Big Change To WWE’s SummerSlam Main Event Plans?

There’s been a change to WWE’s plans for the main event of SummerSlam and it may have big implications for WrestleMania 34 next April.

Earlier this year, prior to WrestleMania 33, the Wrestling Observer reported that WWE had Roman Reigns vs. Brock Lesnar earmarked for next year’s Mania from New Orleans. It’s a matchup that got a lukewarm reaction from fans online once the word got out, despite Lesnar remaining a huge draw and the backlash against Reigns subsiding (somewhat).

The original plan for SummerSlam was Brock Lesnar vs. Braun Strowman in the main event. Then Roman Reigns started teasing news regarding his role at SummerSlam. He announced that he is next #1 contender to the Universal Championship and will main event SummerSlam against the winner of Lesnar vs. Samoa Joe, which takes place at Great Balls of Fire.

Reigns in the main event of SummerSlam presented a number of interesting scenarios. Would WWE jump into Reigns-Lesnar 8 months earlier than expected? Could Samoa Joe dethrone Brock Lesnar in the Beast’s first title defense, setting up Reigns vs. Joe at SummerSlam? What about Strowman?

According to Dave Meltzer in this week’s Observer, Braun Strowman has been bumped and the new main event for SummerSlam is scheduled to be Brock Lesnar vs. Roman Reigns.

With WWE going with Lesnar vs. Reigns this soon, it’s unlikely that this match will headline WrestleMania as well. We’ll see how things shake out for Samoa Joe and Braun Strowman at SummerSlam, but both have been getting over more than almost anybody expected.