On the August 12 episode of Raw, Maddox served as special guest referee in a match with Bryan facing Wade Barrett. Later in the night, after taking an informal poll of the live audience, he chose Daniel Bryan. On the Jepisode of Raw, new Raw General Manager Brad Maddox announced that he would allow WWE Champion John Cena to choose his own opponent for SummerSlam. Wrestlers portrayed villains or heroes as they followed a series of events that built tension and culminated in a wrestling match or series of matches. SummerSlam featured professional wrestling matches that involved different wrestlers from pre-existing feuds, plots, and storylines that played out on WWE's primary television programs.
