10 Fascinating WWE SummerSlam 2014 Facts
1. Lesnar/Cena Rematch Was Rushed Into Night Of Champions, Due To The Network
After Cena took what the late, great Patrice O'Neal might call "a historic ass-whooping", you'd think the big rematch for the gold would be held off for a little bit. You know, so Cena could get the feeling back in his neck, shoulders, back, arms, and legs.
Instead, WWE set up the rematch for Night of Champions five weeks later. Inarguably, Lesnar and Cena were the two biggest active stars at that point, and the reasoning for rushing into the sequel had to do with WWE Network.
According to The Wrestling Observer, the initial six-month subscriptions to the Network were due to expire on September 2, and WWE (before the days of offering free trial months and whatnot) needed a big hook to get fans to re-up once more. Lesnar/Cena was their best shot at enticing fans to stick around, instead of letting the subs lapse.