WWE SummerSlam 2013 | 18.08.2013 | A SUMMER TO REMEMBER

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WWE Champion John Cena vs. Daniel Bryan

Given the opportunity by Raw General Manager Brad Maddox to name his challenger at SummerSlam, WWE Champion John Cena could have taken the easy way out. Instead, he did just the opposite, choosing as his opponent a Superstar who many consider the top performer of 2013, Daniel Bryan. With special guest referee Triple H officiating the match, which Superstar will emerge as WWE Champion?

In naming the submission specialist as his No. 1 contender, Cena showed no small amount of respect for Bryan and the WWE Universe. Before making his decision, Cena polled the WWE Universe on the July 15 edition of Raw, taking their opinion into consideration. Few can deny that Cena chose wisely, as the WWE Universe chanted "Yes!" along with Bryan.

Tenacious, versatile and double-tough, Bryan is equipped with a sophisticated grappling acumen and enough athleticism to give any foe — regardless of the size or strength disparity — a tall challenge. Moreover, a slew of brave performances in recent months, punctuated with a submission victory over Randy Orton, have firmly endeared Bryan to the WWE Universe, which now embraces the bearded warrior with a gusto that rivals the adulation that the Cenation pays its commander-in-chief.

Although their paths have intersected before, Cena and Bryan’s journeys to the main event of SummerSlam are far from similar. The Champ has stood atop WWE almost since the day he arrived more than 11 years ago, using his power-based offense to accumulate 13 World Title reigns. Bryan, a one-time World Heavyweight Champion, has never held the WWE Title, and has toiled in relative obscurity for more than a decade, honing his craft in places as far away as Japan and venues as modest as high school gyms. These experiences all have served to make him arguably the most technically gifted competitor today, a fighter who relies on technique over might.

Despite their considerable differences — stylistically, aesthetically and otherwise — Cena and Bryan are bonded by a mutual desire to be the absolute best, and in WWE, only one title signifies that: the WWE Championship. As if there was not enough intrigue surrounding this highly anticipated match, the Aug. 12 episode of Raw saw a shocking twist added: Special guest referee Triple H! Objecting to Raw General Manager Brad Maddox filling the role, The Game has taken it upon himself to officiate the title clash.

Daniel Bryan will have his moment in the sun when the 26th Annual SummerSlam takes over the STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, but will WWE’s “Yes!” man have what it takes to displace the always-gutsy Cena, who seems more determined than ever to keep possession of the championship gold? Find out when the action airs live on pay-per-view Sunday, Aug. 18, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.

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CM Punk vs. Brock Lesnar

When CM Punk steps into the ring to fight Paul Heyman client Brock Lesnar at SummerSlam, he will face a Superstar who, in Punk’s words, is “a monster."

Against The Anomaly, The Straight Edge Superstar will have a near 50-pound weight disadvantage, as well as a reach disadvantage, never mind an obvious shortcoming in the strength department. Depending on how well he recovers from Lesnar’s savage attack on the July 15 edition of Raw — an incident that resulted in whiplash and strained knee and ankle ligaments for Punk — The Voice of the Voiceless may well be competing at less-than-peak form against an athletic abnormality who wrestles a part-time schedule.

But one factor that will not work against Punk when he arrives at Los Angeles’ STAPLES Center is fear. The Straight Edge Superstar concedes that Lesnar is every bit The Beast Incarnate that Heyman makes him out to be, but according to Punk, beasts like Lesnar exist for only one reason: to be slayed.

Punk has vowed to remove any obstacle between himself and the man who double-crossed him, Heyman. Motivated not only by the sting of betrayal, but also the uncomfortably personal remarks spouted by WWE’s extreme strategist, The Best in the World will likely need every ounce of fearlessness if he hopes to topple the biggest obstacle of them all in Lesnar.

The scene on July 15’s Raw did little to instill confidence in Punk supporters. Made to look like a courageous but overwhelmed civilian by The Anomaly, The Straight Edge Superstar, still reeling from the Money in the Bank All-Stars Ladder Match the night before, displayed plenty of heart in the encounter, repeatedly pulling himself up by the bootstraps and reengaging in battle. Yet, when the dust settled, Lesnar appeared to have won the dust-up handily.

