WWE SummerSlam 2016: Most Intriguing Storylines to Track on Road to PPV

WWE has not been in such rich supply of intriguing storylines heading into a major pay-per-view for years.

Whether it's unlikely title contenders, returning stars set to make huge impacts on their respective shows or just the general fallout from the brand split, there is much to be excited about in WWE right now.

That hype and anticipation will only increase as big names like Brock Lesnar return to WWE TV, but for now, here are the most intriguing storylines to keep an eye on as SummerSlam approaches on August 21. 

How WWE Builds Dolph Ziggler's Momentum

To say Dolph Ziggler's elevation to be the No. 1 contender for the WWE Championship came as a surprise would be an understatement.

Ziggler has been booked appallingly over the last couple of years, making any involvement in a title match for SummerSlam unexpected.

And that lame booking from WWE may now come back to haunt it. How it builds Ziggler up as a credible threat for Dean Ambrose between now and SummerSlam is going to be an intriguing watch.

Given how much his stock has fallen in recent months, it has to be more than having him rack up some routine wins.

Ziggler needs more than that right now to look like someone who could genuinely beat a guy who beat Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns on WWE's last pay-per-view.

A heel turn between now and SummerSlam, although dramatic, could give him some real momentum. Have him turn on Ambrose and beat him down, instantly turning the fans against him. Some of Ziggler's best work has been as a heel during his time in WWE, so that would not be a bad option.

All in all, it's going to be fascinating to see how WWE makes its fans believe Ziggler is a legitimate contender for the WWE Championship. Right now, it looks like a sizable task. 

Will The New Day Continue to Look Vulnerable?

Whether it was Xavier Woods appearing to be broken by his fear of Bray Wyatt, the loss to The Wyatt Family at Battleground or being attacked by Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson, The New Day hasn't looked as weak as this in a long time.

The tag champions are destined to clash with Gallows and Anderson at SummerSlam, with it becoming increasingly likely they may be about to drop the titles to a team that is equipped to take its place at the head of the tag division.

All the recent vulnerability surrounding The New Day makes it possible that it could be on the road to implosion, and how it is booked between now and SummerSlam will give fans more answers about that.

Will Woods once again cast doubts over the future of the stable? Will Big E begin to actively look like a star destined to break away from his other two teammates? 

These questions may not necessarily get conclusively answered in the next few weeks, but with The New Day looking weaker and weaker as time goes by, WWE fans will learn a lot more about the longest-reigning tag champions.

Where Does Finn Balor Go from Here? 

It was a blockbuster start to life on the main roster for Finn Balor this week. His victory over Roman Reigns in the Raw main event confirmed his status as a major player at the top of the card just days after being drafted from NXT.

But the big question now is where Balor goes from here with SummerSlam approaching.

He needs to keep wrestling to keep his momentum rolling with one of the biggest shows of the year upcoming, and he needs wins aplenty, too.

But how he interacts with Seth Rollins will also be interesting to track over the next few weeks. WWE could decide to keep their paths apart to leave fans more and more excited about when they actually wrestle at SummerSlam, or it could let them sound off on each other from the start.

For two guys who've never wrestled one another before, it promises to be a spectacular night at SummerSlam next month.

But how WWE keeps up with its spectacular start to booking Balor will be intriguing.