The Beast is Out of Hibernation for SummerSlam

Grab a stool, order a cold one, and let’s talk about the absolute madness WWE is cooking up for SummerSlam. Brock Lesnar is officially coming back to television, and the internet wrestling community is already throwing chairs at each other. According to the latest schedule, the Beast is locked in for two major Raw dates this month, starting in Dallas on July 13 and ending in Inglewood on July 27.

But the real story is who he is targeting. WWE is throwing NXT powerhouse Oba Femi straight into the deep end for a Hell in a Cell match at SummerSlam. It is a bold, borderline reckless decision that has fans screaming at their screens.

Let's look at the two sides of this debate because the internet is completely split on this. Some people think Oba Femi is the chosen one. Others think he is about to be turned into suplex dust.

The Believers: The Passing of the Torch

Wrestling forums are flooded with hype train riders who see Oba Femi as the first guy in a decade who can stand eye-to-eye with Lesnar. Femi has the college football pedigree, terrifying power, and the presence of a natural-born star. To these fans, putting him in a cage with the Beast is the ultimate shortcut to main-event status.

The logic on Reddit is simple: a win makes Femi an instant headliner, while a competitive loss gives him a career-defining rub. Enthusiasts argue that Femi has the raw power to withstand the German suplex barrage. They want a physical, bruising war that resets the power structure at the top of the roster.

To prove their point, supporters are sharing clips of Femi tossing opponents like bags of wet cement. They believe you cannot build a giant by having him wrestle mid-carders forever. You must throw him in the cage with the biggest boss in the business.

The Skeptics: Another Squashed Hope

Now look at the contrarian threads where fans are having flashbacks to Lesnar squashing younger talent in minutes. They remember Kofi Kingston's five-second defeat and worry that Femi is just the next sacrifice. The prevailing fear is that this push is happening way too fast.

Skeptics point out that Femi is still learning the finer points of ring psychology. A high-profile Hell in a Cell match puts immense pressure on a young powerhouse who has never worked a pay-per-view singles match of this scale. If it is a quick squash, his aura is ruined, but if it goes long, his limitations might be exposed.

There is also the worry about the cage itself. While Hell in a Cell used to be the final end of a long, bloody feud, now it is being used to kick off a brand new rivalry or hide athletic limitations. The skeptics argue that this booking feels rushed and completely lacks the proper emotional build.

The Dallas Raw is Stacked

While the Lesnar news dominates the headlines, the upcoming Raw in Dallas is looking loaded. Roman Reigns is scheduled to appear to address his championship showdown with Seth Rollins. As Tommy Dreamer noted in a recent review, Rollins can deliver segments that give you classic hard times vibes when he is on his game, raising expectations for their confrontation.

Wrestling purists are focusing heavily on the undercard gauntlet match for the Intercontinental title. The lineup features Dragon Lee, Chad Gable, Joe Hendry, Je'Von Evans, Dominik Mysterio, Ethan Page, and Rusev. Having seven hungry competitors in one match promises an absolute workrate clinic if they get enough television time.

The show also boasts a marquee match between IYO SKY and Roxanne Perez, alongside a tense face-to-face between Bayley and Lyra Valkyria. This packed card shows that WWE is not coasting through the summer months. They are loading up the red brand to keep the audience hooked.

My Take: Why the Cage is a Mistake

Here is my take, so grab another cold one and listen. Booking Lesnar against Femi makes sense on paper, but putting them in Hell in a Cell is a massive mistake. The steel structure is supposed to be the final destination for a personal feud, not the opening chapter.

These two powerhouses have never shared a ring or even traded promos on live television. Skipping straight to the cell feels like lazy booking designed to mask a rushed build. Furthermore, a cage match forces a slower pace and weapon spots that do not play to their strengths as dynamic, explosive athletes.

WWE should have started with a simple ringside brawl to test the chemistry before booking the big match. Jumping straight to the cell forces them into a booking corner where a clean loss hurts Femi, but a screwy finish ruins the stipulation. It is a high-risk gamble with a very narrow path to success.

We have seen WWE ruin monster clashes in the past by relying on cheap referee stoppages to protect both competitors. Doing that inside Hell in a Cell makes the audience feel completely cheated. If we get a repeat of the infamous Rollins vs. Fiend stoppage, the crowd in the stadium and the fans at home will tear the house down in anger.

Regardless of my skepticism, the star power on display is undeniable. The build-up over these next few weeks is going to be absolutely electric. We are about to witness either the birth of a new headliner or a spectacular train wreck, and I will be watching every single second with a cold beer in hand.