SummerSlam 2017: WWE event preview, TV information, rundown

WWE is bringing SummerSlam back to Brooklyn, N.Y., for its second biggest show of the year.

WHEN: The four-hour pay-per-view begins at 7 p.m. ET on Sunday, Aug. 20, with the kickoff show set to begin at 5.

HOW TO WATCH: SummerSlam can be seen on WWE Network.

WHERE: Barclays Center, Brooklyn, N.Y. WWE also has announced that SummerSlam weekend will return to Brooklyn for a fourth consecutive year in 2018.

MORE: NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn III airs Saturday at 8 p.m. ET on WWE Network with Bobby Roode defending the NXT title against Drew McIntyre in the main event. After SummerSlam, the WWE Network will feature a bracketology special for the Mae Young Classic, the upcoming women’s tournament that features 32 competitors from around the world. The first four hourlong episodes of the tournament will be available on WWE Network beginning Aug. 28.

MORE WWE:

THE RUNDOWN

KICKOFF SHOW

WWE Cruiserweight championship, Akira Tozawa defends against Neville. In a surprise, Tozawa won the title from Neville on Monday’s RAW before the two were scheduled to meet at SummerSlam. Neville, who won the title in January, has been the one true star as WWE has tried to to get the cruiserweight division to gain traction with the fans.

Smackdown Tag Team championship, The New Day defends against The Usos. Odd that this match ends up on the Kickoff Show, but that also might allow for more time with Kickoff Show extended to two hours. It also is unique that WWE revealed in advance which two members of The New Day would be competing.

Six-man tag team match, Matt and Jeff Hardy and Jason Jordan against The Miz, Bo Dallas and Curtis Axel. A shoulder injury to Scott Dawson of The Revival left the Hardys without a SummerSlam opponent. A singles match between Jordan and The Miz on RAW marred by interference from Dallas and Axel led to a six-man match when the Hardys hit the ring. This is a rematch of that bout. This could be Jordan’s opportunity to shine and potentially mean an Intercontinental title match against The Miz.

MAIN SHOW

Big Show vs. Big Cass. It’s a battle of the “Bigs,” but Cass is on the ascent after breaking up with longtime partner Enzo Amore. Cass, with help from Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson, “broke” Big Show’s hand on RAW and that injury provides an opening for WWE to continue to highlight Cass’ vicious side. A win also will give Cass the bragging rights among big men. Amore will be suspended above the ring in a shark cage. The shark cage was a rarely used stipulation that has become in vogue with WWE as this will be its third use this year.

Randy Orton vs. Rusev. The reasoning behind this match is a bit of a stretch. But with John Cena expected to move to RAW, 13-time former champion Orton will be needed to fill a bigger role on Smackdown. He is coming off a number of pay-per-view losses, so this is his chance to turn the tide.

Smackdown Women’s Championship, Naomi defends against Natalya. This seemed like an obvious spot for a Naomi victory and then Carmella cashing in the Money In The Bank briefcase. But with Baron Corbin cashing in his briefcase on Smackdown this week, it’s hard to see WWE wanting neither briefcase in play so quickly. Natalya hasn’t held a title since 2010 and her stalwart work in the ring and behind the scenes deserves to be rewarded. Rematches between Natalya and either Charlotte Flair or Becky Lynch would be great.

Baron Corbin vs. John Cena. Cena is expected to head to RAW so WWE could build back up Corbin win a victory. If WWE still believes in Corbin – and that is in question after the usage of the Money in the Bank contract was squandered – he needs to win here. If it doesn’t, Cena is still Cena and he gets the victory. Word is Cena’s fiancee, Nikki Bella, who has not been on WWE programming since WrestleMania, could be at ringside with sister Brie.

Finn Balor vs. Bray Wyatt. So much for a surprise return for “The Demon.” After getting doused with red goop Monday night on RAW, Balor will unleash his own demon character for the first time since his return from injury. Balor has largely been in limbo since coming back. Wyatt has had the advantage in this feud thus far. The return of the demon doesn’t mean an obvious victory for Balor, but …

RAW Tag Team championship, Sheamus and Cesaro defend against Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose. Based on the crowd reaction, the fans really, really wanted a Shield reunion. And now they have it. As good as Sheamus and Cesaro have been, the time is right for Rollins and Ambrose, especially since the Hardys are the only other fan favorite tag team on the RAW roster.

RAW Women’s championship, Alexa Bliss defends against Sasha Banks. This gets interesting when you consider that the match was supposed to be Bliss against Bayley. A shoulder injury sidelined Bayley and Banks won a No. 1 contender’s match against Nia Jax. That could open the door for Banks to get a more prominent title run. She is a three-time champion, but she and Charlotte flipped the belt several times in a short period of time. But there is argument to made that Bliss has been as good as anyone on either roster of late and more time with the title would only serve her well.

 United States championship, A.J. Styles defends against Kevin Owens. Styles and Owens have a history of show-stealing matches; the new dynamic here is that Shane McMahon serves as special referee. Well, Styles and McMahon worked each other at WrestleMania. Does this set the stage for Owens and McMahon at some point? After switching the title a few times, Styles should get a longer run. Owens has proved he can do virtually anything; he doesn’t need a championship.

WWE championship, Jinder Mahal defends against Shinsuke Nakamura. Many expected Cena in this spot – even Mahal had expressed an interest in facing the 16-time champion at SummerSlam to help legitimize his surprise run to the championship. This is Mahal's first match as champion on one of the WWE's crown jewels — it's actually his first SummerSlam. A loss would invalidate much of what he's accomplished in being elevated over the last few months. The charismatic Nakamura doesn't need the title, although he figures to get it at some point. He came up to the main roster with amazingly high expectations and some fans have been disappointed in the way he's been used. A performance in line with those high standard might be good enough this time around.

Universal championship, Fatal Four-Way, Brock Lesnar defends against Braun Strowman, Roman Reigns and Samoa Joe. The good news is WWE will be just fine with any of them winning and a compelling argument can be made for each. A stipulation has been added that Lesnar and advocate Paul Heyman say they will leave WWE if Lesnar loses, citing the match is unfair to the champion. Lesnar does not have to lose to lose the belt. That stipulation plays into the furor of a possible Lesnar return to UFC to face Jon Jones. Lesnar isn’t going anywhere until WrestleMania in April, but could he lose and move to Smackdown? We have seen Lesnar have one-on-one matches with Joe and with Reigns. We have yet to see one against Strowman – who keeps getting better and better. Lesnar could retain here and then meet Strowman next month at the No Mercy pay-per-view.