It has been noted that the WWE was hoping to use the summer to build Daniel Bryan up as an established WWE World Heavyweight Champion before ultimately losing the title to Brock Lesnar on Aug. 17 at SummerSlam, but Bryan's injury has clouded the picture for the foreseeable future.
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With Bryan on the shelf recovering from neck surgery he had last month and his timetable for a return unclear, the WWE title picture remains very much a mystery now. The WWE was hoping to use Lesnar's huge win over The Undertaker at WrestleMania where he ended The Streak as a way to springboard him to a WWE Championship reign at SummerSlam.
Lesnar may still get a title shot at SummerSlam, but right now the WWE title picture is murky as Stephanie McMahon and Bryan have engaged in a war of words over the last few weeks with the storyline revolving around Bryan being unwilling to forfeit his title.
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Wrestlingheadlines.com reports that the WWE wanted to do Lesnar vs. Bryan at SummerSlam, but it isn't officially penciled in because of the mystery behind when Bryan will in fact be able to return. The August pay-per-view was initially seen as a worst-case scenario return date for Bryan, now there may be some concern that he won't be back by then.
Sports World News reported on Monday that Cesaro is a favorite to win the Money in the Bank Ladder Match and earn a contract for the title at the June 29 pay-per-view, and new reports have indicated that Cesaro was involved in the original preliminary SummerSlam plans in a big way.
There was a plan discussed but not set in stone where Lesnar would go over Bryan at SummerSlam and Cesaro would cash in his briefcase and leave the Staples Center in Los Angeles as the champion. That plan is reportedly off of the table due to the uncertainty of Bryan's ailment. Lesnar is scheduled to work from SummerSlam through Night of Champions
There was also talk that the WWE would skip the contract being on the line and put the WWE Championship up for grabs itself in the ladder match later this month, but it seems as though the WWE will revert back to having the contract on the line as a way to play it out in storylines as they usually do.
Reports backstage indicate that Money in the Bank qualification matches will take place on RAW -- possibly starting at this week's edition -- where the winners will get a spot in the match. It's been said that five Superstars have already been chosen to partake in the match backstage while two spots remain vacant. Other than Cesaro, it is unknown who will be in the ladder match come June 29.
While the plans may be tabled for now due to Bryan's injury, it is likely that Lesnar and Cesaro will still have big roles to fill at SummerSlam.
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