Sami Zayn finally has a match on Sunday.
It was announced on Friday afternoon that Zayn will team with Neville to take on The Dudley Boyz on the SummerSlam kickoff show.
After defeating Kevin Owens at Battleground, Zayn has had little storyline direction since the WWE Draft. And it wasn’t certain what role he would play at WWE’s biggest event of the summer until now.
The match will be the second time that Neville has faced the Dudleyz recently after teaming with Sin Cara to defeat the veteran tag team on Raw two weeks ago. Following that loss and another on Raw this week, tension has been teased between Bubba Ray and his storyline brother D-Von leading into SummerSlam.
Also, the previously scheduled six-woman tag match pitting Becky Lynch, Naomi, and Carmella against Natalya, Alexa Bliss, and Eva Marie has been currently adjusted to a three-on-two handicap match after Eva was pulled from the match on Thursday. But WWE.com teases that the heel team could still find a replacement partner in time for the show.
WWE announced on Thursday that Eva would not be eligible to compete at SummerSlam after being suspended for 30 days due to a wellness policy violation.
Zayn and Neville vs. The Dudley Boyz is the first match officially announced for SummerSlam’s expanded two-hour kickoff show. The six-hour marathon event will begin on the WWE Network at 5 p.m. ET on Sunday.
The updated card for the show is:
Brock Lesnar vs. Randy Orton
Finn Balor vs. Seth Rollins for the WWE Universal Championship
WWE Champion Dean Ambrose vs. Dolph Ziggler in a championship match
John Cena vs. AJ Styles
WWE Women’s Champion Sasha Banks vs. Charlotte in a championship match
United States Champion Rusev vs. Roman Reigns in a championship match
Intercontinental Champion The Miz vs. Apollo Crews in a championship match
WWE Tag Team Champions The New Day (Xavier Woods & Kofi Kingston) vs. The Club (Karl Anderson & Luke Gallows) in a championship match
Enzo Amore & Big Cass vs. Chris Jericho & Kevin Owens
Cesaro vs. Sheamus in the first match of a best-of-seven series
Becky Lynch, Naomi, & Carmella vs. Natalya & Alexa Bliss
Sami Zayn & Neville vs. The Dudley Boyz on the SummerSlam kickoff show