WWE SummerSlam 2011: 5 Things You Need to Know About Riley vs. Ziggler

With SummerSlam right around the corner, many people are wondering why so few matches have been announced for what is usually one of the biggest pay-per-views of the year.  Of course you can fill the allotted time with only four matches, so WWE is very likely going to add more.

One such match that looks to be potentially added is a United States Championship match between the reigning champion, Dolph Ziggler, and Alex Riley.

The two started a feud two weeks ago on Raw, with Alex Riley calling Ziggler out for hiding behind Vickie Guerrero and not performing like a true superstar.  Last Monday the two were set to face off in the ring, only to have Vickie Guerrero interfere a minute and a half in, getting Ziggler disqualified.

With that in mind, it looks like there is some unfinished business to attend to.  WWE may use this as a storyline that will pick up at SummerSlam and create an impromptu match.  If that is the case, here are five things you need to know going into Sunday.

This Is Only the Begining of the Feud

This feud has only just begun, so don't think that it is going to start and end in only a matter of three weeks.

Alex Riley has been left out of the picture since his feud with The Miz came to an end, and hasn't wrestled a match since the WWE Championship tournament.  Meanwhile, Dolph Ziggler has been forgotten about since defeating Kofi Kingston for the United States Championship, which actually saved him from previously falling deeper into obscurity.

These two need each other to keep making their presence known.  Both get a relatively strong response from the crowd, and with a feud that lasts a month or two, both could end up becoming bigger stars than they currently are.  Night of Champions is the next pay-per-view, where every title will be defended.  I strongly expect these two to be in the match for the United States Championship. 

The United States Championship Will Likely Change Hands

As I previously stated, this feud only started a couple of weeks ago, and has yet to pick up much steam.  It would be unwise for WWE to have Ziggler drop the title so quickly when the feud is fresh, but it also makes the most sense as far as the storyline goes.

WWE could easily swing a Riley victory by having Ziggler complain that he was not prepared for the match.  With the feud's basis being set on Riley's accusation that Ziggler has never done anything on his own, there is some animosity between the champion and his business partner.

A loss for Ziggler wouldn't crush him either.  As I stated earlier, this feud is likely going to continue for at least a month, possibly much longer.  As long as the feud is kept fresh in the viewers' minds by having frequent confrontations on Raw, Ziggler will continue to grow as a heel.

Ziggler has held the title for two months now, having defeated Kofi Kingston at Capitol Punishment in June.  Though it has not been a lengthy run, or one with much to remember, it has been long enough to warrant dropping the title to a new competitor. 

The Match Will Not End Cleanly

No matter what the outcome of the match may be, whether it is a Ziggler defense or a Riley victory, someone is going to get his hands dirty or have the match stolen from him.

To me, the most likely scenario is going to involve Vickie Guerrero.  Alex Riley's main focus has been trying to get under the skin of Ziggler by claiming that he hasn't done anything on his own.  Last Monday, we saw the bond between Vickie and Dolph start to break again when she walked away from him after he yelled at her for costing him the match.  If this match occurs, expect her presence, but likely not in a role that helps Ziggler.

Another potential scenario is that Ziggler will try to compete without Vickie in his corner.  If that happens, expect the typical heel move of taking the easy way out, either by cheating or getting disqualified so he can retain the title.  Either way he is going in as the heel, so it won't be a clean title defense.

Vickie will likely cost Ziggler the match, whether it is intentional or not.  But if she does try to win back the trust of the United States Champion, it could spell a bad night for Alex Riley.  

The Crowd Will Be Excited for This Match

Unlike many matches that get placed on the card or announced the night of the event, the participants in this match will get the crowd going.

Alex Riley has been a big fan favorite since turning on The Miz, and his kick-ass entrance music makes his presence even more powerful than normal.  Dolph Ziggler, on the other hand, gets pure heat just from the fact that Vickie Guerrero is his associate.  For Dolph, the crowd hates him by association.

You also have to look at the fact that both of these superstars are capable of putting on a great match. Dolph Ziggler proved that he could perform at a main event level in what is still one of my favorite matches of the year, when he faced off against Edge for the World Heavyweight Championship match at the Royal Rumble.  Granted, Alex Riley is no Edge, but he has the talent to become a top WWE superstar.  Who knows what type of chemistry these two show in the ring together?

Look for this match to be one of the better matches of the night, and definitely better than anything else that may be thrown in last minute.

This Match Could Make or Break Either Superstar

Both of the superstars involved in this feud are sort of in limbo right now.  Alex Riley had a strong storyline going with The Miz, only to have it taken away when The Miz was pushed back into the main event scene. Meanwhile, Dolph Ziggler hasn't really done anything since winning the United States Championship. Even before that, his attempt to mix things up by appearing with his natural brown hair color received no reaction whatsoever.

A loss for either superstar could greatly hurt his stock if not done carefully.  This feud needs to continue, with both superstars looking strong during parts of it in order for both to succeed.  It shouldn't be hard to do, but WWE creative has been known to drop the ball from time to time.

Let's hope that WWE makes up for the mistake of not booking this match ahead of time and creates a memorable moment at SummerSlam that has us talking about it the next day.