Updated WWE SummerSlam 2013 match card and rumors

WWE will hold its 26th annual SummerSlam pay-per-view (PPV) on Sun., Aug. 18, 2013, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, the fifth consecutive year the company has run that particular venue for what it calls "the biggest party of the summer."

We're officially three weeks out from showtime, and the current match card looks like this:

- John Cena vs. Daniel Bryan (WWE championship)

It's finally happening: Bryan is getting his shot to headline a major PPV with the biggest wrestling promotion in the world against its biggest star. They got there by having newly named Monday Night Raw General Manager Brad Maddox tell Cena he could choose the man he wanted to defend his title against next. So the champion took to asking the WWE Universe who they wanted to see him opposite and support for Bryan was overwhelming. The choice was clear and it was made without hesitation, a plan that has reportedly been in place for months now. With the Total Divas show airing within the next couple weeks and both Cena and Bryan dating a Bella twin, things are going to get very interesting over the next month. So far, the build has centered around Cena putting Bryan over as a legitimate top star and WWE trying to make sure everyone is on board with that thought process. We'll see if it takes.

- CM Punk vs. Brock Lensar

This match has now officially been announced but it was always painfully obvious this is the direction the company was going and combining this match with the aforementioned Cena vs. Bryan WWE title bout makes SummerSlam this year a must buy event. Paul Heyman has been used to create tension between the two. Heyman turned on his best friend, siding with his personal pet beast who he can control -- mostly -- in lieu of the renegade he cannot. In response to his betrayal, Punk essentially turned into The Punisher and is out to destroy anyone and everyone who played any part in his business recently. The program is heating up in a big way and the story has already produced one of the best Raw segments in recent memory. Hopefully the best is yet to come.

- Alberto Del Rio vs. Christian (World heavyweight championship)

This match has yet to be made official but it will be once the episode of SmackDown taped earlier this week airs on Aug. 2. That show features Christian defeating Rob Van Dam and Randy Orton in a triple threat match for number one contender status. This also comes on the heels of his defeating Del Rio in a non-title match. It's not exactly the hottest program WWE could go with here, but there aren't a ton of options available at this point.

That's the card so far, Cagesiders.