WWE's Best and Worst Booking Decisions for the Week of Aug. 16

WWE SummerSlam is right around the corner, which means fans are just over 24 hours away from seeing if Brock Lesnar can duplicate his WrestleMania 30 feat and defeat The Undertaker again.

In addition, Seth Rollins and John Cena will meet in a historic match where the winner will leave with both the United States and WWE World Heavyweight titles.

But before we talk too much about what's to come, let's first take a look back and review the week that was.

Best Booking Decision of the Week: Brock Lesnar's Homecoming

Credit: WWE.com

WWE sure had things planned well, as the last episode of Monday Night Raw before SummerSlam took place in Minneapolis. This allowed WWE to promote a "homecoming" for Lesnar, who won an NCAA championship as a heavyweight in wrestling while at the University of Minnesota.

The Minneapolis crowd gave Lesnar quite a reception. In fact, it was possibly the most positive reaction he's had during his entire WWE career.

After loud chants of "Suplex City" filled the arena, Paul Heyman did what he does best to build the upcoming main event with Undertaker by speaking into the microphone.

After plenty of words and taunts from Heyman, the legendary Deadman appeared to attack Lesnar the same way he did at Battleground.

WWE set this up well for a few reasons.

First, Lesnar and Undertaker have had very little physical interaction aside from the two attacks launched by Undertaker. This always makes for the most intriguing matches because fans aren't bored by the time they take place.

In other words, they haven't seen this match four times on television in the last month.

Next, it was Undertaker again who had to resort to a low blow to fell Lesnar. This is something WWE has concentrated on during the angle, and with good reason.

It makes Lesnar look stronger that Undertaker has had to resort to such an underhanded tactic to gain an advantage. Throughout his career, Undertaker has been one of the most dominant forces who has ever stepped into a WWE ring.

WWE's acknowledging the fact that Undertaker feels he needs a low blow to get the best of Lesnar is a story in itself.

Finally, as Undertaker finished spoiling the return to Minnesota for The Beast Incarnate, many boos rained down from the crowd. When did you ever think you would hear Undertaker being booed in favor of Lesnar?

"

Undertaker hit Lesnar with a low blow and then a Chokeslam. Most of the crowd is booing. Pretty rare to see that, but Lesnar's at home.

— John Canton (@johnreport) August 18, 2015"

This sets up what should be a very entertaining main event. Who will the Brooklyn crowd be rooting for? Will the rising popularity of Lesnar captivate the live audience, or will fans be behind The Deadman, hoping he earns a measure of revenge?

At WrestleMania 30, WWE pulled off one of the most shocking moments in its history when Lesnar ended Undertaker's streak. Instantly, fans were filled with many different emotions.

Though it has been over 16 months since that match took place, it wasn't hard for WWE to create interest in a rematch. It has built it up well, and the sequence of events on Monday night capped that off perfectly.

In one corner, you have the most physically dominant Superstar in the entire industry. In the other, you have a man who built his career on intimidating others, looking to get back part of what the former UFC fighter took from him.

Put together as well as it has been, it will give most fans a match they'll be very interested in watching.

Worst Booking Decision of the Week: Nikki Bella Taps Out to Sasha Banks

Credit: WWE.com

WWE has done an admirable job in giving the Divas division a new image, and it is certainly as exciting as it has been in years.

But this wasn't a great week in terms of setting up the three-team elimination match the company has planned for SummerSlam.

Though the promo among the three teams involved in that match—Team Bella, Team B.A.D. and Team PCB—on SmackDown was awful, there was something involving the women that was actually worse this week.

It seems clear that Sasha Banks has a bright future within the Divas division, and it's not even bad booking to have her get wins over any girl on the roster. But should she be getting a submission win over the woman who is just over three weeks away from becoming the longest-reigning Divas champion ever?

That's exactly what happened Monday night when Banks went one-on-one with Nikki Bella. Not only did Banks get the win, but she made Nikki tap out to her Bank Statement.

On SmackDown, Nikki came out to the ring with her sister Brie Bella and Alicia Fox. The group talked about how Nikki was just 26 days away from breaking the aforementioned record.

How are fans supposed to react to that when the champion is tapping out in the middle of the ring just a few days earlier? The champion should never be tapping out in a non-title match.

Sure, it's a huge feather in the cap of Banks. But what would have been wrong with a pinfall victory due to a quick roll-up? That would have allowed Nikki to save a little face prior to cutting the promo she did on SmackDown.

It seems all but inevitable that Nikki will break the record and knock A.J. Lee out of the top spot. But if she breaks that record and fans can point to her having lost to just about every Diva on the roster during her title reign at one point or another, will it really be all that impressive?

Champions need a little more protection when matches are booked. After all, they're champions for a reason. A champion should not tap out in a non-title match. It cheapens the title and, in this case, a potential record-breaking title reign.