WWE SummerSlam: Top Themes Established in Build to Event

WWE's SummerSlam is nearly upon us, and as fans prepare for what will happen on August 23, the company is surely hoping for a smash hit.  The hype surrounding this one has been huge and is on par with work done by WWE to promote WrestleMania, which is proof positive that expectations are high for SummerSlam's success.

As with any program WWE presents, SummerSlam features storylines that could see some big payoffs. While it may seem like just a collection of matches to some, the truth is SummerSlam is rife with compelling themes that could make the night not only successful but very memorable as well.

Family is everything

Dean Ambrose and Roman Reigns have been working together since Seth Rollins betrayed them and ended The Shield in 2014. From that moment, it's been Ambrose and Reigns against the world, and it's that partnership that has seen them overcome the odds time and again.  At the center of that partnership is family.

The notion that Reigns and Ambrose have each other's back both in and out of the ring is one that has prevailed during their current storyline.  When all else fails, they know they can depend on each other, and that has been driven home time and again on WWE programming, to the point that many fans likely feel a heel turn is in the works.  

It would not be the first time the company persuaded everyone to believe one direction was being taken and then suddenly veer off on another course.

This storyline could end with Ambrose betraying his best friend, or Reigns could be the man to shock the world and make the switch.  Despite what happens, their alliance has been made stronger due to the idea of family, and it's the same alliance both Wyatt and Harper share.

Perhaps the Wyatt clan and the Shield members were destined to be intertwined. Perhaps there will always be some sort of heat between the two sides, like the Hatfields and McCoys. Perhaps their issues will never truly go away.

If that is the case then SummerSlam will be just another chapter in the never-ending rivalry with family at its core.

Heroes and villains

When Stephen Amell jumped the guardrail, hopped over the top rope and speared Stardust, fans roared their approval.  Finally a celebrity who was truly a fan and truly respected the business was being used in the right way.

Amell never talked trash, he never broke kayfabe and when he was in the ring he never broke character. This was the kind of spot that could make even the most jaded fan wonder if it was actually real; that's how convincing he was.

The pro wrestling tradition of heroes versus villains is alive and well in this storyline, as the Arrow star is tagging with Neville, who is basically a comic-book character come to life. Standing across the ring from them will be Stardust and King Barrett, who has been dubbed the "Cosmic King."

In any other situation, this one perhaps would have fallen flat. But there is intrigue surrounding the angle thanks to Amell's presence and thanks to the overall theme of good versus evil.

Fans understand that Cody Rhodes is playing a role as Stardust, and they understand Amell is a lifelong fan who likely is having the time of his life preparing for the match itself. But all of this is just background noise due to the entertainment value of the storyline.

This is good old-fashioned pro wrestling storytelling at its finest, and this match should be a bright spot on the SummerSlam card.

Hard work versus the free ride

John Cena rarely ever questions his opponent's skill.  He typically acknowledges what the competition brings to the ring and is the first to tip his hat in respect for talent when he sees it.  But what he often does question is his opponent's heart.

This is especially true in the case of Seth Rollins, whose meteoric rise to the top of WWE was facilitated by Triple H and The Authority.  While Rollins' ability and hard work between the ropes have been very impressive, it's the fact he is not a legit champion in the eyes of WWE's biggest star.

It's an angle that has played out before, with Cena against Superstars like Edge and CM Punk.  Time and again, Cena is booked in storylines that portray him as the man with the most passion for the game and the man who wants the win more than anyone else.

In this instance, it's a booking that works on every level.

Rollins' shtick is that he does just enough to not lose the match.  He's cocky and overconfident, with a smarmy swagger unmatched by anyone in the WWE locker room. He smiles and boasts, but he almost always has help or is in the right place at the right time to go over in the end.

Cena's goal is to become the 16-time world champion, a record held by Ric Flair.  If he accomplishes that goal at SummerSlam, then he will surely credit the victory to his hard work and passion for the business. Rollins' loss will immediately reflect back on his perceived free ride to the main event stage of WWE. 

It has been done before, but that will not stop this match from being one of the best on the card.

Rage versus revenge

The time for talking is nearly over for The Undertaker and Brock Lesnar.  As entertaining as Paul Heyman can be and as riveting as Taker's words are, nothing will compare to the rematch of all rematches at SummerSlam.

The Deadman will step into the ring against The Beast Incarnate, in a match that could possibly erase the hate many fans still have over their last meeting at WrestleMania 30. That event saw Taker's undefeated streak come to a shocking end and Lesnar's career catapult to the top.

This is truly a case of rage versus revenge, of an outraged Lesnar wanting to prove his win last year against The Phenom was not a fluke.  Taker wants redemption and to even the odds against a boastful beast who drew him out of the darkness into the light of SummerSlam.

While the foundation of this rematch has been somewhat shaky due to the 15-month gap since their last showdown, Lesnar and Undertaker have made the best of it.  They have ramped up the intensity every time they've come face-to-face, and now all that's left is for the angle to play out on August 23.

Undertaker needs to look like his old self in this one; tough, resilient and fully prepared for war. Lesnar needs to bring the pain like never before and do all he can to withstand the onslaught of Undertaker's revenge.

Tom's work can regularly be found on Bleacher Report and his podcast, Tom Clark's Main Event, is available on iTunes, Google Play, Windows Phone, Amazon Android and online here.