WWE SummerSlam 2015: Early Card Predictions for Massive PPV

SummerSlam stands behind only WrestleMania when it comes to the biggest and most prestigious pay-per-view events of the year, so it should be no surprise that World Wrestling Entertainment would want to pull out all stops when it comes to building an entertaining and star-studded card on August 23.

In years past, fans bore witness to two instant classics featuring Brock Lesnar (versus John Cena in 2014 and versus CM Punk in 2013), Daniel Bryan's pinfall victory over John Cena, Stephanie McMahon's return to the squared circle, Bret Hart's intercontinental-title victory over Mr. Perfect and defeat at the hands of the British Bulldog, and the Mega Powers vanquishing of the Mega Bucks. 

Some of the greatest matches in WWE history have unfolded at the annual event, including the aforementioned Hart classics, the Street Fight pitting Shawn Michaels against Triple H and the underrated Boiler Room Brawl between Undertaker and Mankind. 

Of course, WWE would like to continue that pattern in 2015.

Based on the current landscape and the storylines and rivalries unfolding on Raw and SmackDown every week, these are just a few of the matches the company will rely on to ensure that this year's SummerSlam lives up to the historical standards.

Credit: WWE.com

WWE World Heavyweight Championship Match: Roman Reigns vs. Brock Lesnar vs. Seth Rollins

In a rematch of the WrestleMania 31 main event, Roman Reigns and Brock Lesnar look to garner a measure of revenge against Seth Rollins with the WWE World Heavyweight Championship on the line.

While recent booking suggests that tensions within The Authority will ultimately lead to a Rollins-Triple H match, it feels far too early to get to that point.

So why not go with Option B—a hotly anticipated rematch that would have the potential to eclipse the Match of the Year wrestled by Reigns and Lesnar at the Showcase of the Immortals?

The match puts Rollins in a position to get his comeuppance as the lead heel in pro wrestling, while Reigns can potentially score his title victory on one of the biggest stages known to WWE Superstars. Meanwhile, Lesnar can bask in the cheers of the audience as he tosses his opponents around like rag dolls.

It's a win for everyone involved.

Credit: WWE.com

United States Championship Match: John Cena vs. Kevin Owens

With no other clear-cut direction for either of these Superstars, they should wrap up their epic series of battles at SummerSlam before going their separate ways.

Thus far, the matches between them have been spectacular. With a huge match for Cena's United States Championship at Battleground, the feud will only continue to build. Why waste the conclusion on a forgettable show such as Battleground when the potential for a defining bout at SummerSlam exists?

WWE Creative could easily throw a gimmick out there to make a fourth high-profile meeting even more appealing.

Whether that happens or not, the match would be the perfect way to keep both guys busy as Cena prepares to move back into the main event scene and Owens establishes himself as the breakout heel of 2015.

Credit: WWE.com

Randy Orton vs. Bray Wyatt

Recently, SummerSlam has been home to at least one match featuring relevant stars with nothing else better to do except square off with each other in singles competition.

This year, it looks as though Randy Orton and Bray Wyatt will be those two Superstars. Thankfully, it is a match that is relatively fresh. Outside of a post-Raw dark match and live events, it has never really been explored on WWE programming. 

Sure, the storyline would likely by ridiculous, as has been the case of late when referencing Wyatt rivalries, but the in-ring action would make up for it, especially if Orton is motivated.

Credit: WWE.com

Mixed Tag Team Match: Dolph Ziggler and Lana vs. Rusev and Summer Rae

More than any other match on this list, this feels like the surest thing.

Ziggler and Rusev have been at odds over the lovely, ravishing Russian Lana for the last month or so. Unfortunately, Rusev's broken foot has kept him out of action, preventing any sort of match between them. With SummerSlam long enough away to allow the Bulgarian Brute to completely heal, the so-called "Biggest Party of the Summer" should be the setting for their long-awaited showdown.

But fans have seen Ziggler and Rusev compete numerous times, mostly with the latter going over. With the injection of Summer Rae into the equation on the June 22 episode of Raw, it is more likely that Ziggler teams with Lana in her first in-ring appearance to battle Rusev and Summer Rae in a mixed tag match.

It would not be the first time Ziggler competed in the match type at SummerSlam; he teamed with Kaitlyn to face AJ Lee and Big E in 2013.

The match would allow Lana to get her first in-ring exposure while also giving Ziggler and Rusev a stage on which to deliver the latest chapter in their budding rivalry.

What About...?

Those are only four matches that fans should expect to see come SummerSlam. They do not take into account high-profile stars such as Dean Ambrose, Sheamus, Kane, Ryback and Big Show or feature any part-time stars returning for the big show.

These are simply early predictions based on the current direction of WWE programming as of June 22.

With four weeks until Battleground, and many more until the premier event of the season, there is plenty of time for WWE to panic over television ratings, live-event attendance and merchandise sales and catapult Cena back into the main event, as Bryan Alvarez suggested during a recent report on Wrestling Observer Radio (h/t WhatCulture.com).

There is also plenty of time for the company to reach out to a major star who is outside the business to partake in this year's show.

Until then, the show looks like it will be heavy on full-time performers, Lesnar's appearance not withstanding.