WWE SummerSlam: Matches We Need to See at This Summer's Huge PPV

What's up, ladies and gentlemen? My name is Eric Kanes and I am here today with a column that I recently decided to put together.

Let me explain why I decided to do a fantasy booking column for this year's SummerSlam. The headlining matches that will most likely take place at this year's event are John Cena vs. Alberto Del Rio and Rey Mysterio vs. The Miz. In short, this year's card looks BORING.

Now, don't get me wrong. This year's show will probably have a couple strong matches but John Cena vs. Alberto Del Rio is not a match that should be headlining the second biggest PPV of the year at this point, especially when it is not supported with strong lower card match-ups.

Therefore, in this column I will write out the seven feuds/matches that I'd like to see going into this event. I am going to book this card as if I'm booking a second WrestleMania and as if I'm trying to draw 1 million buys.

Will all of these matches actually take place? Hell no. Maybe one or two. Three at the most. This is simply a fantasy card that I think would be very entertaining to watch and one that would be a lot more beneficial to WWE in the long run than the card they currently have planned out.

With that said, let's take a look at the three things I will write out for all of the matches:

The Story: This is how I'd book the story behind the feud going into the event. How did this match come about?

The Match: This is how I'd book the actual match and who I'd book as the winner of this match.

The Aftermath: This is what would happen to the competitors after this PPV match. If I can't come up with a good aftermath scenario, then that match can be considered pointless.

And now, without any further ado, let's get this show on the road.

Sin Cara (c) vs. Daniel Bryan vs. Tyson Kidd

The Story: Ever since Kofi Kingston won the Intercontinental title back in May of last year, the title has practically lost all of its worth. It has gone from being a prestigious title that upper mid-carders would fight for to an accessory that is carried around by random lower carders. That needs to end.

SmackDown has a solid mid-card full of phenomenal wrestlers which is why it's time for the Intercontinental title to be revived. Have Sin Cara defeat Wade Barrett for the title leading up to SummerSlam.

From that point on, have him defend the title at every pay-per-view in 10-15 minute matches against deserving challengers. He also needs to play the role of the fighting champion who will defend the title at all costs.

His first challenger can be someone like Chavo Guerrero. Have Chavo put up a fight but fall just short at the end. Then, leading up to the SummerSlam PPV, have Daniel Bryan vs. Tyson Kidd in a 20 minute #1 contender's match on SmackDown. These two go all out but the match ends with a double roll-up.

The result is a draw, so Teddy Long has no choice but to make both of these men No. 1 contenders. With that, this match is set.

The Match: Let this match open the show and give these men 15 minutes. Let them go all out. These are three of the best workers in the company and if given enough time, this has "Match of the Year" potential. Sin Cara goes over here and continues his reign as the Intercontinental Champion.

The Aftermath: Sin Cara continues defending the title and making it seem important on every PPV. His next challenger could be someone like Cody Rhodes or Ted DiBiase. It doesn't matter.

The purpose of this is to make the Intercontinental title important again and to fully revive the SmackDown mid-card scene.

Kharma (c) vs. Natalya

The Story: Kharma destroys all of the divas one by one in the weeks to come. Eventually, she earns a title match against Brie Bella but the RAW GM says that since Brie Bella is at a clear disadvantage, the match will be Kharma vs. both Bellas. Kharma still plows through them in three minutes and wins the title.

In the span between Money in the Bank and SummerSlam, Kharma continues to bully all of the divas. On an edition of SmackDown, she shows up and attacks Tamina. At that point, Natalya can come out with a steel chair or any sort of weapon and make the save.

The following week, Natalya can challenge Awesome Kong to a match by saying that she's had enough of Kharma bullying the divas.

She can say that she and Tamina have been friends since childhood (both are second generation divas) and that she won't stand for Kharma's antics anymore. She's on a mission to get rid of Kharma once and for all.

The Match: You can have Tamina in Natalya's corner here for support. Have the David vs. Goliath story in play. Natalya keeps trying to take Kharma down but Kharma is just too much to bear. Towards the end of the match, have Natalya finally take Kharma down after Kharma makes one mistake.