Punk insists the results will be different at SummerSlam. As unforgiving as Lesnar has proven to be, The Best in the World may be even more unrelenting. The Beast took the first several rounds of battle with relative ease, but with the war set to culminate at SummerSlam — inside the domain where Punk feels most at home, the squared circle — Lesnar’s victory is far from a fait accompli.

Adding in the deeply personal overtones of the Heyman-Punk rivalry, there is reason to believe the fearless and untiring Straight Edge Superstar will stop at nothing to gain the win. Whether or not The Beast Incarnate can actually be slayed, however, might be a different story altogether.

Find out what happens when The Best takes on The Beast at SummerSlam, live on pay-per-view on Sunday, Aug. 18.

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World Heavyweight Champion Alberto Del Rio vs. Christian

If World Heavyweight Champion Alberto Del Rio thought he was in for a cakewalk at SummerSlam, he was sorely mistaken. On Aug. 18, The Mexican Aristocrat will put the title on the line against two-time World Champion Christian, who earned the No. 1 contender position by trumping Rob Van Dam and Randy Orton in a thrilling Triple Threat Match on the Aug. 2 SmackDown.

Del Rio was originally afforded the opportunity to hand-select his SummerSlam opposition by SmackDown General Manager Vickie Guerrero. But the braggadocios titleholder lost that right when he decided to name his personal ring announcer, Ricardo Rodriguez, as his opponent in a thinly veiled attempt to keep his title reign safe.

Now staring down a title defense against one of the most respected and cunning veterans in the WWE locker room, Del Rio must prepare to go to a war with a familiar foe. It was Christian, after all, who bested Del Rio in a May 2011 Ladder Match for the then-vacated World Heavyweight Title.

More recently, Captain Charisma scored a rare non-title win over Del Rio on the July 29 edition of Raw. Christian won that battle by escaping the Cross Armbreaker and rolling up Del Rio for the pin. In the subsequent SmackDown Triple Threat Match, Christian cooled The Viper’s engines by deftly reversing his RKO into a winning backslide, further demonstrating his ring savvy, intelligent scouting and big-game composure.

The clever Christian seems to have most Superstars figured out, and since returning in June, he has had little trouble keeping up with the fresh faces and hungry up-and-comers now occupying space in the WWE locker room. The Attitude Era original, with nearly 15 years’ WWE experience under his belt, has defeated Fandango and “Mr. Money in the Bank” Damien Sandow, for example, since making his comeback.

Del Rio is nothing if not dangerous, however, as Dolph Ziggler and countless other Superstars have found out this year. With a devastating array of strikes and submissions at his disposal — not to mention a willingness to break rules — The Mexican Aristocrat has shown precious few vulnerabilities inside the ring.

What will happen when these two ring generals face off for the World Heavyweight Championship at the 26th annual SummerSlam? Will chants of “Si! Si! Si!” give way to an all-important title defense for Del Rio, or will this year’s Biggest Party of the Summer be cause for celebration for the Peeps? Find out on Sunday, Aug. 18, when SummerSlam airs live on pay-per-view.

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Kane vs. Bray Wyatt (Ring of Fire Match)

Since making their frightening debut on the July 8 episode of Raw, the menacing Wyatt Family has had their sights set on Kane, brutally assaulting him on two separate occasions. Now, at SummerSlam on Sunday, Aug. 18, The Devil’s Favorite Demon will get a chance at long-awaited vengeance when he goes one-on-one with Bray Wyatt inside a “Ring of Fire.”

Since he was dismantled in The Wyatt Family’s devastatingly memorable unveiling — which resulted in a visit to the local trauma center and kept him out of the All-Stars Money in the Bank Ladder Match at last month’s pay-per-view — Kane has clearly been the focus of the unsettling trio’s fury. Wyatt, along with his vicious sycophants Erick Rowan and Luke Harper, addressed The Devil’s Favorite Demon in between pulverizing R-Truth, Justin Gabriel and 3MB in recent weeks.

The Wyatt Family then again assaulted Kane when The Big Red Machine made his return from injury on the July 29 episode of Raw. Although Kane fought back fiercely, they once again left him downed, and the treacherous trio followed the mauling with a repetition of Wyatt’s ominous, foreboding message to the former WWE Champion: "Follow the buzzards."

