Brock Lesnar at WWE SummerSlam 2016: Ranking Top 3 Possible Opponents for PPV

Brock Lesnar is a box-office draw who commands an audience’s attention and elevates his opponent’s stature in WWE.

Choosing his opponent for SummerSlam 2016, however, needs to be carefully thought out.

While Kevin Owens, Samoa Joe and Finn Balor are enticing names, a loss to Lesnar would be more damaging in their early WWE careers. And realistically, Lesnar’s not putting over rising talent when he returns, nor do fans want to see that happen.

They want F-5s and Suplex City.

Putting Lesnar against an established but lower-tier Superstar, as WWE did with Kofi Kingston at Beast in the East and Big Show at Live from Madison Square Garden, would satisfy that desire. On the other hand, such a match would be a waste of an appearance, especially on such a grand stage.

WWE needs to balance that need for creating a compelling bout with the fans’ desires to witness Lesnar’s mass destruction. That being said, there are three possible opponents who would make the most of Lesnar’s star power while also generating immediate buzz following his UFC 200 match.

A Wyatt Family Redux?

At the beginning of this year, the potential for Brock Lesnar vs. Bray Wyatt had fans salivating. Following their run-in at the Royal Rumble, it appeared WWE would give fans that match at the WWE Network special, Roadblock.

But WWE pulled a fast one, making it a 2-on-1 Handicap match, and Luke Harper did all of the dirty work, including eating multiple F-5s. Wyatt never entered the ring, and fans bemoaned the call.

At that time, Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter (h/t Nick Paglino of WrestleZone) reported the decision was made to save the blockbuster matchup for the upcoming WrestleMania 32, which never came to fruition.

Now, five months after Roadblock, could WWE make Lesnar-Wyatt happen?

Speculation persists that Lesnar vs. Wyatt remains on the short list of SummerSlam matches for The Beast Incarnate. However, as FanSided’s Graham "GSM" Matthews asked, “Should The Eater of Worlds really be eating another loss so soon after his comeback?”

Wyatt and The Wyatt Family are currently feuding with The New Day. All signs point to an Erick Rowan-Braun Strowman match against the tag team champions, which would save Wyatt himself from taking another heart-wrenching pinfall.

But then why have The Eater of Worlds fall to Lesnar at the second-biggest show on the calendar? While the match creates buzz, it has lost the luster it once had.

The Viper vs. The Beast Incarnate?

During numerous WWE 2K17 conference calls, manager Paul Heyman mentioned another name he’d be “excited” to see face his client: Randy Orton. Heyman said he “would love to see modern-day Brock Lesnar against modern-day Randy Orton,” per Brian Campbell of ESPN.com.

On the surface, it’s an interesting matchup. These two have only faced off once—back in 2002, when a babyface Orton challenged Lesnar on an episode of SmackDown. Some would say they're due for a feud, seeing as how they broke into the business together 14 years ago. 

"

Orton vs. Lesnar for #SummerSlam book it.

— Mandy (@heelamanda) June 25, 2016"

Orton vs. Lesnar would give SummerSlam a second main event-level match. Both men would be well-rested, with Orton finally returning from injury and Lesnar coming back following his UFC 200 bout.

To make this match happen, both men would likely be drafted to the same show, either Raw or SmackDown. If WWE plans to reintroduce a second world title, this could be the bout to determine that brand’s champion.

As pointed out by Top Rope Press’ Kyle Ross, Lesnar isn’t likely to lose in his return bout. That seems to make Orton a perfect foil instead of NXT stalwarts such as Finn Balor or Samoa Joe. As Ross wrote, Lesnar is “not likely to elevate an up-and-coming talent, and beating someone of that nature makes little sense. Orton is a guy whose status wouldn’t be really adversely affected by losing to Lesnar.”

Showdown with WWE Champion

Lesnar’s most likely SummerSlam opponent, though, is whoever walks out of Battleground with the world title.

Heyman said it himself this week in a conference call to promote WWE 2K17, per Simon Gallagher of What Culture: "The reality in me tells me to tell you I'd like to see Brock Lesnar in the hunt for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship and whoever holds that title coming out of Battleground on July 24, I would suggest that's who is in Brock Lesnar's scope when he returns to WWE."

It makes perfect sense to thrust Lesnar back into the title picture. Remember, Lesnar lost the title at WrestleMania 31 without eating the pin. Lesnar was about to reclaim that title from then-WWE champion Seth Rollins at Battleground 2015 before The Undertaker reappeared to exact revenge for his WrestleMania 30 loss.

The Beast Incarnate has history with all three men in Battleground’s Triple Threat main event and could easily walk into a feud with any of them. None have beaten Lesnar, a point Heyman is likely to make no matter who is champion.

Whether Dean Ambrose, Roman Reigns or Rollins walks out of WWE Battleground with the championship, you can be sure that Brock Lesnar won’t be far behind, seeking a shot at the title.