10 Positives Heading Into WWE SummerSlam 2016

It’s an uncanny knack the WWE’s got; year after year, they seem to be experts in disappointing the audience in the lead-up to its major pay-per-views.

Whether it’s due to too many part-time stars, predictable booking, or so-and-so not getting the push he deserves, we’ve heard all kinds of complaints being levelled at the company, and obviously it’s them who are the problem here, rather than us upstanding fans. Right?

In all seriousness, though, while we’re often lamenting the WWE’s methods, heading into this year’s SummerSlam, we’ve got an awful lot to be thankful for.

At the time of writing, there are 11 contests currently booked for the show. That includes six separate Championship bouts—each of which has a meaningful storyline behind it—a couple of main event grudge matches, and a strong undercard featuring an instalment from a rare Best of Seven Series.

But if you’re still feeling sceptical as the show draws close, here’s a selection of ten key positives to savour as we head into SummerSlam.

Amongst those complaints that I mentioned earlier, another criticism often cited is that the company has failed to create new stars. But in the build-up to this year’s SummerSlam, at least, they’ve seemingly been seeking to resolve that.

Four names on the current card are completely new to the main roster, and furthermore, two of them are being featured in very prominent title matches.

We’ve got Alexa Bliss and Carmella squaring off on opposing teams in a six-woman Tag Team bout, as well as Apollo Crews challenging the Miz for the Intercontinental Championship. And of course, over on Raw, the main event title feud will see Finn Balor face Seth Rollins to become the inaugural Universal Champion. Not a bad match in which to score your first post-NXT gig.

Long story short; there’s plenty of new blood coming through, and the product is all the better for it.

Compare that to last year—when your main event spots were filled by the Undertaker and Brock Lesnar, while title shots were afforded to the Big Show and John Cena—and the fresh blood we’ve seen on display this year certainly bodes well for the future.