Sami Zayn, Becky Lynch and Top Stars on Track to Be Left Off WWE SummerSlam Card

As massive of an event as it is, WWE SummerSlam 2017's stage just isn't big enough for everyone.

Sami Zayn, Becky Lynch and a number of other Superstars are going to find that out firsthand. A lack of buzz around their rivalries or an absence of an enemy has some of WWE's most talented and promising performers poised to not make the cut for the Aug. 20 pay-per-view.

The Miz and Jason Jordan don't have an official match for the event, but the prominence of their story (plus the former's Intercontinental Championship) point to their being a part of SummerSlam. The same goes for the unfolding narrative between Raw tag champs Cesaro and Sheamus against the reluctant, uneasy pairing that is Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose.

Zayn, though, isn't likely to be added to the SummerSlam mix.

Who else is set to join The Underdog from the Underground in watching the PPV from the sidelines? A look at the spark surrounding wrestlers' stories and how much airtime they're getting ahead of the show help answer that question.

Becky Lynch

The Irish Lass Kicker's ongoing Twitter feud with UFC fighter Cris Cyborg doesn't look to be turning into anything.

Lynch and Cyborg have traded shots online for weeks. All the challenges and trash talk seemed to be setting up a match between them. And the potential clash between MMA and WWE seemed to be an ideal fit for SummerSlam.

But as the countdown to the PPV has gone on, there has been no visible progress on the prospective bout. 

Cyborg hasn't appeared on WWE TV. There have been no on-air seeds planted for the showdown. Lynch has instead been an underused member of the SmackDown Live roster, leaving her likely to miss the cut come SummerSlam.

Charlotte Flair

Credit: WWE.com

Charlotte Flair may go from winning the women's title at SummerSlam last year to not even wrestling at the PPV in 2017.

Unlike Lynch, at least Flair's rivalry is with someone in the company and wouldn't require UFC President Dana White's approval. But Flair vs. Lana is not being treated like something WWE is prepping for the SummerSlam spotlight.

It's been a filler feud to this point.

Plus, SummerSlam already has two women's matches lined up: Naomi vs. Natalya and Alexa Bliss against the winner of Sasha Banks vs. Nia Jax on the PPV's go-home show. The event has never featured three women's contests in a single year. Unless WWE makes history on Aug. 20, Flair is going to be left out.

Dolph Ziggler

Credit: WWE.com

Dolph Ziggler has quickly become SmackDown's forgotten man.

After a brief feud with Shinsuke Nakamura, Ziggler hasn't had another story to dig his claws into. 
The Showoff hasn't wrestled on SmackDown since July 4, per CageMatch.net. Aiden English is getting more airtime than Ziggler.

Who would he fight anyway? Nakamura has long moved on from Ziggler. And The Showoff isn't even on TV ahead of the second-biggest PPV of the year.

With no rival and little momentum, it's clear that a year after Ziggler challenged for the WWE Championship at SummerSlam, he is so low on the totem pole he won't even be considered for a pre-show bout. 

Apollo Crews

Apollo Crews' best bet to be a part of SummerSlam is cheerleading in Akira Tozawa's corner.

Tozawa, a Titus Worldwide member like Crews, has a Cruiserweight Championship match against Neville lined up for the marquee PPV. Titus O'Neil, though, hasn't been able to swing a deal to get Crews an opportunity of his own.

O'Neil and Tozawa's partnership has been the bigger story. Crews' part in that tale has waned. He's not clashing with a rival. Instead, he's treading water at a key part of the year.

Last year, Crews battled The Miz for the Intercontinental Championship at SummerSlam. This time around, he'll be relegated to background duty.

Sami Zayn

Zayn has the edge over Lynch, Ziggler and Crews in that he has a foil: Mike Kanellis.

That feud doesn't have enough juice to push its way on to the SummerSlam card, though. WWE has hardly paid attention to it. The two men have crossed paths, but there has been only minimal progress in their story.

After being in the mix for the Money in the Bank briefcase as recently as June, Zayn has fallen down the ladder. He's a low-card act facing a guy WWE doesn't seem especially interested in getting going.

The Hardy Boyz vs. The Club is more likely to be a late addition to the PPV. That's going to leave Zayn as a key member of the "wait until next year's SummerSlam" club.