John Cena's SummerSlam Opponent Revealed

John Cena's clean loss to Shinsuke Nakamura on SmackDown may have surprised many fans. How could [...]

John Cena's clean loss to Shinsuke Nakamura on SmackDown may have surprised many fans. How could WWE pass up the opportunity of having John Cena challenge Jinder Mahal for his record breaking 17th championship at their second biggest pay-per-view of the year? Clearly, WWE is staving off that big moment in favor of other ideas.

Like a different SummerSlam opponent.

According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, John Cena will be entering a SummerSlam feud with the Lone Wolf, Baron Corbin. For those who actually attended Smackdown in Cleveland, this doesn't come as much of a surprise.

After Nakamura pinned Cena, Corbin attacked the celebrating King of Strong Style. Nakamura would fight him off and Cena would then AA him through an announce table. This bit happened after SmackDown went off air but serves as a dead give-a-way that Cena and Corbin will beef through August.

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(Photo: WWE)

Even further, the original idea was for Corbin to cost Cena the match and future title opportunity, thusly giving him a true incentive for revenge. Instead, WWE chose to give Nakamura the clean victory.

There are a few points worth analyzing here. First, WWE giving Nakamura a flawless victory over the biggest name in wrestling may, in fact, signify that they are willing to strap the proverbial rocket to the King of Strong style. Rumors have Jinder Mahl's championship run to have been a flop not just in America but in India as well. Whoops.

For Corbin, a feud with Cena puts him under the brightest lights yet and makes another plot point in his rise. As the Current Mr. Money in the Bank, Corbin has been pegged by WWE officials as some one of future importance.

And finally, Cena. The 16x time champion finds himself in an odd place. We've been reporting that he will be leaving SmackDown for RAW the day after SummerSlam. WWE wants him on their Monday Night flag ship to help win the rating battle against Monday Night Football. With that said, can we expect him to win at SummerSlam? While he is entering the event as a lame duck doesn't help his odds, smart money says he'll still beat Corbin as Corbin may still choose to cash in his contract on either the RAW or SmackDown Champion.

Interesting times, indeed.

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