WWE SummerSlam 2020: 3 matches that could main event the night

With WWE SummerSlam 2020 just days away, these three matches stand out as those most deserving of securing the position as the night’s main event.

WWE SummerSlam 2020 is less than a week away, and the card currently features eight huge matches with six different championships on the line. Three of those matches stand out from the group and carry the story and potential match quality to close the show as this year’s SummerSlam main event.

It’s important to remember the lineage that comes with being the main event of SummerSlam. Along with WrestleMania, Royal Rumble, and Survivor Series, SummerSlam is one of WWE’s “Big Four” pay-per-view events, and is one of their most tenured as they present the 33rd annual installment this year.

Going all the way back to the inaugural event in 1988, the first SummerSlam main event saw four enormous names clash as The Mega Powers (Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage) took on The Mega Bucks (Andre the Giant and Ted DiBiase) with Jesse Ventura as the Special Guest Referee.

SummerSlam 1992 in London’s Wembley Stadium was main evented by Bret Hart defending the WWE Intercontinental Championship against The British Bulldog in a 25-minute instant classic still remembered to this day. Brock Lesnar has more SummerSlam main events than any other superstar, with his first in 2002 as well as headlining seven of the last eight years.

Just behind Lesnar is John Cena with six and The Undertaker with five, though it could technically be argued that Cena only has four as two of those were followed by a Money in the Bank cash-in which were the last official matches of those nights. This year, for the first time in six straight years, Brock Lesnar will not be in the main event of SummerSlam.

That could make way for something groundbreaking, as it’s important to note that while the women of WWE made the monumental step of being the main event of WrestleMania 35, Royal Rumble 2018, and Survivor Series 2019, they have never been the main event of SummerSlam. That has a better chance of changing this year than any other, as we look at the first of three main event candidates for this Sunday.

WWE Raw Women’s Championship Match: Sasha Banks (c) vs. Asuka

The first candidate to main event WWE SummerSlam 2020 is something already being speculated on as the potential match of the night, and maybe even a match of the year contender, as Sasha Banks will be defending the Raw Women’s Championship against Asuka. Banks initially challenged Asuka during The Horror Show at Extreme Rules, but things ended in controversy.

After the referee inadvertently ate a face full of Asuka’s green mist, Bayley decided to take action by pulling off the referee’s shirt. Bayley slipped the shirt on and dubbed herself the referee, counting a pinfall and making Banks the unofficial champion, though the win was not recognized and the match was ultimately ruled a no contest.

In the rematch one week later on WWE Raw, it was the actions of Bayley by attacking Kairi Sane backstage that caused Asuka to get counted out and ultimately lose the title to Sasha Banks thanks to the match’s special stipulation. While I think Banks needs to take the win here, if WWE does want Asuka to leave as the Raw Women’s Champion, this needs to cap off the night.

WWE Championship Match: Drew McIntyre (c) vs. Randy Orton

The right call by WWE is to put one of the two women’s title matches at the top of the card, but the more likely result is that Drew McIntyre defending his WWE Championship against Randy Orton will fill that slot. If they main event, it would be Orton’s fifth time (sixth if you include his Money in the Bank cash-in from SummerSlam 2013).

While we’ve certainly seen Orton in this position before, it’s undeniable that he’s been firing on all cylinders as of late and delivering some of his best work in years. Orton has been on fire both in the ring and with his character work at every turn, making this a very anticipated clash in what could be McIntyre’s first and only SummerSlam main event.

However, their potential placement could also have something to do with RETRIBUTION. There is already speculation the group could crash the SummerSlam main event, making that the final moment of the show as well as setting up a rematch between Orton and McIntyre just one week later at WWE Payback.

WWE SmackDown Women’s Championship Match: Bayley (c) vs. Asuka

The final candidate, and my prime choice to main event WWE SummerSlam 2020, is the SmackDown Women’s Championship Match where Bayley will be defending against Asuka. There is a long history between these two heading into this Sunday that can be traced to Asuka losing the title right before WrestleMania 35 or even back to Asuka defeating Bayley for the NXT Women’s Championship at NXT TakeOver: Dallas in 2016.

Most recently, things heated up when Bayley’s vicious attack on Kairi Sane ultimately cost Asuka the Raw Women’s Championship. That title now belongs to Sasha Banks, who deserves to keep hold of it.

Asuka earned the right to face Bayley as a shocking entrant in the Triple Brand Battle Royal last week on SmackDown, and she comes also walks into SummerSlam with a significant psychological edge. Asuka is 5-0 against Bayley in singles competition, and she is more motivated and dangerous than ever. Bayley’s 300+ day reign as SmackDown Women’s Champion has been historic, but it could all come crashing down this Sunday.