Natalya locks in the sharpshooter, but after only a couple seconds, Kharma flips her over with her legs. She then gets up and hits her clothesline/Implant Buster finishing sequence for the win.

The Aftermath: Have one more Kharma vs. Natalya match where Kharma goes over and at that point, have Natalya give up after admitting that Kharma is just too tough of an opponent. Kharma then goes on to have a title reign as a monster heel.

Around Survivor Series, I'd have a Kharma vs. Gail Kim feud, acknowledging their previous history. It can be done without directly mentioning TNA. Finally, the anticipated Kharma vs. Beth Phoenix happens at WrestleMania.

Booker T vs. Jack Swagger

The Story: After several months of getting annoyed by Michael Cole at the announce table, Booker T snaps and attacks Michael Cole. The following week, Booker T says that he is going to be the bigger man and leave the commentary desk because he cannot put up with it any longer. He is going to return as an in-ring performer.

However, before he leaves the commentary table, he just wants one more thing: a match with Michael Cole.

Michael Cole says that as much as he'd love to destroy Booker T in a match, he is a retired in-ring competitor and is not medically cleared to wrestle. However, he has an alternative scenario in mind. Instead of facing him, Booker T can face his trainer, Jack Swagger.

What is appalling about the way Michael Cole has been booked over the past several months, is that he has been working matches while Jack Swagger has been in his corner.

What kind of backwards logic is that? Wouldn't it make more sense to have the hated heel manager in the corner of the actual wrestler and not vice versa?

Basically, I'd book this the same way that the Jerry Lawler/Michael Cole feud was booked leading up to WrestleMania. Have Swagger and Cole antagonize Booker T every week except this time, with Jack Swagger in the wrestler role.

The Match: This doesn't have to be long as Booker T is obviously not in the same shape he was several years ago. Give it 6-8 minutes and have Booker T go over after hitting Swagger with the Scissors Kick.

Post-match, have Michael Cole come into the ring and argue with the official about his decision. At that point, Booker T can hit the Book End on Cole to get a nice pop from the audience.

The Aftermath: The reason I have Booker T going over here is that I'd utilize him as a world title contender going forward. The man is one of the best overall performers in the company and yet he's used as an announcer? I don't get it.

Booker T doesn't even have to work a full-time schedule. All that's really needed from him is two matches a month...one on PPV and one on TV to build up his PPV match. Either way, Booker T vs. Christian has potential to be gold going forward.

As for Jack Swagger, I'd move him back to SmackDown and have Michael Cole as his heel manager. Keeping Cole in his corner is the best move that WWE could make with Swagger. Cole is the only thing keeping Swagger relevant.

R-Truth vs. John Morrison

The Story: The story here is fairly simple. John Morrison is given enough time to fully recover from his injury and is not seen until the go-home RAW before Money in the Bank, where he is announced as the last MiTB participant.

R-Truth is also one of the participants in the Money in the Bank match, and in the weeks leading up to the match, he cuts promos and how much he wants to win it. Before the match, Truth attacks Morrison backstage, bashing Morrison's shoulder with a chair multiple times.

During the match, Truth is just about to grab it, when Morrison runs out and shoves him off the ladder. He then retrieves the briefcase with one arm to become the new Mr. Money in the Bank.

The next night on RAW, Morrison talks about how he overcame the odds to become the new Mr. Money in the Bank. However, he wants to know what Truth's intentions were when he beat him down backstage for no reason.

Morrison says that he wants to settle this once and for all in a match at SummerSlam. Truth refuses to have the match until Morrison offers to put his Money in the Bank contract on the line. Truth then agrees and the match is on.

The Match: Give this match 10-12 minutes. It may not be the most talked about match of the night but it has potential to be a solid *** match. Have Truth go after Morrison's injured shoulder throughout the match. The match ends with Morrison going for Starship Pain but missing and falling right on his injured shoulder.

Truth then capitalizes and hits his Paydirt-like finisher for the win. By having R-Truth become Mr. Money in the Bank this way, he can draw a lot more heat as a lot of Morrison fans would blindly turn on him.

