefcase to steal the title away.

It was the perfect main event.

Now that the WWE title scene has taken a 180-degree turn in a matter of moments, how the WWE follows it up Monday night will depict just how interesting the company will be heading into the September PPV, Night of Champions.

Bryan’s victory and subsequent loss will help him gain an incredible amount of sympathy, launching him into the upper echelon of WWE Superstars.

Add in Orton and Triple H’s full-blown heel turns, and Raw will be spectacular. With a focus on Cena’s elbow and deserved rematch as well, fans can’t take their eyes of the WWE Championship scene.

CM Punk vs. Paul Heyman

Brock Lesnar was able to steal the win on Sunday night, but not until after Paul Heyman screwed over CM Punk multiple times. While the match was an instant classic, there will be no end in sight Monday when Heyman and Punk square off.

When a part-time star like Lesnar steals a win over a full-time wrestler like Punk, it usually indicates at least one more chapter in this feud. Lesnar is reportedly not going to be in attendance Monday, per F4WOnline.com via SEScoops.com, and what’s next for Punk is going to be a huge focus on Raw.

If Lesnar isn’t in the short-term future for Punk, turning a face like Rob Van Dam heel to attack the former champion is a possibility, but a battle against Heyman Guy Curtis Axel looks far more likely.

No matter what happens next, Punk will be must-watch TV Monday.

The SmackDown Money in the Bank Briefcase

While the Damien Sandow vs. Cody Rhodes match wasn’t the sexiest of the night, the story told in the ring and in the outcome were fundamental booking at its finest. This is going to be a great angle moving forward.

Rhodes and Sandow have been battling over the Money in the Bank briefcase for weeks, and Rhodes getting the win at SummerSlam sets the stage for a continuation in this feud. With the challenger proving he can beat Sandow, adding the stipulation of the briefcase being on the line is a great idea.

The next bout could take place at Night of Champions with the caveat that the winner gets the contract, but this time, it would be Sandow that wins the match and looks like the stronger competitor.

Despite being an undercard storyline, this is going to be an exciting battle.

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