5 things that need to happen at WWE SummerSlam 2021

WWE SummerSlam takes place from Allegiant Stadium for the first time this Saturday.

The Stamford outfit recently disclosed that 5,000 of 45,000 tickets put on sale are available, meaning this will be the highest attended show since the pandemic began. The event will also air in movie theatres across the country, something that has never happened before.

SummerSlam is one of the “Big Four” events on the WWE calendar; this year, anticipation is high. Saturday will mark the third pay-per-view fans have been allowed to attend this year — it promises to be a raucous crowd.

Ten matches are confirmed, including seven with titles on the line. More bouts could be announced as the go-home SmackDown is 24 hours before SummerSlam.

So many iconic moments in WWE history have occurred at this extravaganza. The “Macho Man” Randy Savage and Miss Elizabeth’s wedding in 1991, the back and forth battle between Bret Hart and The British Bulldog at Wembley Stadium a year later, Paul Bearer betraying The Undertaker in 1996, and Brock Lesnar beating The Rock to win his first WWE Title in 2002 are just a sample of these memories.

The current roster will want to add their names to that list and do whatever it takes to ensure this show will be memorable for the WWE Universe.

With that in mind – these five things need to happen at SummerSlam

5. Sheamus should drop the United States Championship to Damian Priest.

The issues between Sheamus and Damian Priest began in July when the latter grew tired of the former bullying the likes of Humberto Carrillo and stood up to him.

Not liking the fact Priest stuck his nose in his business, “The Celtic Warrior” aimed to take Priest out but has failed to get the job done. The two had a good match on the July 26 episode of Raw. Priest won with the Reckoning, and that victory meant he became the number one contender for the United States Championship.

Sheamus was one of the stand-out performers during the “Pandemic Era”. He had brilliant matches with Keith Lee, Riddle, Ricochet, and Drew McIntyre — a US Title win at WrestleMania was a reward for those displays — but he does not need gold around his waist; he is one of the most decorated WWE superstars of all time.

Priest, on the other hand, does need to win a belt on the main roster. The former NXT North American Champion has not lost a singles match since being called up in February. He also featured in one of the biggest matches on the “Grandest Stage of them All”, teaming up with Bad Bunny to defeat The Miz and John Morrison.

The “Archer of Infamy” is on a roll. This should lead to him capturing one of the most prestigious prizes in the company.

Preist has the ability, look, popularity, and charisma to be a top star in WWE. The US Title will be the first of several for him in the company.

4. The All Mighty Era has to continue: Bobby Lashley needs to beat Goldberg.

Since defeating The Miz to win the WWE Championship in March, Bobby Lashley has run through the Raw roster to the point people were wondering “Who’s next?” to step up and try to take the title away from him.

On the July 19 episode of Raw, Goldberg answered that question when he confronted Lashley, screaming “I’m next”! The champion did not utter a word: MVP pulled him away before things could get physical.

The titans met face-to-face two weeks later. Goldberg claimed Lashley was “scared” to face him, stating he would lose the WWE Title if he did. Once the former WCW Champion left the ring, MVP and Lashley spotted Gage, Goldberg’s son, in the crowd and approached the 15-year-old. MVP told him Lashley was going to “end his dad’s career”. This raised the ire of Goldberg, who emerged from backstage to hit MVP with a Spear as Lashley looked on.

Later in the show, Lashley agreed to defend his title against Goldberg at SummerSlam. He vowed to “annihilate” the master of the Jackhammer on the night.

It took two separate runs and a combined six years for WWE to realize what they have with Lashley; he should have won multiple world titles by now. Lashley is being treated like the dominant force he is, better late than never, as they say. The worst thing WWE could do is interrupt his stellar run by giving the title to a part-timer like Goldberg.

Kevin Owens was in the middle of a great reign as Universal Champion in 2017 until Goldberg beat him. “The Prizefighter” has not won the title since. “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt was the best thing going in WWE, then Goldberg inexplicably defeated him for the same title at Super ShowDown last year.

Vince McMahon cannot make the same mistake a third time. Lashley must defeat Goldberg. No other result makes sense.

3. Edge should defeat Seth Rollins in their grudge match.

When people say WWE does not do long-term storytelling, point them in the direction of this feud between Seth Rollins and Edge. This encounter is seven years in the making.

