Right now, according to research, no matches are scheduled yet for the upcoming Summerslam PPV set to take place on August 21. There are a number of expected to take place at the event, including Goldberg vs Lashley and McIntyre vs Jinder Mahal from Raw and a title defense from Roman Reigns. As I mentioned in a previous article, the WWE need to plan ahead and make sure that Summerslam gives way to the brand split upcoming in October. Meaning, they need to have an idea who will move between the brands now, especially if any move could impact the World Title picture. Rumors have pegged both Big E and Drew McIntyre being the biggest names switching brands. 

I mentioned in the previous article that AJ Styles and Omos need a big feud heading into Summerslam to allow for the perception of the Tag Titles to continue to improve. The same could be said for the Smackdown Tag titles, especially considering the fact that the Uso's are the champions. It is likely a feud with the Mysterio's will continue at the biggest party of the Summer. But other top names need to be accounted for at the event to keep positive momentum flowing as WWE continue to welcome back the fans. Below I will share my projected Summerslam card: 

Projected Summerslam 2021 Card:

Six Pack Challenge for the Intercontinental Championship:
(c) Apollo Crews w/ Commander vs Big E vs Dolph Ziggler vs Bobby Roode vs Cesaro

WWE United States Championship Match:
(c) Sheamus vs Damien Priest 

WWE Raw Tag Team Title Match:
(c) AJ Styles & Omos vs Rk-Bro

WWE Smackdown Tag Title Match:
(c) The Uso's vs The Mysterio's 

WWE Smackdown Women's Championship Match:
(c) Bianca Belair vs Becky Lynch 

WWE Raw Women's Championship Match:
(c) Nikki-Ash vs Charlotte vs Rhea Ripley 

Grudge Match:
Drew McIntyre vs Jinder Mahal 
​
WWE Universal Championship Match: 
(c) Roman Reigns vs John Cena 

Grudge Match:
Sami Zayn vs Finn Balor 

WWE Championship Match: 
(c) Bobby Lashley w/ MVP vs Goldberg 

Note:
Finn Balor might have an upcoming title match against Roman, but don't forget upon his return to the main roster, he attacked Sami Zayn. Zayn needs some revenge, and the best way to get that revenge is by costing Finn the Universal Title. Finn is the perfect fit for Smackdown, but being in the title right away would be a mistake and would be better having it happen down the road. 

Initially, this year's draft was supposed to take place at the end of August this year instead of in October like we've seen since Smackdown moved to Fox in 2019. That was until last week when the change was announced that the draft was back to happening in October according to Andrew Zarain from the Mat Men. Now we do have a bit more time though to talk about the amount of changes that should take place at the draft. The WWE has been struggling in the last year, it just seems like they have lost themselves and any possible direction or sense of purpose. 

This isn't going to be as detailed as the Andrade story I wrote a few months ago, but it will be interesting. At Money in the Bank, Big E finally won the briefcase to have the chance to become the next WWE or Universal Champion. If it was up to me, Lashley is feuding with the New Day or just finished feuding with New Day, and it would be the perfect time to slide Big E into the rivalry. However, you need to stack the odds and toss in some in doubt. Big E won the Intercontinental without the New Day, and the case without the New Day let MVP do what he does and cast some doubt on the match happening to make the eventual match all the more satisfying. By Survivor Series, it would be strange to see Big E not holding the WWE Championship. 

The WWE Raw Tag Team Champions have been lacking for years. Since AJ Styles and Omos won the tag titles, there have been at least some form of direction for the gold, which is a pleasant sight. However, there needs to be something big planned to change the perception of the titles. Right now, there is unfinished business between Riddle and AJ Styles, who had a show stealing match leading into Money in the Bank last month. Orton still being AWOL currently leaves Riddle alone against the tag champions. After defeating the Viking Raiders at Money in the Bank, we can probably see one more match for the belts before they move to RK-Bro. Imagine this image AJ ripping apart Orton for abandoning Riddle and leaving his partner, because if there is anyone who can get under the skin of Orton it's his former rival AJ Styles. Riddle has been the highlight of Raw in recent months and I would like to think that he didn't get rewarded with Money in the Bank due to a logical step for a feud with the tag champions. 

More detailed thoughts on feuds will be coming together as I will be putting together a make shift card for Summerslam with matches I believe should be included on the event. Excluding those that have already been announced for the event, like Goldberg vs Bobby Lashley and Roman Reigns vs John Cena. Goldberg isn't my favorite and his aura is wearing on me, but if he still moves the needle that is what matters most. 

