There can be no denying that WWE is on a roll right now. The recent Money in the Bank pay-per-view garnered plenty of attention thanks to a number of returns, the first of those being John Cena. The 16-time world champion announced that he would be retiring from in-ring action at the end of 2025 and that news made the headlines of several prominent media outlets. But while the Leader of the Cenation is a bonafide box office star, he isn't embroiled in any major feuds at the moment, something that will surely change in the coming months.
However, WWE does have plenty of red-hot storylines playing out at present. As such, there are several blockbuster matches set to take place throughout the summer and the fall. Here are the three biggest matches that professional wrestling fans can expect to see in the not-too-distant future.
Roman Reigns vs Solo Sikoa
Roman Reigns has ruled over WWE with an iron fist since turning heel in the summer of 2020, reshaping the company's landscape with his record-breaking reigns as the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion. His persona as the head of the table has not only garnered immense respect but also struck fear within the WWE universe. Solo Sikoa, the younger brother of The Usos and a real-life cousin of Reigns became a key cog in the Bloodline faction, but he has since taken matters into his own hands.
Since Reigns dropped the title to Rhodes at WrestleMania, Sikoa has taken complete control of the Bloodline. He has ousted long-time members Paul Heyman and Jimmy Uso, instead replacing them with family member Jacob Fatu as well as former New Japan Tag Team Champions Tanga Loa and Tama Tonga. In a recent episode of SmackDown, Solo declared that if the now-former Tribal Chief wants his throne back, he will have to take it from him.
So what has that done to the odds? Websites allowing one to bet in Canada had made Sikoa's new-look Bloodline a -400 favorite for their clash at Money in the Bank, and they duly lived up to the billing, winning after a barnstorming affair. But now, the gauntlet has been laid down to Reigns, and you can expect him to return soon and immediately gun for his former enforcer.
Drew McIntyre vs CM Punk
No feud in the world of wrestling has more fuel on the fire than the one between Drew McIntyre and CM Punk. When the Scottish Warrior began reveling in Punk's untimely injury at the Royal Rumble, things became personal. The Second City Saint vowed that he would never let McIntyre win a world championship again and as of right now, he has lived up to his promise. Punk has so far cost his archrival the title not once, not twice, but three times.
The first of those came at WrestleMania when McIntyre became champion for all of five minutes before Punk viciously beat him down, allowing Damian Priest to cash in his Money in the Bank contract and steal the title. McIntyre faced off with Priest once more in the former's hometown of Glasgow, Scotland, but once again, Punk was there to cost him the gold. Finally, things came to a head at the recent event in Toronto, with Punk once again costing McIntyre the victory.
In recent months, McIntyre has solidified his position as a top-tier antagonist, with his vicious tongue cutting his opponents down to size before his awe-inspiring physique finishes the job. However, he may have bitten off more than he can handle in the form of former AEW star Punk, and their feud has reached a fever pitch even though they haven't yet had an official one-on-one match against each other. The duo is expected to face off at SummerSlam, and expect the match to close the show in Cleveland, despite the fact that no title will be on the line.
Seth Rollins vs CM Punk
The man that CM Punk was scheduled to face at WrestleMania before his untimely injury three months prior was then World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins. The pair have had a very real feud since the Chicago-born Punk left WWE a decade ago. Punk proceeded to bash the company at every given opportunity during the ten years he was away, something that Rollins took exception to, defending his employer and branding Punk a "cancer."
The pair's rivalry had been put on the back burner since 'Mania, with both men recovering from injury. However, Punk's sporadic appearances have centered around McIntyre, rather than former rival Rollins. But the two crossed paths once more at Money in the Bank, as Punk inadvertently cost Rollins the title thanks to his assault on the Scottish Warrior. Rollins made his feelings clear on the following episode of Monday Night Raw, stating that he was on the hunt for Punk and as soon as the Second City Saint was cleared to return to in-ring action, Rollins would be waiting to put him back on the shelf.
A feud between the two is now a mouthwatering prospect. Heading into WrestleMania XL, fans were arguably more excited for a potential clash between Rollins and Punk than they were for the ultimate headliner between Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes. Only one of those penned matches actually took place and now fans are salivating at the prospect of seeing the second.
0 comments: