Background
The main feud heading into SummerSlam on the Raw brand was between Hulk Hogan and Shawn Michaels. A feud between Michaels, and Muhammad Hassan and Daivari began on the April 4 edition of Raw, when Hassan and Daivari attacked Michaels. Michaels demanded a match against the two, but he would only be given one if he found a partner. Hogan eventually became Michaels' partner, and they defeated Hassan and Daivari at Backlash. Hogan did not appear until the July 4 edition of Raw in Carlito's talk-show segment. Carlito, along with Kurt Angle, made comments about Hogan's daughter and eventually attacked him. Michaels came out to help Hogan, and they defeated Carlito and Angle in a match later that night. After the match, Michaels performed a superkick to Hogan and left. The following week, Michaels challenged Hogan to a match at SummerSlam, which Hogan later accepted.
The predominant feud on the SmackDown! brand was between Batista and John "Bradshaw" Layfield (JBL), with the two feuding over the World Heavyweight Championship. During the WWE Draft Lottery, SmackDown! was left temporarily without a top championship, and a six-man elimination match was to determine a new "SmackDown! Champion". After JBL won the match, it was announced that the new title was not necessary as Batista was revealed to be the final pick in the draft. JBL, instead, was given a match for the World Heavyweight Championship at The Great American Bash, where JBL won by disqualification when Batista used a steel chair. JBL was given a rematch at SummerSlam on the following edition of SmackDown!. Batista allowed JBL to choose the stipulation, and JBL made it a No Holds Barred match. On the August 11 edition of SmackDown!, during Batista's match with Christian, JBL interfered and hit Batista with a steel chair. The following week, JBL faced Funaki in a No Holds Barred match, during which Batista interfered and attacked JBL.
Another rivalry leading into the event was between John Cena and Chris Jericho, with the two battling over the WWE Championship. Their feud began when Cena was drafted to Raw during the WWE Draft and began a feud with General Manager Eric Bischoff. Cena refused to comply with Bischoff, who saw Cena as an unfit champion. After Cena successfully defended the title at Vengeance against Jericho and Christian, Bischoff hand-picked Jericho to face Cena for the title at SummerSlam. On the August 1 edition of Raw, Jericho refereed a match between Cena and Carlito. After the match, Jericho attacked Cena with a television camera. On the August 15 edition of Raw, Cena faced Jericho and Carlito in a handicap match. At the end, Jericho hit Cena with a steel chair.
Read more about this topic: Summer Slam (2005)
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