Although it’s unclear exactly what the sermonizing Wyatt meant, it’s apparent the buzzards’ trail is now leading to a massive collision between the deranged newcomer and Kane at The Biggest Party of the Summer. And the much-anticipated battle – which marks Wyatt’s first match in WWE and Kane’s 11th SummerSlam appearance – promises fireworks – or, more appropriately, hellfire.

Few Superstars have the physical ability to contend with a 7-foot tall, 300-pound-plus behemoth, let alone one as experienced and decorated as Kane. Wyatt, however, is nearly 300 lbs. in his own right and has shown in his time at NXT that along with his remarkable power, he has the agility and athleticism of a man half his size.

Then, there are always the massive and ruthless Rowan and Harper waiting in the wings. If Kane is able to deal with the imposing Wyatt, as he has with many of WWE’s greatest Superstars over his storied career, he will likely still have that dangerous and passionately devoted duo to contend with.

Will Kane get fiery vengeance on his puzzling pursuers? Or, will “The Eater of Worlds” and his followers once again leave The Big Red Monster in a heap? Find out on Sunday, Aug. 18, when SummerSlam airs live on pay-per-view.

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Dolph Ziggler & Kaitlyn vs. Big E Langston & Divas Champion AJ Lee

Two of WWE’s most compelling and personal rivalries will be wrapped into one truly intriguing — albeit unorthodox — package when Dolph Ziggler & Kaitlyn take on Big E Langston & Divas Champion AJ Lee in a Mixed Tag Team Match at SummerSlam. With heartbreak, betrayal and deceit being just a few of the underlying themes at play in this messy composite of mentors and protégés, ex-best friends and, yes, even ex-lovers, there is no telling how these four volatile elements will combine when the bell rings on Aug. 18.

Barely two months removed from his memorable, if fleeting, World Heavyweight Championship reign, Ziggler finds himself still entangled in the web of his ex-squeeze AJ. Not only has WWE’s “Black Widow” publicly vandalized The Showoff’s property since their breakup, but the vindictive vixen has also enlisted Big E Langston to do her bidding.

Once Ziggler’s reliable “heavy,” the scary-strong Langston, a longtime associate of the Divas Champion, has shown no qualms about pouncing on The Showoff. Nor did he express any reluctance to go along with AJ’s intricate catfishing scheme perpetrated against Kaitlyn months ago.

That humiliating memory is undoubtedly fresh in the mind of “The Hybrid Diva.” Fresher yet is the memory of Kaitlyn’s recent Divas Title Match against Lee on SmackDown. Although Kaitlyn appeared one Spear away from recapturing the butterfly-emblazoned title, an unexpected intrusion by Layla turned the tides in that championship duel, which Kaitlyn ultimately lost. Could Layla’s newfound collusion with AJ again rear its head during the Mixed Tag Team Match?

At SummerSlam, the plotting, head games and sneak attacks will all fall to the periphery as four of WWE’s most dynamic athletes meet head-on in this deeply personal matchup. To witness the sparks fly, be sure to tune in to SummerSlam when it airs on pay-per-view on Sunday, Aug. 18, at 8 ET/5 PT.

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Cody Rhodes vs. Damien Sandow

True friends will always be there no matter what, looking out for each other and offering support whenever it is needed. Of course, every so often, a friend will also tip over a ladder to cost his cohort a chance at the World Heavyweight Title, leading his fallen compadre to turn around and throw that World Title opportunity into the Gulf of Mexico.

As pie-in-the-sky as all that might sound, it’s no longer just an intellectual exercise. For, following the complete implosion of Team Rhodes Scholars, Cody Rhodes and Damien Sandow are gearing up to rip each other apart at SummerSlam.

It all began when – after spending months professing their friendship– the two Superstars entered the World Heavyweight Title Contract Money in the Bank Ladder Match. And when it appeared like Rhodes would rise above to claim the contract in the final moments of the every-man-for-himself showdown, Sandow chose to send his former friend crashing back to reality before grabbing the briefcase himself.

