MAJOR WWE SummerSlam Developments Unfold On Raw
Expected match OFF, unexpected match ON at WWE SummerSlam...
Changes to the WWE SummerSlam card were made on last night's edition of WWE Raw - which was also notable for what did not get added to Saturday's Premium Live Event.
Firstly, as expected, Ronda Rousey Vs. Shayna Baszler will now be contested under 'MMA Rules', which seems ambitious. The anticipated Fight Pit match isn't happening, nor will WWE turn back time and dust off the fondly-remembered Lion's Den structure. Instead, Ronda and Shayna will work an emulated MMA-style match, which will prove to be a challenge in front of fans who have not been conditioned to grasp the intricate rhythms of the genre. It's a bold but refreshing move; any deviation from the in-house style is surely worth the experiment.
Moreover, the expected Becky Lynch Vs. Trish Stratus blow-off match will not take place on Saturday. If it has been moved - i.e. if it was on the internal card for Saturday to begin with - it has been moved to the August 14 Raw, which emanates from Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada. The plan all along, or an acknowledgment of a misfire of a programme?
Lastly, despite reports that circulated a couple of months ago, at time of writing, no stipulation has been added to the Brock Lesnar Vs. Cody Rhodes rubber match. If the stip was going to be something fans hadn't seen for a long time, it seems like it will take a little while yet.