Rollins, when he was a member of The Authority, put Edge in the position for the Curb Stomp to force John Cena to reinstate his stable. Edge had to retire because of a neck injury three years earlier, and he has never forgotten that moment in December 2014.

Fast forward to 2021, Rollins was irate when Edge secured a shot at the Universal Championship against Roman Reigns at Money in the Bank, feeling he was more deserving of the opportunity. That filled “The Friday Night Messiah” with rage, leading him to cost Edge the match at the aforementioned pay-per-view.

In the weeks leading up to SummerSlam, “The Rated R Superstar” and Rollins have taken things up several notches. Edge hit his foe with an impaler DDT on the July 23 episode of SmackDown, and Rollins viciously assaulted the former 11-time World Champion with a television camera seven days later.

When the most anticipated match on the SummerSlam card is discussed, Edge against Rollins is usually top of the list. Saturday will be the first time these two have met one-on-one, a dream match for many members of the WWE Universe. These two could steal the show; they are among the best to step inside a squared circle.

Edge deserves a feel-good moment after losing his last two high-profile matches.

The Canadian has a brilliant record at SummerSlam, winning 11 out of 13 matches at the event. If that run is extended, the majority of people watching will be happy. That is what the product is all about.

2. John Cena has to acknowledge Roman Reigns as the “Head of the Table”.

Two faces of different generations collide when John Cena tries to win a record-setting 17th World Title against Roman Reigns at SummerSlam.

These two are no strangers to each other. They had a great feud in 2017, Reigns pinned Cena clean at No Mercy that year, but a lot has changed since then.

Cena has become everything he criticised Reigns’ cousin, The Rock, for being a decade ago. Namely, becoming a part-time wrestler and a full-time actor.

In the absence of “The Face That Runs The Place”, Reigns has stepped up and is currently on the hottest streak of his career.

Four years ago, when verbally jousting, Cena was light years ahead of his opponent. We all remember Cena’s “It’s a promo kid. If you want to be the Big Dog you’re gonna have to learn how to do it.” line as Reigns was overwhelmed by the situation he found himself in.

Now, it is a completely different story. Reigns cuts brilliant promos each and every week on SmackDown. “The Tribal Chief” has held his own against Cena this time around; that “missionary position” line will be remembered for years to come.

Reigns is the guy at the moment; everything about him screams megastar. He has been Universal Champion for 356 days — beating the likes of Kevin Owens, Cesaro, Edge, Daniel Bryan and Rey Mysterio on the way. Cena will be added to that list; Reigns cannot be stopped at the moment.

1. Becky Lynch must return to WWE.

When Becky Lynch announced she was pregnant and relinquished the Raw Women’s Championship in May 2020, we knew it would be a while before she returned to the company. Over 400 days later, it is time for “The Man” to come around again.

SummerSlam three years ago was important for Lynch. She attacked Charlotte Flair after failing to become the SmackDown Women’s Champion, but instead of being booed, as WWE intended, she was cheered by the New York crowd. That moment helped increase Lynch’s popularity.

She became the undisputed champion in the main event of WrestleMania eight months later. Lynch could create another SummerSlam moment if she makes a surprise appearance in a few days. WWE need a boost right now – Lynch would definitely give them one.

On the two other “Big Four” WWE events this year, Lynch has teased showing up. In the build-up to SummerSlam, the former four-time Women’s Champion has been quiet. Is this an indication that a return is close? Reports have stated she will be in Vegas on the night, however, the “Irish Lasskicker” could be backstage watching Seth Rollins in action.

When Lynch went on maternity leave, she was on the Raw brand, but it makes sense to swap red for blue. Now that live events are back, new parents Lynch and Rollins will want to be on the road together, plus Lynch has been on Monday nights for a while.

Bianca Belair, the SmackDown Women’s Champion, has expressed her desire to step in the ring with Lynch. Imagine the pop if “The EST of WWE” retains against Sasha Banks at SummerSlam and Lynch confronts her afterwards. That is a match we all want to see; a contest we have not witnessed before.

If Belair loses, Lynch could re-ignite her rivalry with “The Boss”. The two tore the house down in several matches in 2019; WWE could run that back if they choose.

Either way, we have waited too long for Lynch to be on our television screens again. Her return is long overdue. SummerSlam is the right time and place.