WWE SUMMERSLAM: 17 August 2014

And while it has been announced that John Cena will defend his WWE world heavyweight title against a returning Brock Lesnar, there is still the rest of the card to fill out.

And while established stars like Chris Jericho and Sheamus are all likely to fill in some of the blanks as to who else could possibly be competing at the event, other Superstars could now be looking for that must-see moment that can carry them to greater glory in the future
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Some could be veterans who have simply never been able to make their mark. Others could be brand new to the WWE ranks.

WWE SUMMERSLAM PAY PER VIEW 17 August 2014 STAPLES CENTER LA

However, as all of these potential showstoppers wait impatiently to get their opportunity, so too do WWE fans around the globe anxiously wait to see who these performers will be and what kind of impact they will make.

Paige 

Given her quick attitude change on Raw, it is fair to say that Paige is no longer going to be the darling of the Divas division.

Her somewhat odd gimmick that she was playing for the past few weeks with Divas champion AJ Lee was seemingly just a clever ruse to get the champ to trust her, before she inevitably stuck the proverbial knife in her back.

Lee has never been one to go down without a fight, and you can bet that her retribution will be swift. However, she might have met her match with the talented young Brit.

By far one of the best technicians in the Divas ranks, Paige combines an intensity that could rival the best as well as a desperation that comes along with pursuing the Divas title. She has already tasted that type of glory once and is looking to do so again at the expense of Lee.

There has not been a true back-and-forth rivalry in the Divas division for quite some time and certainly not one that combines a duo the caliber of Lee and Paige.

As an already long-established draw, Lee is clearly the favorite. But no one should sleep on the former champion, as she has every tool necessary to win the title back at any time.

And unfortunately for Lee, Paige now has the mean streak that could end up being the intangible that she was missing to become the most dominant force in women's wrestling.

Jack Swagger

Jim Ross used to refer to Jack Swagger as a “blue-chipper,” and there is a reason for it.

As a former world champion, Swagger must be held to a certain higher standard that many other Superstars are not. However, in recent times, he has fallen short of being a main event player.

His current feud with Rusev could change that though.

Upon entering into his current storyline with the Russian superstar and his manager Lana, Swagger was mired in a seemingly inescapable rut. He was overshadowed in his partnership with Cesaro and at times looked somewhat lost in the ring.

So it stood to reason that he would quickly be dispatched by the intimidating newcomer as just another bump in the road to bigger and better things for Rusev. However, Swagger has looked fantastic in recent weeks, playing the part of patriot very well. Even his count-out loss to Rusev at Battleground did nothing to diminish his current momentum, instead allowing the newcomer to pick up another win without completely dismissing Swagger as a legitimate threat.

In the end, it is unlikely that Swagger with be the man to hand Rusev his first clean loss.

However, an impending showdown between the two at SummerSlam could do wonders for the former champion, perhaps changing the point of view of many who have thought ill of anything he has done in the past.

Cesaro

Credit: WWE.com 

At every pay-per-view, something huge is expected of Cesaro.

And while he has not exactly broken through in terms of being a top heel or babyface character, the wild expectations for him are not unwarranted.

The King of Swing has long been one of the most proficient Superstars in terms of technical ability and innovation. He nearly always steals the show with his deliberate and oppressive offensive maneuvers.

And while he may be able to set the world on fire in terms of his charisma, he has always been able to do the true storytelling with his wrestling ability, something very few performers can actually do in today’s professional wrestling world.

Take into account that he seems willing to do whatever The Authority requests of late, and Cesaro could be primed for a breakthrough performance on summer’s hottest stage.

Luke Harper

Credit: WWE.com 

When the Wyatt Family first came on the scene, everyone expected that Bray Wyatt would steal the show.

And while the charismatic leader has opened a lot of eyes and turned a lot of heads during his time in the company, his disciple Luke Harper has been the true revelation.

At 6’5” and nearly 300 pounds, Harper is able to do things that a man of his size should not be able to do. He has what seems to be a never-ending supply of energy, which allows him to keep up with smaller and much quicker opponents.

And while his partner Erick Rowan is certainly the more imposing of the duo, it is Harper who has taken the in-ring work of The Usos—who until fairly recently were a midcard tag team and even teetered on that precipice—and turn it into what many end up calling the match of the night.

And while it has been frustrating to create those types of moments and have nothing to show for it, it should only be a matter of time until Harper’s unbelievable performances lead to something greater, perhaps in the form of tag team gold at SummerSlam.

Or perhaps something even bigger.

Anything seems possible when you’re following the buzzards.

Seth Rollins

Rollins has the Money in the Bank briefcase, so he must be the next big thing, right?

Well, not exactly.

Anyone who thinks that the case is an automatic trip to the big time need only look at last year's winner, Damien Sandow, for an example of what winning that case can do for your career.

However, Rollins is not Sandow and is likely to be a huge presence going forward. As one of the main parts of a grand scheme by The Authority that is not exactly evident to the WWE Universe, Rollins holds the key to castle at the moment.

Yes, Dean Ambrose always seems to be lurking in the shadows, ready to take Rollins down every time that he tries to cash in, but in the end, he may not always be successful.

Plus, with the news that Brock Lesnar is to be the SummerSlam opponent of WWE world heavyweight champion John Cena, Rollins finds himself in a very actionable position.

If he is able to get by Ambrose in what seems to be a surefire showdown that night, Rollins will be waiting in the wings to pick the scraps of whichever man, Lesnar or Cena, emerges victorious from their battle.

And a man who can cash in on that opportunity at any time will be a must-watch individual come SummerSlam.

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