Time to explain how the largest man currently in WWE isn’t the champion, why he carries a briefcase, and why Kevin Owens is a threat to everyone.

Welcome back to the SummerSlam Chronicles.  This year’s SummerSlam will be attended by old fans and new fans and this guide is to get the new fans up to speed to enjoy the hottest night of the summer in full.

Braun Strowman is huge.   He is 6 foot 8.  Near 400 pounds.  In wrestling matches where the key to winning is to eliminate as many people as possible, he currently holds the records.  One night he threatened his opponent to “get these hands” and suddenly a chant was born and t-shirts were created and sold out by the next week.  He is such a force he won the WWE tag team titles with a fan at WrestleMania.  A ten year old boy.  And the fans accepted it.  No one thought it was too ridiculous, too over the top.  It made sense that a giant could win with anyone.

Then he won the Money in the Bank briefcase.  This briefcase is the Infinity Gauntlet of WWE.  Wanted by everyone because it has the potential to change their world with a snap of the fingers or the count of three.

The Money in the Bank briefcase is hung above the ring.  A ladder must be climbed to reach it.  Then 6, 7, 8, however many men (or women) beat the hell out of each other wrestling, using the ladders, tossing people off of ladders, and anything else you can think of plus many moves you never dreamed of, in order to win it.  Because inside that case is a contract.  Good at any time within the next 365 days, to challenge the World champion for the title.  Here’s the secret.  You don’t have to tell the champion in advance, and as long as the champion can stand, you don’t need their permission.  Champions have been left bloody, beaten, absolutely destroyed.  Then the music hits for the current Money in the Bank holder and he runs to the ring, hands the briefcase to the referee, hits the broken champion once and then wins the title.  One of the most spectacular times the briefcase was “cashed in” – as its called – was in the main event of WrestleMania years ago when Seth Rollins ran down to the ring while Roman Reigns and Brock Lesnar were on the ground.  He interjected himself into the match with the case and then pinned Roman.  New champ out of no where to close out the biggest show of the year.  Its a spectacular gimmick.

Kevin Owens is a title hunter.  He will step over any challenger, any friend, to win a title.  And he has.  Owens loves wrestling and I remember seeing him in a small arena way back in 2005 and another years later, and another.  If there was a show, he was on it.  Winning titles, gaining acclaim, and building his way into WWE.  Every title he has set his sights on, he’s won.  But Brock Lesnar is another beast, literally.  In order to beat such a man some sort of advantage is needed.  Something that he cant counteract with his freaking strength.  Something like a briefcase.

No matter who wins this match the outcome will mean the same thing:  this reality changing object is now in play.