10 Losses That Must Happen At WWE SummerSlam 2016
1. Randy Orton
Of all the feuds WWE have built for SummerSlam, their work with Randy Orton vs. Brock Lesnar might be their most impressive.
It’s not that this is the night’s most anticipated match-up, but WWE faced a real disaster with Lesnar’s two post-UFC 200 drug test failures. Running afoul of USADA dealt a huge PR blow to both Lesnar and the company, but WWE have done an excellent job in sidestepping that negativity and energising the feud with Orton and Lesnar’s Raw/SmackDown invasions.
The match feels as fresh and exciting as it ever has, and while it likely won’t be as athletically thrilling as Balor vs. Rollins, Orton and Lesnar are two of the biggest stars of the past few decades. This is a billboard-topping showdown, and one that’s set to deliver.
Orton has been made to look strong throughout the feud, particularly in making the first strike against Lesnar on Raw a couple of weeks ago. That said, while he’d gain immensely from topping the Beast Incarnate, an Orton victory would do immeasurably damage to Brock’s monstrous presence, and that’s why The Viper has to lose.
There’s no shame in losing to Lesnar, who’s always portrayed as the company’s most dominant force, and Orton will lose nothing with a spirited performance against The Beast. Lesnar has always looked likely to win this one, and while the booking and Brock’s USADA run-ins have raised some doubts, there’s little chance of Orton walking away the victor at SummerSlam.