The Aftermath: At the moment, Morrison is not a main event-worthy superstar. He can be an upper mid-carder on RAW but there are others way more deserving than him to fill the main event slots.

Following this match with R-Truth, Morrison can go back to being the veteran on RAW who works with the younger guys and being the guy who occasionally works multi-man world title matches to throw in some spots.

Truth can cut weekly promos about how he can cash in Money in the Bank at any time and even tease a few cash-ins. He's got a whole year to cash it in. There's no need to rush it. In this situation, it's best to wait for the right time (no pun intended).

He can also have a temporary feud with Kofi Kingston while some of the other feuds on RAW finish up.

Christian (c) vs. Randy Orton (Unsanctioned Match)

The Story: This one pretty much writes itself from here. After Over the Limit, Christian becomes a whiny heel and starts begging for a rematch. Teddy Long says that Christian can have another world title match if he can win a Fatal Four Way #1 contender's match: Christian vs. Mark Henry vs. Ezekiel Jackson vs. Kane.

Mid-match, Christian, Henry, and Jackson all attack Kane and hit their finishers on him. Henry and Jackson allow Christian to get the pin and become the new No. 1 contender.

From that point on, they are his two bodyguards. Christian's run in TNA as the leader of "Christian's Coalition" was gold, which is why it wouldn't hurt to try something similar here. It's not like Henry and Jackson have any direction right now, anyway.

Anyway, Orton goes over at Capitol Punishment. On the next SmackDown, Christian begs for another world title match but Teddy Long declines his request, saying that Christian has already had multiple chances.

If Christian wants another shot, then he'll have to win the SmackDown money in the bank ladder match. As for the new #1 contender, there will be a battle royal later on in the show to decide that.

Mark Henry goes on to win the battle royal and become the new #1 contender. The story going into the PPV is that Christian wants Mark Henry to win so he can get the first title shot.

At the Money in the Bank PPV, Christian wins the Money in the Bank match after getting help from Ezekiel Jackson, who is also in the match. Later on in the show, Randy Orton barely defeats Mark Henry after a rough 15-minute match. At that point, Christian runs out and cashes in Money in the Bank to once again become World Heavyweight Champion.

On the next SmackDown, Orton announces that he will use his rematch clause at SummerSlam. However, this time, he wants to end the feud once and for all in an unsanctioned match. Going into the event, the announcers wonder if Orton is crazy since the match will practically be a 3-on-1 handicap match.

The Match: To start the actual match, Christian can come out with Mark Henry and Ezekiel Jackson and hide behind them as Orton comes out. However, Orton comes out with a lead pipe and takes out both Jackson and Henry within a minute.

It is now down to just Orton and Christian and the two put on a quality match for 15-20 minutes. To end the match, Christian should win after using some sort of dirty tactic. Using a pair of brass knuckles would work.

The Aftermath: Christian goes on to have a feud with Booker T going into the next PPV. Randy Orton can step down and feud with someone like Sheamus or Cody Rhodes. Maybe they could even move someone like R-Truth or Jack Swagger to SmackDown to give Orton a nice feud. After a couple feuds, Orton steps back up to the main event scene.

Batista vs. Alberto Del Rio

Before we move on, let me just get one thing out of the way. I know that Batista is not currently on the WWE roster. However, if I were running WWE, I would sit down with Batista and negotiate an offer with him on his terms.

Whether it's short or long term, he's an extremely valuable asset to the company. With them running low on talent, John Cena and Triple H are realistically the only two stars left that can put talent over.

Triple H is a part-timer and on the brink of retirement so that really only leaves us with John Cena. WWE desperately needs a veteran babyface and Batista fits the bill perfectly.

Either way, I personally believe that he'll be back by SummerSlam. With his Strikeforce deal being negated, what else is there for him to do? It's now or never, as he's certainly not getting any younger. With that said...

The Story: Keep in mind that the story currently planned for the main event of SummerSlam will probably just be Del Rio winning a No. 1 contender's match. This doesn't have to be any more complicated.

