WWE Rumors: Possible SummerSlam opponents for Randy Orton

Randy Orton wants to work with someone from NXT, but could it happen at WWE SummerSlam 2020?

It seemed like Randy Orton and Edge would have their final match in their storied rivalry at WWE SummerSlam 2020, but it doesn’t look like the Rated R Superstar will be able to compete at the event on August 23 after suffering a torn triceps in the Greatest Match Ever at Backlash.

So now, it seems like Orton could face Drew McIntyre at the Biggest Party of the Summer. Sportskeeda’s Tom Colohue spoke about the possibility of McIntyre vs. Orton happening at SummerSlam if Brock Lesnar cannot travel. And there would be a lot more people who would be interested in Orton vs. McIntyre than Lesnar vs. McIntyre Part II.

WrestleTalk’s Louis Dangoor reports that the “likely plan” is indeed for Orton to face McIntyre, which talkSPORT’s Alex McCarthy says is “common sense”. But McCarthy also reports that when WWE first learned of Edge’s injury, they were thinking of having Orton face NXT stars Tommaso Ciampa or Adam Cole at SummerSlam. It was Dangoor who first broke the news that Orton was pitching working with those stars.

Dangoor writes that Orton has still been pushing for a match with Ciampa or Cole in August, but because Raw lacks top heels for McIntyre to face, he will “almost certainly” face off against McIntyre at SummerSlam.

But nothing is certain and because Orton keeps pushing to work with NXT talent, it’s a possibility that remains worth keeping in mind. Ciampa has nothing to do on NXT right now, while Cole could be headed to Raw or SmackDown after dropping the NXT Title to Keith Lee in the main event of NXT Great American Bash Night 2.

McIntyre vs. Orton is a match that would tear the roof off the place and be an easy main event for SummerSlam, and it looks like, by far, the safest bet. But WWE don’t seem to adverse to letting Orton give it his all against two former NXT Champions in Ciampa and Cole. Again, it’s a storyline worth monitoring.