WWE Predictions 2017: Finn Balor Or Braun Strowman Could Face Brock Lesnar In SummerSlam Match

Brock Lesnar will defend his WWE Universal Championship for the first time when he faces Samoa Joe at Great Balls of Fire on July 9. The former UFC heavyweight champion is expected to retain his belt and defend it in the main event of SummerSlam 2017.

A handful of members of the “Monday Night Raw” roster could potentially challenge Lesnar at WWE’s biggest remaining show of the year, but two stand out as possible challengers. Braun Strowman or Finn Balor will probably have a match with Lesnar on Aug. 20 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

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Seth Rollins might get his shot at Lesnar soon enough, potentially at Survivor Series or Royal Rumble. However, he’s entering into a feud with Bray Wyatt, and the two superstars are likely to square off against one another at SummerSlam.

That leaves both Strowman and Balor, both of whom have their eyes on Lesnar. Strowman was expected to get a title shot after beating Roman Reigns at Payback, but an injury derailed his championship hopes, at least for the moment. Balor has still never gotten his one-on-one rematch for the WWE Universal Championship since an injury forced him to relinquish the belt a night after SummerSlam 2016.

The final decision on Lesnar’s SummerSlam opponent might depend on the health of Strowman. The big man was arguably the hottest thing going in WWE before he was put on the shelf with elbow surgery, and he was likely penciled in to take on Lesnar at either SummerSlam or Great Balls of Fire.

There are conflicting reports regarding Strowman’s return. PWInsider reported earlier this week that Strowman has been medically cleared to wrestle, while Ryan Satin of Pro Wrestling Sheet said Strowman was close, but not ready.

Strowman could re-insert himself into the storyline with Lesnar by interfering in the match at Great Balls of Fire. It’s also possible that Strowman won’t appear on “Monday Night Raw” again until after SummerSlam.

If Strowman isn’t going to be the guy that faces Lesnar at SummerSlam, then Balor makes the most sense. WWE has pushed Balor more than almost any other babyface since he was called up to the main roster last year, and a match between himself and Lesnar is one of the most intriguing matches that WWE can make.

It looked like Balor was going to become the No.1 contender to the WWE Universal Championship at Extreme Rules when he hit the Coup de Grace on Reigns in a fatal-5-way. Before Balor could get the pinfall, Joe swooped in and locked the Coquina Clutch on the former champ, winning the match and a title shot.

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Both Strowman and Balor will probably get their shot at Lesnar at some point within the next few months, but don’t expect either wrestler to win the belt. That honor is likely being reserved for Reigns, who is expected to headline WrestleMania 34 in New Orleans with a match against Lesnar for the WWE Universal Championship.

Plans can always change, depending on injuries and fan reactions. Reigns was expected to defeat Lesnar in the main event of WrestleMania 31, but Rollins cashed in his Money in the Bank briefcase, turning it into a triple threat match and winning the WWE Championship.