After being one of the losing participants in the Money in the Bank match, Del Rio can come out the next night on RAW and complain about his destiny being delayed yet again. Del Rio says that he'll fight and defeat anyone for another shot at the WWE Championship.

The returning Batista's music then hits, making the crowd go apesh*t. Batista announces that he is back and if Del Rio wants another world title shot, he needs to get in line. Boom, you've got one of your SummerSlam main events right there.

The Match: Let these guys put on a straight-up wrestling match with no interference. Batista goes over after 10-12 minutes.

The Aftermath: These guys have a re-match at the next PPV. Del Rio goes over this time, giving him some momentum going into his next feud.

CM Punk and The New Nexus vs. John Cena, The Rock, and Team WWE

The New Nexus (CM Punk, Mason Ryan, David Otunga, Michael McGillicutty, Skip Sheffield, Heath Slater, & Justin Gabriel) vs. Team WWE (John Cena, Rey Mysterio, Kofi Kingston, The Miz, Wade Barrett, Big Show, & The Rock) (Elimination Match)

Before I move on, I just want to point one thing out - I'm not insane. With some effort put into this, this match is viable. A nearly identical match was put on last year and that was the last time we saw a stable being booked properly.

Ever since then, the way The New Nexus and The Corre have been booked has been a joke. Rather than putting in any effort into making the factions look strong, The Corre has pretty much been split up.

The New Nexus is on the brink of being split up, but it doesn't have to happen. Instead, why not make the stable mean something again? Without any further ado, here's how I'd book this feud.

The Story: First thing's first, Heath Slater and Justin Gabriel leave Wade Barrett at Over the Limit. That faction's done. WWE has screwed it up to the point where there is no way that it can be revived. For a few weeks, Slater and Gabriel work as a tag team but end up losing matches to teams like The Great Khali & Jinder Mahal and Big Show & Kane.

They realize that their careers are going nowhere so they go back to CM Punk and The Nexus on the go-home RAW before Capitol Punishment.

On that same night, Skip Sheffield makes his return from injury and re-joins the group. The re-established group then comes out and CM Punk announces that The New Nexus is stronger than ever and WWE will never be the same again.

At Capitol Punishment, the main event for the WWE Championship is John Cena vs. R-Truth vs. Rey Mysterio vs. The Miz. The match goes on for a good 15 minutes before The Nexus music hits and the seven men come out.

R-Truth sees them and escapes through the crowd. Rey Mysterio, The Miz, and John Cena are still getting to their feet as the ring is surrounded. The New Nexus enters and throws out Mysterio and Miz, who are already groggy.

They then focus on John Cena and do their trademark beatdown, ending with CM Punk hitting the GTS. The Fatal Four Way match ends in a No Contest since none of the competitors are able to continue and the PPV ends with The New Nexus standing tall.

The GM allows Rey Mysterio, R-Truth, and The Miz to have a re-match the next night to determine the #1 contender at Money in the Bank, since neither one technically lost. Rey Mysterio wins and the match for Money in the Bank is John Cena vs. Rey Mysterio.

Post-match, The New Nexus comes out and attacks Mysterio. In the weeks leading up to Money in the Bank, The New Nexus continues attacking everybody in their way. They can even make an appearance on SmackDown and attack Big Show and Kane.

The motive behind the attacks is that CM Punk is tired of them being held down. WWE won't pay attention to them, so they'll just have to take over.

At Money in the Bank, have Cena and Mysterio put on a competitive 20-minute match, ending with Cena going over clean with the STF. Both men are lying down as The New Nexus comes out and beats them both down.

The following night on RAW, John Cena comes out and says that he has had enough of The New Nexus. He says that he got rid of the original Nexus last year and he will have no problem doing the same this year.

He then introduces this year's Team WWE - Rey Mysterio, Kofi Kingston, Big Show, Kane, The Miz, and Wade Barrett. Rey Mysterio, Big Show, Kane, and The Miz are on the team because they previously got beat down.

