SummerSlam Credit: WWE.com
Three potential feuds for John Cena at SummerSlam.
Once John Cena finishes up a likely short rivalry with Rusev at Battleground, it will be onto SummerSlam. Listed as a “free agent” who can supposedly compete on both Raw and SmackDown, who could be next for the 16-time World Champion?
Expect only big matches for Cena from this point forward. This awkward feud with Rusev is almost guaranteed to finish at Battleground, as both wrestlers returned just a few weeks away from SmackDown’s next pay-per-view.
Cena is the odds-on favorite to see off Rusev and take the momentum into his SummerSlam program. The question is whether his opponent will be a member of Raw or SmackDown? While his free agent status wasn’t fully confirmed last week, Cena listed a number of top stars on both brands he intends to step in the ring with.
Here’s three Superstars he could face off with at SummerSlam next month.
Credit: WWE.com
3. Samoa Joe
Samoa Joe is red-hot, and pairing him with Cena would be like printing money.
Joe is set to battle Roman Reigns next week on Raw to determine Brock Lesnar’s challenger for the Universal Championship at SummerSlam. Assuming Reigns wins, Joe will be left in the lurch in need of a dance partner.
What better way to build on Joe’s momentum than to place him with an all-time great? The former NXT Champion continues to show just how talented he is both in the ring and on the mic, and going toe-to-toe with Cena would make for an edge-of-the-seat type feud.
Cena’s promo work has improved with age, and he pulls no punches. Joe, too, continuously proves why he’s one of the best talkers in the world — look no further than his incredible promo on Raw this past week.
It wouldn’t make sense for Cena to be listed as a “free agent” without actually showing up on Raw. No Superstar on the red brand is better positioned for a feud with Cena than Samoa Joe.
Source: WWE.com
2. Jinder Mahal
Assuming Jinder Mahal survives Punjabi Prison and beats Randy Orton for a third successive pay-per-view, he’ll need a new challenger at SummerSlam.
AJ Styles and Kevin Owens are locked in a United States Championship feud, and a Baron Corbin heel-versus-heel match wouldn’t make sense. Shinsuke Nakamura would make for an interesting Jinder challenger, but he too could wind up challenging Styles for the US Title.
Mahal’s status as one of the WWE’s top heels could be solidified with a feud against Cena, regardless of who walks away with the championship. Mahal’s anti-American gimmick has successfully drawn heat, and it would make a ton of sense for Cena to counter and shut him up.
If Cena wins, Mahal would still get the rub and maintain his role as one of the top heels on SmackDown even without the gold. Equally, Mahal could pick up a career-defining victory by actually beating Cena.
No matter who wins, there’s a story to be told between these two.
Smackdown Live. Photo by WWE.com
1. AJ Styles
Teased this past Tuesday night on SmackDown Live, a battle of two all-timers might be the most likely of the three scenarios.
What better way to elevate the United States Championship than to put together a blockbuster between John Cena and AJ Styles?
Styles, who shockingly won the title from Kevin Owens at a Madison Square Garden house show last week, would first need to successfully retain in the rematch with Owens at Battleground.
By clearing that hurdle, the stage would be set for Cena to issue a challenge to The Phenomenal One. These two put together a great program for the WWE Championship earlier this year, but a face-versus-face showdown with the theme of respect would make it unique.
Both stars are approaching the final years of their respective careers, and this could prove to be one of the last opportunities to end their rivalry. What better stage to do so than at SummerSlam?
How would the other pieces fit the puzzle? Shinsuke Nakamura could win a No. 1 contender match to take on Jinder Mahal for the WWE Championship, while Brock Lesnar battles both Samoa Joe and Roman Reigns for the Universal Championship in a Triple Threat match.
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That’s some card, and it’s not even including Kevin Owens, who would have a number of potential challengers including Randy Orton and Sami Zayn.
A Cena-Styles battle would not only elevate the US Championship, but add a marquee match to the card we may not get many more opportunities to see again.