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WWE has added Brock Lesnar to the SmackDown Live event at the Joe Louis Arena. The event, which takes place on July 29th, will feature Jinder Mahal, AJ Styles, Randy Orton, Bray Wyatt, Dean Ambrose, Dolph Ziggler, The Miz, Baron Corbin, Becky Lynch, Alexa Bliss, Apollo Crews, American Alpha and The Usos.
This will be the final event at the Joe Louis Arena. The venue opened in 1979 and will be torn down and replaced with the Little Ceasars Arena.
Rumours have surfaced this week that Kurt Angle’s current storyline is going to result in a match-up between Kurt Angle and Triple H somewhere down the line.
While from a storyline point of view, this definitely makes the most sense, the rumour has been met with a mixed response from the WWE audience. Fans have dreamed of an Angle return for years and a match with Triple H was never near the top of their wish-list.
Angle’s return to the ring is really a case of if and not when, but fans would much rather see him do battle with a younger star or a more active one at the very least. With that in mind, let’s take a look at 5 potential opponents for Kurt Angle who would be a better option than Triple H.
Okay, so I know that Brock is no spring chicken himself these days and that this match has been seen plenty of times before in the WWE. The last time these two wrestled, though, things were very different. Both stars have changed a lot since their last match and the two could no doubt produce something just as special as their old matches but still manage to add something new and exciting to it.
The two also share an amazing chemistry in the ring, the kind that only really comes around once in a generation. Having the two square off would also prove to be box office gold for the company, with both men being household names around the world.
In terms of setting this up- a feud between a GM desperate to keep his job, and a champion who just refuses to perform really shouldn’t be too difficult to get off the ground- add in the pair’s history and this one pretty much writes itself.
Ross opens today’s show by sending his best wishes to his friend Harley Race. Race suffered a fall in his home which resulted in multiple broken bones in both of his legs. Ross wishes Race a speedy recovery.
Ross really enjoyed the pull apart between Samoa Joe and Brock Lesnar on this week’s episode of Monday Night RAW. He points out that to his knowledge, Samoa Joe is the only Superstar to ever block Lesnar’s double leg takedown. He suspects that this will become a focal point of their match at Great Ball of Fire later this month.
He says that he has no problem admitting that he has been politicking to call this match, because it’s going to be a great bout in his opinion. He adds that if your profession is announcing professional wrestling matches, this is the type of match that you absolutely long for.
Ross welcomes Adam Cole to the show.
Ross mentions that Cole’s recent match against Christopher Daniels was a great piece of work. They took him on an emotional journey, and that’s the sign of a great match. Cole says that particular match holds a special place in his heart because he looked up to and respected Daniels for an awfully long time, so it was his pleasure to be able to tell that kind of story with Daniels.
Braun Strowman has been cleared to return to action after suffering an elbow injury last month.
PWInsider reports that Strowman was cleared to return about a week ago. The belief is that he will return to television as soon as creative can fit him back into a storyline.
As previously reported, the “six months” recovery time that WWE reported was a work to make Strowman’s quick return look more impressive. Strowman was originally planned to face Brock Lesnar at the upcoming Great Balls of Fire event, but that match may be taking place at SummerSlam instead. We will keep you updated.
As seen at Extreme Rules last Sunday, Samoa Joe won the fatal 5-way match against Seth Rollins, Finn Balor, Roman Reigns and Bray Wyatt to earn a shot at Brock Lesnar’s WWE Universal Championship title.
The match is scheduled to take place between Joe and Lesnar at the July 9th Great Balls of Fire event. What’s interesting about the match is it’s date, as it is exactly one year to the day after Lesnar returned to the UFC and controversially defeated Samoan knockout artic Mark Hunt at UFC 200.
Unless plans change, Lesnar is expected to go over Joe at the event and move on to a new challenger at the next pay-per-view event.
wWE heads to Lafayette, LA at the Cajundome for tonight’s episode of RAW. Here are the focus points for the show:
Brock Lesnar will be appearing on the show to confront Samoa Joe.
Sheamus and Cesaro defend the RAW Tag Team Championships against The Hardy Boyz.
Build for the Nia Jax – Alexa Bliss feud.
Who is attacking Enzo Amore and Big Cass?
Will Dean Ambrose get his revenge on The Miz?
Adding matches to the Great Balls of Fire event.
Check back here at 8PM ET for our live play-by-play coverage of the event.
The following card is rumored for the upcoming July 9th WWE Great Balls of Fire event:
WWE Universal Championship (confirmed)
Brock Lesnar (c) vs. Samoa Joe
RAW Tag-Team Championship
Shesaro (c) vs. The Hardyz
Intercontinental Championship
The Miz (c) vs. Dean Ambrose
RAW Women’s Championship
Alexa Bliss (c) vs. Nia Jax
Seth Rollins vs. Bray Wyatt
Goldust vs. R-Truth
With the event being 3 hours long and with the pre-show, it is very possible that they add one or two more under card matches.
WWE announced that Sheamus and Cesaro will defend their RAW tag team championships against The Hardy Boyz on Monday’s episode of RAW. WWE wrote the following regarding the match:
Just one week after losing the Raw Tag Team Championship in a brutal Steel Cage Match at WWE Extreme Rules, The Hardy Boyz invoke their rematch clause against new titleholders Cesaro & Sheamus this Monday night, live on Raw.
Last Monday, The Celtic Warrior boasted that Matt & Jeff were “sitting at home, licking their wounds — Jeff gluing in his false tooth — just dreaming about their rematch.” This Monday night, the dream becomes a reality much sooner than the champions likely anticipated.
Can The Hardy Boyz reclaim the titles they won during their triumphant return at WrestleMania, or will Cesaro & Sheamus continue to raise the figurative bar in Team Red’s tandem division?
Brock Lesnar has also been announced to return to the show to address Samoa Joe’s attack on Paul Heyman.
