WWE has been building to Trish Stratus vs. Becky Lynch since WrestleMania. There were reports months ago that WWE was going to try and hold out until SummerSlam to have their rivalry finally end in a singles match. That's why when Raw came to an end this week and the match still hadn't been confirmed, some fans were a little worried. Rightly so too as with 48 hours to go, it has now been confirmed that Stratus vs. Lynch will not be a part of the SummerSlam card.

No SummerSlam Match

Fightful Select (via Wrestling Inc.) reported that WWE had decided not to add the match to SummerSlam. However, it isn't because one or both of the women are unable to compete. The apparent reason for cutting the match before it had even been added is apparently due to the timing of the card. WWE has been trying to cut down the runtime of its premium live events, and it seems the card is now at capacity.

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There are currently eight matches on the card, the latest of which to be added was a SummerSlam battle royal. Some might argue a match like that, with nothing tangible on the line, should be cut before one that has been built to for more than four months. However, since the battle royal is sponsored by Slim Jim, it may well be a case of WWE not being able to drop that match. Either that or it slaps the Slim Jim sponsorship on a different match.

SummerSlam's Runtime

Making sure PLEs don't run too long is definitely a good thing. No one needs a repeat of WrestleMania 35 when the show ran so long that those in attendance struggled to get home and back to their hotels. However, it seems a little odd that rather than figure out the timing of the show so a match that has been building to for months can be on the card, it won't be included at all. Suffice to say when Kid Rock inevitably performs on the show, a lot of fans will be wondering why that segment couldn't have been dedicated to a Stratus and Lynch match instead.

The grudge match is now being advertised for the August 14 edition of Raw with a suggestion it might even be saved for Payback on September 2. Stratus has reacted to the match being moved, claiming she might not even be free on August 14.