Though Rhodes attacked Sandow on Raw the following evening, The Intellectual Savor of the Masses attempted to “take the high road” by naming The Essence of Mustachioed Magnificence his “Protector of the Case” – a gesture that ultimately led Mr. Money in the Bank to learn what his coveted briefcase tasted like. Then, the following week as Sandow battled Randy Orton, a smiling Rhodes “borrowed” his old chum’s esteemed World Title contract and threw the case into the Gulf of Mexico!

While the “son of a son of a plumber” would claim that he took this controversial course of action, not because of Sandow’s treachery at Money in the Bank, but because he was simply sick of being talked down to, that didn’t stop Sandow from striking back with a brutal backstage attack.

Now, as the two competitors look to beat the heat, and each other, at The Biggest Party of the Summer, the WWE Universe had better prepare itself for one wild ride. Don’t miss all the action of SummerSlam, Sunday, Aug. 18, only on pay-per-view!

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Natalya vs. Brie Bella

They say life imitates art, so what to make of this SummerSlam grudge match between two of WWE’s longest-tenured Divas, and the rivalry between them that has stemmed from, of all things, their dueling presence on the nation’s hottest new reality show?

It’s no secret that The Bella Twins harbor a fondness for bullying Natalya, labeling her as the Divas division’s resident “ugly duckling” and dismissing her contributions as the de facto mentor to the newbies, Eva Marie and JoJo on E!’s “Total Divas.” Ever since the show’s record-setting premiere two weeks ago, the hostility has only increased, and now Natalya (flanked by The Funkadactyls) and Brie (alongside Nikki Bella & Eva Marie) will meet in a rematch at the summer classic to settle the score.

Whereas “Total Divas” has shown Brie’s home life to be a relatively sweet, loving affair, the warm and fuzzy side of the Bella twin has not translated remotely to the ring. There, she’s been as vindictive as ever in her weeks-long attempt to psychologically destroy the “Queen of Harts” and establish herself as the division’s most viable, visible personality. She’s defeated Natalya with her sister’s help, provoked her into physicality backstage and exploited the former Divas Champion’s supposed insecurity at every turn to knock her off the pedestal she has earned for herself. What Brie may not have counted on is that Natalya, raised by and around some of the most decorated competitors in sports-entertainment history, does all her talking inside the ring.

So, instead of cheap-shot slaps, there will be closed-fist punches. Instead of kazoo quacking, there will be jaw-rattling kicks.

There will be hell to pay when these two stars of the screen and ring clash under the bright lights of the Staples Center. And, as always, the cameras will be watching.

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United States Champion Dean Ambrose vs. Rob Van Dam (Kickoff Match)

The Biggest Party of the Summer just got even bigger, as United States Champion Dean Ambrose will face Rob Van Dam on the free hour-long SummerSlam Kickoff, streaming live this Sunday at 7 ET/4 PT.

Before SummerSlam gets under way on pay-per-view, watch The Shield’s unpredictable Ambrose defend his championship gold against the innovative RVD, who won the opportunity by claiming victory in a 20-man Battle Royal on Raw to determine the No. 1 contender.

On the subsequent edition of SmackDown, Big Show and Mark Henry — who helped RVD fend off The Shield Monday night — made it very clear that the high-flying No. 1 contender has nothing to worry about during his Kickoff match, hinting that the likely presence of The Shield’s Roman Reigns & Seth Rollins could be neutralized.

In addition to that hotly anticipated, first-time showdown, the SummerSlam Kickoff will feature exclusive interviews and expert analysis from a panel of WWE Superstars, Divas and Legends, including Shawn Michaels. Plus, for the first time ever, the Kickoff event will be available on a number of platforms in Spanish.

Will Ambrose be able to avoid Van Dam’s nimble feet and stunning Five-Star Frog Splash en route to retaining the U.S. Championship? Or, will RVD fly past the less experienced, but no less volatile, Ambrose and score his first United States Championship?

Find out when the SummerSlam Kickoff streams live this Sunday, Aug. 18, at 7 ET/4 PT on WWE.com, the WWE App, YouTube, Facebook, Yahoo!, Samsung SMART TVs, Sony PlayStation 3, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest and Pheed!

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