WWE SummerSlam 2017: Match Card Projections After Backlash

WWE.com

WWE Championship Match
Jinder Mahal (c) vs. Randy Orton vs. AJ Styles

For a while, it looked like Styles vs. Orton could work as the WWE Championship Match at SummerSlam. It’s one of the bigger feuds SmackDown never did from Jul. 2016 to the Superstar Shakeup. While that may happen, someone else is holding the company’s top prize.

At WWE Backlash, Jinder Mahal won the WWE Championship. That’s the same Superstar who lost matches to Mojo Rawley and went through an awkward mini-feud with Rusev on Raw. He defeated Randy Orton clean to do this, celebrating to close Sunday night’s PPV.

The reign of the Maharaja has only begun. While it’s unknown how long this may last, including having to go through two brand-exclusive PPVs before SummerSlam, could it make it all the way to August?

Mahal as champion is a test run, something that will be evaluated through the end of May and into June, potentially giving us him vs. Orton in a Ladder Match at Money in the Bank. That could be the deciding factor for keeping him the champion or passing the belt back to the Viper.

If we don’t see a title change next month, then Mahal going into SummerSlam with the belt seems possible. Who would have thought that would ever happen?