Brock Lesnar vs. Randy Orton Announced for WWE SummerSlam 2016

Brock Lesnar will make his anticipated return to a WWE ring against Randy Orton at SummerSlam on Aug. 21.

Sportsnet's Aftermath TV (h/t WhatCulture.com) revealed the match Thursday, and WWE later confirmed it on SmackDown:

Lesnar last competed at WrestleMania in a No Holds Barred match that saw him defeat current WWE champion Dean Ambrose. He has been on hiatus ever since and is set to face Mark Hunt in the main event at UFC 200.

WWE's decision to announce The Beast Incarnate's SummerSlam opponent prior to the biggest UFC event of all time was strategic in terms of potentially maximizing exposure and interest.

The 36-year-old Orton is among WWE's longest-tenured Superstars, but he has not faced Lesnar since a singles defeat on a September 2002 episode of SmackDown.

Both The Viper and The Beast have been different competitors since that bout, and their encounter at SummerSlam promises to have a big-fight feel.

As a 12-time WWE world champion and a likely future Hall of Famer, Orton is a fitting opponent for arguably the biggest draw in the company.

Like Lesnar, Orton has been out of commission for some time, but his absence has been due to a shoulder injury.

Orton's most recent match was in October, and while he may have an opportunity to get a few matches in on house shows or episodes of Raw and SmackDown prior to SummerSlam, he will be thrown right into the fire against one of the most physically imposing forces in WWE history.

The match between Lesnar and Orton has all the makings of an entertaining affair, but there are plenty of questions left.

We don't know who will play the heel and face roles, although Lesnar was leaning toward a heel role along with advocate Paul Heyman prior to his hiatus, while Orton was a clear face before suffering the injury.

Also, the result of Lesnar's UFC tilt could change the manner in which WWE presents his match against Orton. There is additionally an injury risk involved, so WWE is gambling that the former UFC heavyweight champ will escape unscathed.

A title is unlikely to be on the line, but Lesnar vs. Orton will look good on the marquee, and it will provide SummerSlam with a main event-worthy match to complement the WWE Championship bout.

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