8 Last-Minute WWE Battleground 2016 Rumors You Need To Know
3. A Slow Start For Randy Orton Vs. Brock Lesnar?
WWE’s main event scene has been plagued with misfortune lately. First was the Roman Reigns Wellness violation and subsequent damage done to his long-awaited triple threat match with Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins, and then came Brock Lesnar’s failed drug test.
While it looks unlikely that WWE will suspend Lesnar for violating USADA’s anti-doping policies in the lead-up to his UFC 200 victory over Mark Hunt, they’ve been dealt a serious blow. Brock emerged from his MMA return with incredible momentum: his public interest level was at an all-time high, and until the test, he was reportedly set to be picked first overall in the 2016 WWE Draft.
Instead, Lesnar fell to eighth in the overall pecking order, and while it’s extremely unlikely that his SummerSlam match with Randy Orton will be cancelled, it has been irreparably damaged. Lesnar’s dented reputation will likely reduce Orton vs. Lesnar to a mere exhibition contest with very little build, and that’s a huge shame.
Lesnar was pulled from his scheduled appearance on this week’s SmackDown Live, and isn’t scheduled to appear again until SummerSlam. With Paul Heyman’s WWE contract reportedly expiring this week, don’t expect much to materialise from Randy Orton’s return this weekend. WWE look all but set go-in cold on what should be one of summer’s biggest matches.