Kofi Kingston is on the team as a friend of Cena's. Wade Barrett is on the team because he is the creator of the original Nexus and feels that he must "destroy the monster that he has created."

Having heels like The Miz and Wade Barrett really sells the legitimacy of everyone in WWE wanting The New Nexus out. I'd also have Michael Cole rooting for Team WWE on commentary.

On the go-home RAW before SummerSlam, The Rock is scheduled to make an appearance. He opens the show and makes fun of the Nexus guys.

He can then say that as much as he dislikes John Cena, he's rooting for Team WWE and he'll be at SummerSlam, rooting for Team WWE at ringside. This appearance is almost a given since The Rock currently resides in Los Angeles.

Later on in the show, have Kane and Big Show shown backstage. Big Show walks off for a minute and The New Nexus then shows up from out of nowhere and takes out Kane after a brutal attack. The rest of the show is dedicated to John Cena and Team WWE trying to find a new teammate but nobody wants in.

Jerry Lawler is "injured." Batista is already booked. Santino Marella is terrified of The New Nexus. At that point, John Cena can come out with Team WWE and say that this is the perfect opportunity for The Rock to put up or shut up.

If he really does love WWE, then he'll join the team and be the final member. Have the show end with The Rock shaking hands with John Cena and saying that he wouldn't miss this for the world.

I realize that The Rock is not an active wrestler and probably wouldn't wrestle any full matches until WrestleMania 28. However, this appearance really wouldn't be any different from his appearance at WrestleMania 27.

All he'd really have to do is tag in once or twice and hit his signature moves on one of the Nexus members. I also realize that the WWE would probably have to pay him a lot more for this match. Nonetheless, it would be a wise investment.

WrestleMania 27 drew the targeted one million buys and most of that can be accredited to The Rock. SummerSlam could easily match those one million buys if it is promoted as The Rock's return to the ring.

The Match: I'd give this match at least 40 minutes since it would be the selling point of SummerSlam. I'd have the first elimination come a couple minutes in with The Rock hitting his finishing sequence of moves on someone like Heath Slater to really get the crowd going.

I'd also have most of Team WWE's eliminations come at the hands of either CM Punk, Skip Sheffield, or Mason Ryan.

Another important thing would be for The Miz and Wade Barrett to simply walk off after getting eliminated rather than turning on the team like Edge & Chris Jericho did last year. That can really sell the legitimacy of this match.

Towards the end of the match, I'd have it come down to John Cena & The Rock vs. CM Punk, Skip Sheffield, & Mason Ryan. The Rock comes in and hits his finishing sequence of moves on Mason Ryan, eliminating him from the match.

The Rock then walks to his corner but John Cena makes a blind tag. The referee doesn't see the tag and The Rock is confused as well. Amidst all the confusion, CM Punk rolls The Rock up and grabs his tights to secure the elimination.

The Rock gets up and glares at John Cena, since he's the one who caused the elimination. John Cena turns around and walks right into a running lariat from Skip Sheffield.

CM Punk quickly comes back in and hits the GTS, which allows him to get the win. The show ends with The New Nexus coming out to celebrate while John Cena and The Rock stand there, looking ashamed after what they have done.

The Aftermath: Since CM Punk pinned John Cena, he gets a WWE Championship match at the next PPV where Cena finally goes over. The whole point of this is to make CM Punk and New Nexus relevant again.

Conclusion

And that shall conclude my fantasy booking for this year's SummerSlam. What do you guys think? Would you prefer to see this version or the version that WWE currently has planned for SummerSlam? What changes, if any, would you make to this card?

I realize that most of this would never happen but if a PPV like this was put on by WWE, it could draw crazy buyrates.

The New Nexus vs. Team WWE would also be a much more beneficial match in the long term than John Cena vs. Alberto Del Rio simply because a guy like CM Punk has a lot more main event potential than Alberto Del Rio at the moment.

That's not to say that Del Rio won't ever become a main eventer. However, he's still got a long way to go while all CM Punk needs is that one extra rub.

I will be right back here within the next 24 hours with my weekly review of SmackDown entitled "Smack Talk" but until then, I'm out!

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