Since the return of the brand split in 2016 there have been very few constants on each brand as the yearly draft normally allows for most talent to get fresh starts. However, some talent has mostly remained on one brand or the other, dodging the fresh start the draft allows yearly. Two names that come to mind are Baron Corbin and Shinsuke Nakamura. Corbin had just debuted earlier in the year when the brand split returned and was still making a name for himself on the main roster. Once he was officially a member of Smackdown Live the push began for Corbin quickly moving to upper mid-card status as a way to help fill out the Smackdown Live roster. 

Unfortunately, Corbin wasn't able to put everything together for a variety of reasons, namely the booking that was incredibly stop and start. Corbin's big moment came winning Mr. Money in the Bank in 2017 only to join the list of names that weren't able to successfully cash in the case for a World Title reign. Fact is, WWE showed Corbin wasn't someone they wanted to invest in fully, otherwise he wouldn't have failed with the briefcase cash in. Losing to John Cena in their one-sided rivalry was the final nail in the coffin for Corbin, and now he is a respected member of the roster. Corbin is looked at as someone that talent need to get through to become a credible member of the roster, similar to the spot that Dolph Ziggler once occupied. 

It was surreal at one point to think that the former IWGP World Champion Shinsuke Nakamura was under the WWE banner. Nakamura made the jump with Karl Anderson, Doc Gallows, and AJ Styles following Wrestling Kingdom in 2016. The night after Wrestlemania 33, we saw the main roster debut of Shinsuke Nakamura. Nakamura's debut on the main roster was one of the most anticipated debuts in recent memory. Unfortunately, much like Corbin, it took a long time for Shinsuke to find his footing on the main roster. Some might say that Nakamura has actually never found his footing on the roster thus far. 

After five years on the blue brand, I think it's time for either Nakamura or Corbin to switch brands and get a fresh start. Taking some ideas into consideration, mainly the fact these two are currently feuding, only one of them should swap brands. Even though Nakamura still has some untapped potential on Smackdown I think he would benefit more from a fresh start especially considering Lashley is WWE Champion and this would give him a fresh and unexpected new challenger. 

According to reports, WWE, it seems that the draft will be ready to go at the end of August this year instead of October. Now we take the time to look through the WWE roster, figure who should switch brand this year to try and give WWE the opportunity to right the struggling ship that we've been watching for about a year, partially due to the global pandemic and partially due to bad booking. Either way, some talent need a refresh and swap brand to start over. It seems to me that some stars have been on one brand or the other for way to long. Below is my thoughts of who should switch brands this year: 

- Baron Corbin: Since the debut of Smackdown on Fox, the former "King" Corbin has been a featured star on the blue brand. Corbin needs to rebuild himself a little, especially now that he's officially referred to as his old name again. Like him or not, Corbin is still someone who can be looked at as a top heel for the company and in a way is a role player for WWE, filling depth where needed. Corbin could be a champion, but I do think that he's on or could be nearly on the same level as current United States Champion Sheamus. Corbin from Smackdown to Raw

- Cedric Alexander: A year ago, Cedric Alexander was one of the top stars on the red brand as a member of the Hurt Business with Shelton Benjamin, Lashley, and MVP. Now, he's back to the position he was in before the Hurt Business. I was one of the many fans that disagreed and argued against the idea of having The Hurt Business split up. Cedric needs to either refresh himself by heading to the black and gold brand or over to the blue brand. Cedric clicked in a tag team with Benjamin and I think if partnered up with someone else would be the best use of this underrated superstar. Alexander from Raw to Smackdown 

- Roode & Dolph Ziggler: Much like Corbin, I believe these two stars have been on the blue brand since Smackdown's debut on Fox two years ago. Considering they've been on this brand for a prolonged period of time, it is time for the tag team to move over to the red brand. Raw's tag team division has been struggling for a long time, exhibit A being the tag team champions on Raw. Bobby Roode has been one of the greatest tag team wrestlers in the last two decades, being a part of some top teams in wrestling history. Ziggler had been struggling for years prior to teaming with Bobby Roode which has finally put to use his immense talent. The team does need a refresh though at this point and moving to the red brand would be for the best. 

- Mustafa Ali: Ever since the debut of Retribution, the once promising youngster has struggled to find his footing. Earlier in the year there was talk of him having some injury issues, and it seems that there have still been problems for Ali. In my opinion, it seems possible that Ali has hit a wall after the flop of Retribution, they seemed to have blamed Ali for the failure of the mysterious faction. This is the reason why Ali needs to have a refresh to allow him the chance to start over. Ali would be best served to spend time down in NXT as a way to find his footing again in WWE. Ali to NXT