WWE SummerSlam 2016: Biggest Unanswered Questions Going into Event

Anytime WWE presents a pay-per-view extravaganza and has fans asking questions, it has done its job.

That is the case with SummerSlam, the annual summertime spectacular that often features some of the best matches of the year and most unexpected surprises. A sense of uncertainty hangs over the event, and fans are left guessing about what will happen and questioning whether it should or not.

With championships up for grabs, some of those questions revolve around opportunities given to some but not others, not to mention the potential outcomes that exist.

Other questions focus on the motivations of one box office attraction and whether another may show his face.

Just hours from the monumental event, take a look at the questions on the lips of WWE fans before Sunday's show goes live on WWE Network.

Is Apollo Crews Championship-Worthy?

Apollo Crews will challenge The Miz for the WWE Intercontinental Championship Sunday night at SummerSlam, but is he worthy of a title opportunity?

Sure, he won a Triple Threat match over Kalisto and Baron Corbin but has not followed that victory up with anything even remotely interesting, nor has his character been evolved enough for fans to care about him.

SmackDown's writing staff has failed miserably to build Crews into a compelling challenger, let alone a competent champion.

Crews can prove that perception wrong come Sunday's pay-per-view and his biggest match to date, or he could lend credibility to his doubters.

It will be up to him, and WWE Creative, to decide. 

Who Will Replace Eva Marie?

Eva Marie's suspension created a huge question about who would replace her in the announced Six-Woman Tag Team match presented by the SmackDown brand.

Originally, the Red Queen was slated to team with Natalya and Alexa Bliss to do battle with Becky Lynch, Carmella and Naomi. Instead, she will sit on the sidelines and watch another woman fill her spot.

But who could it be?

Pro Wrestling Sheet reported on Aug. 18 that Nikki Bella has been cleared to return to action, leaving some to believe that the former Divas champion may be in line to join her Total Divas co-star Natalya and Bliss for their big match.

If that is the case, Bella instantly becomes one of the faces of the SmackDown brand and would conceivably oppose Lynch in the brand's top female feud.

Another option would be Summer Rae, who has been absent from Raw, despite being drafted to the brand. A jump to Tuesday nights would hardly hurt the brand extension and would give the leggy competitor renewed meaning.

Can Sasha Banks Make It Two in a Row over Charlotte?

The company's unwavering desire to present Charlotte as the face of women's wrestling leaves some to wonder whether Banks will actually leave Brooklyn with the WWE Women's Championship, even though she only won the title three weeks ago.

Charlotte remains the central figure of WWE's booking when it comes to the women's division. Even with Banks as champion, the spotlight shines directly on the second-generation star. She gets the longest promo time and is featured in several media and promotional spots.

Banks has not been afforded that spot, despite being wildly popular and heavily merchandised.

Could the face of WWE's Tapout workout apparel and Ric Flair's baby girl regain the title and improve her sparkling PPV record?

Common sense would say no but given the recent head-scratching booking decisions made by those with the pencil, it is not out of the realm of possibility that The Boss drops the title she worked so hard to attain. 

How Motivated Will Brock Lesnar Be?

One of the biggest accusations to come out of The Stone Cold Podcast with Dean Ambrose, airing exclusively on the WWE Network, was The Lunatic Fringe's insistence that his match with Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 32 suffered, "because Brock didn't want to do anything."

That implies Lesnar was lazy or even protecting his body for what he knew would be a return to the Octagon for UFC.

When a Superstar comes out and makes such a bold claim about one's willingness to work with him, it understandably creates questions as to whether fans can expect a motivated Lesnar come SummerSlam.

As the central figure of the card's marquee match, much is expected out of him. He cannot be expected to float by on his suplexes and name alone when so much has been made of his match with Orton. This is not a case similar to that of Ambrose's, where the match was buried fifth or sixth from the top of the card.

It is the match at the center of the company's promotion. A disappointment due to lack of effort could ruin the entire show.

So should fans expect the optimal performance from The Beast?

Given the lack of an announced UFC return and the determination to prove Ambrose's claims wrong, it appears they should.

Will Goldberg Make His Presence Felt?

Bill Goldberg is in Brooklyn for SummerSlam and has been all weekend, thanks to commitments to 2K Games and WWE 2K17.

He has repeatedly responded to Paul Heyman and Brock Lesnar's tweets about and to him, leading to some to wonder if Sunday's spectacular will see the return of Da Man to WWE. If so, could audiences be in store for a rematch from WrestleMania XX between him and The Beast Incarnate?

Having left such a bad taste in the mouths of fans with their first encounter, which was marred by rumors of their departures from the company, Goldberg and Lesnar have something to prove. They have the opportunity to erase the one major blemish from both of their resumes while making lots of money and providing WWE with that one dream match it still has at its disposal.

An appearance by Goldberg, particularly during or after the night's main event, would set that match in motion.