Report: WWE Have SummerSlam Back-Up Plan For Roman Reigns

WWE reportedly have a backup plan in place for Roman Reigns at SummerSlam, should Randy Orton be unable to compete at the event.

The plan was for The Tribal Chief and The Viper to meet at the show, which is set to take place at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee, on July 30.

However, with new reports suggesting that Orton could be set to miss the remainder of 2022 with a back injury, those plans have been thrown into flux.

Writing in the latest edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer said that there was a back-up plan in place, but that plan was not for Riddle to take Orton's place in the match.

Riddle is set to challenge Reigns for the WWE Universal Title in the main event of tonight's SmackDown, with the added stipulation that he will be unable to challenge for the title again in the future, should he lose.

Meltzer pointed out that WWE are short of options at present and that, aside from Seth Rollins, Drew McIntyre and Bobby Lashley, nobody is close to being on the level required to headline such a major show.

Brock Lesnar is also advertised for SummerSlam, but he and Reigns have already clashed on several occasions of late, including in the main event of WrestleMania 38 (Night Two).