Now WWE SummerSlam is less than a week away, this is a good time to address the elephant in the room. How can WWE release a bunch of talent, while simultaneously bringing back aging stars like Goldberg and John Cena? Especially when there are plenty of Raw & SmackDown guys who have yet to face Bobby Lashley or Roman Reigns for the titles. Today, we look at why this is, and if anyone else deserved to enjoy these lucrative opportunities on one of the biggest shows of the year.
Bobby Lashley (Raw)
As a Brit, it was difficult to stomach Drew McIntyre’s failure to find redemption by taking back the WWE Championship. After losing several rematches to Lashley, fans were growing tired of him being handed all the opportunities. Shortly after, McIntyre lost in his Last Chance Hell in a Cell match at Backlash, to ensure their rivalry wouldn’t continue. He still had a chance by winning Money in the Bank, but Jinder Mahal made sure it wouldn’t happen.
After moving on, Lashley got sick of MVP’s distractions and introduced his mean streak, which he used to decimate Kofi Kingston at Money in the Bank. Who’s next? Many were hoping Brock Lesnar, because Lashley has repeatedly called for this over the years. Instead, we got Goldberg, which isn’t bad, but a win over him isn’t as rewarding. Goldberg’s record isn’t great since returning in 2017, despite twice winning the Universal title. In his nine matches, Goldberg has lost five of them (four if we don’t include the Rumble), which means he hasn’t won at least half of his matches.
This isn’t the same dominant Goldberg of the past. Weathering the storm gives you a chance to come out the other side, as proven by Braun Strowman & Drew McIntyre in his previous two encounters. In saying this, Goldberg has never lost three matches in a row, so he could be more desperate than ever to prove he still has bite. Unless it’s his retirement match, he needs to be victorious, so his name keeps any value for the future. It’s a must win scenario for Goldberg, unless this is his swansong.
Who Better Than Goldberg?
I would much prefer anyone else to be facing Bobby Lashley at SummerSlam, because WWE needs to build to the future. Bringing Goldberg back feels like a short-term money grab, and it’s telling the current roster they can’t be trusted to draw PPV buys. Yet, who does WWE have to call on? Is there anybody who could fit the bill? Let’s look at potential challengers.
- AJ Styles – I’m a big fan of The Phenomenal One, but he isn’t the future of WWE. He would wrestle Lashley to his limit and get the best out of him, but he’s Raw Tag Team Champion. AJ is helping Omos and the tag team division with his experience, and is doing a pretty good job of it. Also, he’d need to be playing baby face, so he’s nowhere near suitable for a program at the moment.
- Randy Orton – Again, he isn’t the future of WWE. At the moment, Orton is a glorified enhancement talent, which is exactly what he should be doing. Orton has had his day, and it’s time to give back to the company by getting guys over. Honestly, I don’t think Orton vs. Lashley would interest us because their styles wouldn’t blend well.
They are the only two I can see challenging at SummerSlam. The Miz is injured, Jeff Hardy isn’t anywhere, and no one else is ready.
Look at the roster. Nobody is at the stage where they could believably step in to SummerSlam as a viable threat. Had Keith Lee been around the past few months (he was fighting a life-threatening heart condition) and booked like the monster he is, then it would’ve been possible. Still, it would be reliant on the WWE Universe getting behind him… which isn’t a certainty. Riddle is a guy who could main event at some point, but I can’t see it til 2022 at the earliest. He’s still too polarizing of a character to be pushed in to the main event, but they are making progress.
When we take Goldberg out of the equation, no one stood a chance of going to SummerSlam. Lashley needed an opponent, and he hadn’t faced Goldberg yet. So, as much as I hate WWE having to call upon the old guard once again, there is a valid reason. Ashamedly, the lack of options is of their own design. WWE hasn’t done enough to build up new stars with the potential of stepping in to the shoes of Bobby Lashley, Drew McIntyre, Goldberg, or any of the other veterans. It’s about time they rectify this situation.
Roman Reigns (SmackDown)
The Head of the Table has overcome many challengers since he took over SmackDown as the most dominant force in WWE. Jey Uso, Cesaro, Kevin Owens, Rey Mysterio and Edge have all failed to usurp the Tribal Chief from his throne. Reigns & Heyman weren’t understating the fact there’s nobody left. The only baby face who would stand a chance is King Nakamura, but his turn was recent, so he hasn’t had time to gain enough momentum. Big E is laughing his way to the Money in the Bank, as he bides his time holding on to the briefcase; which means it wouldn’t make sense to make him a challenger.
Unless you magically turn Seth Rollins (and make it work) overnight, the only other face is Finn Balor. Honestly, Balor doesn’t deserve a title shot as much as John Cena. Neither guy earned it by going on a winning spree, or beating other potential challengers in a thrilling #1 contenders match. They showed up one day and said… “Hi there, Mr. Head of the Table! Give me a title shot please?!” Of course, Roman Reigns has no one to face, so he has to accept it because he wants to wrestle at SummerSlam. This is the sorry state of SmackDown, because Reigns has gone over every viable challenger on the way, and WWE probably knew John Cena was ready to step in months ago. Management knew they didn’t need to build anyone up because Cena’s a proven draw.
The biggest difference between Cena and Goldberg? Cena works live events, is there for every show, and interacts with other talent. Goldberg mostly keeps to himself and shows up on TV for a minute when needed. While Cena’s around, he’s going to help the SmackDown roster just by being there. You need stars like him to pass the torch in a way Roman Reigns & Bobby Lashley can’t right now. If SummerSlam goes well, Cena might decide to do more when he’s not filming. Goldberg really needs to string together a few wins in a short time, and something tells me that’s not happening. Not only because his schedule wouldn’t allow it, but because he’s too far past his prime to start up another undefeated streak.
WWE has done well to build up Roman Reigns and Lashley this year. They needed guys to put them over, but WWE has left itself in a tough position. There are less than a handful of guys other than Drew McIntyre, AJ Styles or Randy Orton who could step up and carry their brands if needed. There is an enormous gap between the top and the rest of the pack, and that’s a little worrying. However, we know when push comes to shove, WWE finds alternative ways to bring someone to the forefront. Even if it’s a sudden part-time experiment like Jinder Mahal, management has proven their courage to give the ball to someone willing to step up to the plate. It’s not necessarily healthy for future prospects, but the WWE brand continues to endure, no matter who they decide is their latest overhyped sensation.
Who do you think deserves to go to SummerSlam? Are Goldberg, John Cena and Finn Balor the right choices? Should WWE have built new stars up, instead of going back to the same old reliable hands? Please let me know how you feel about the top matches of WWE SummerSlam, along with who you believe should drive this company forward in to 2022 and beyond. Thanks!
