SummerSlam has traditionally been WWE’s second-biggest event of the year, below only WrestleMania in the pecking order. This means you can expect top stars, surprises and huge talking points to emerge from what the company dubs ‘The Biggest Party Of The Summer’.
The 2021 edition promises to be extra-special, with WWE hoping to put a capacity crowd inside Nevada’s Allegiant Stadium, the biggest live audience for the company since the Covid-19 pandemic began. Here is why SummerSlam 2021 is a can’t-miss event.
JC Has Risen
WWE’s biggest star of the last decade, John Cena, has returned to WWE and will face WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns in the main event of the show. Actor, rapper, invisible man; Cena is riding a wave of momentum from starring in The Suicide Squad, and his return to the squared circle is a huge deal.
With superstars such as The Undertaker, Batista, Triple H and Kurt Angle all either slowing down or retiring entirely in recent years, bonafide mainstream names mean so much to WWE and any time Cena steps into the ring it is an occasion. ‘Big Match John’ is sure to pull out all the stops, and Roman Reigns is currently on a career-run after turning heel last year. The crowd reaction to this one will be off-the-charts.
‘The All Mighty’ Is Next
WWE Champion Bobby Lashley has been on a dominant run through the competition on Monday Night Raw. The former MMA fighter has picked apart Kofi Kingston, Drew McIntyre, The Miz and Braun Strowman during his reign.
His smash-mouth, physical style of wrestling warrants comparison to Goldberg, the whirlwind who cut a swathe through WCW in the 90s amassing a legendary undefeated streak, before turning his attention to WWE where he has held multiple world titles. Now 54-years-old, the veteran brawler is in incredible shape, but his short matches and rudimentary ring-style has won as many sceptics as fans in the modern era.
However, Lashley can match him for suplex-and-striking offence, and if they keep the bout below ten minutes in length it is sure to be an entertaining heavyweight slugfest.
Mysterio Taking Care Of Family Matters
Long-time fans will remember Rey Mysterio battling it out with the late Eddie Guerrero for custody of his real-life son Dominik, possibly the only human to have ever been competed for in a ladder match. 16 years later and that bemused, bleach-blonde child is an adult, and a very promising wrestler in his own right.
A former tag team champion with his illustrious father, the Mysterio family will look to reclaim their gold from Jimmy and Jey Uso. With four consummate high-flyers in the ring, this match is bound to be spectacular, and will be well worth watching to see two generations of the Mysterio clan.
Rollins Gets Rated R
Returning at the 2020 Royal Rumble after nine years away, the uncertainty of the pandemic perhaps dulled the impact of what has been an incredible comeback from Edge.
Returning from an enforced retirement through injury, and now 47, the ‘Rated R Superstar’ has barely lost a step. High-quality battles with Randy Orton, Daniel Bryan and Roman Reigns have followed, and his SummerSlam match with Seth Rollins has the potential to be the greatest yet.
The build-up has been intense, with Edge dubbing his opponent ‘Edge-lite’ on a recent SmackDown. A good story is often rooted in truth, and the fact the pair share many traits should make for an excellent match-up.
More Fun In the Sun
The rest of the card boasts a number of other marquee matches. Nikki A.S.H will look to defend the Raw Women’s Championship against Rhea Ripley and Charlotte Flair in triple threat action.
‘The Celtic Warrior’ Sheamus puts his United States title on the line against former Bad Bunny tag team partner Damian Priest. Bianca Belair will defend the SmackDown Women’s Championship against Sasha Banks in a potential showstealer, while more matches are set to be announced this week.
SummerSlam is a perfect jumping-on point if you haven’t watched WWE programming in a while. The company puts a lot of effort into the show, and there are always newsworthy moments that carry through into the weekly television shows, so this show should be great if you’re looking to get back into wrestling.
