SummerSlam is just around the corner, and WWE SmackDown Live pulled no punches in its August 6 edition to build to Sunday's event. Every major match got at least a moment to shine, although certain stars stood out more than others.

Dolph Ziggler made a surprisingly effective statement by laying out Rey Mysterio and then taking out Ali with a superkick. This gave The Showoff the momentum he needs for his match with Goldberg even if it likely won't mean much come Sunday.

Natalya again made her mark rather than truly competing when she got counted out in her match with Ember Moon so that she could hold on to the Sharpshooter. Her awkward heel turn has truly come full circle, mostly making little impact.

Sami Zayn again set the stage for a potential showstealer at The Biggest Party of the Summer but was forced to wrestle Aleister Black in a one-sided exhibition that reminded everyone how little WWE sees in The Critic of the Critics.

However, no moment was talked about more from the blue brand than the reveal of Roman Reigns' attacker in the main event. The remarkably rushed ending left more questions than answers for fans, setting the scene for a bigger payoff at SummerSlam.

WWE Botches the Reveal of Roman Reigns' Attacker to Delay Until SummerSlam

Roman Reigns sat down for an interview in which he apologized to Samoa Joe and promised to find who was attacking him.

After Daniel Bryan and Rowan got themselves disqualified in a match with The New Day, The Big Dog beat down Buddy Murphy backstage until he revealed Rowan was involved in the attacks.

The night ended with Bryan and Rowan looking up at the titantron in a confused manner. It was a flat way to add another layer to this story WWE is heavily pushing.

While Reigns vs. Bryan is an exciting possibility, having Murphy reveal the former WWE champion might be involved without confirmation did not work.

Not only did the segment make the Australian look bad, it also did not come off well for the heels. The show gave them no opportunity to respond, likely until SummerSlam. Whether they did it or not, this was the wrong time for a cliffhanger.

The Planet's Champion has been teasing an announcement for weeks. This would have been the perfect time to play that up. Bryan is a great promo worker who could have played up the ambiguity more naturally.

Now, Reigns, Bryan and Joe are all tangled in a story with no clear direction for Sunday's pay-per-view. It will likely take up unnecessary time at the show rather than setting a big match ahead of time.

Dolph Ziggler Needs to Win at SummerSlam, but He Won't

Coming out to Goldberg's theme, Dolph Ziggler did not let his match with Rey Mysterio start before laying out the WWE legend. Ali came to the aid of The Master of the 619, but The Showoff was ready, defeating him with a superkick.

It was a mistake to stop the momentum of Ali just one week after he defeated Shinsuke Nakamura, but Ziggler was the priority here. He needs all the hype he can get before he faces Goldberg at SummerSlam. Even after this segment, it still feels like he is getting squashed.

While there is nothing wrong with a squash match in the right scenario, the only thing that would be gained from the veteran destroying Ziggler is making up for his own failures in the disappointing bout with The Undertaker at Super ShowDown in June.

However, this should be the moment for The Showoff to take a step forward.

All this is to say this might be Ziggler's last real opportunity at doing so. He's a great competitor, but he's never going to be a star unless he proves he can outperform the stars. It would be a huge statement if he did manage to overcome Goldberg.

Obviously, that is not happening, though. One man is too over, and the other is not over enough. Ziggler will crash and burn before likely taking a few more months off.

Natalya's Sudden Heel Turn Has Been Lazily Executed

Natalya continued her destructive ways on SmackDown when she faced Ember Moon just days before both women fought for the women's championships in their respective brands.

The two fought to the outside of the ring where The Queen of Harts applied the Sharpshooter and refused to let go even as the two were counted out.

When Becky Lynch vs. Natalya first started, it was a heated but friendly rivalry between babyfaces. However, that has morphed quickly into a generic storyline, with The Queen of Harts turning heel out of frustration and jealousy.

There was a time and place to make this switch with Nattie, but it is not ahead of SummerSlam. The rushed nature of the entire feud has left her with nothing to run with after she loses to The Man.

Natalya should not be losing focus so much and laying out former friends carelessly just because Lynch got on her nerves. It is sloppy and lackluster storytelling at a time when the company should be at its best.

Bayley vs. Moon has fallen into the same pitfalls as the writers seem unable to tell a competent face vs. face storyline anymore. Hopefully, both title matches make up for the build with some strong wrestling.

Sami Zayn Deserves So Much Better Than He Gets

Sami Zayn once more called out Aleister Black, and this time he answered the call.

However, The Dutch Destroyer did not want to wait until Sunday. He dominated The Critic of the Critics and planted a Black Mass on his jaw that sealed the victory.

No one is arguing with WWE committing to Black as a top star. His mysterious presence stands out among the pack, and his dominant showings in the ring solidify him as a man to watch. He has been booked well.

That said, there was no reason to rush out Black vs. Zayn. The two could have had their SummerSlam moment even if they were forced into another sprint like Cesaro's bouts with The Dutch Destroyer. Instead, they barely got time on SmackDown. Much of their match happened during the commercial break.

One of the best wrestlers out there, Zayn has been completely mishandled by WWE since his heel turn. He comes off as a threat to no one. It is never a surprise when he loses, and the lack of excitement ruins his matches.

After strong promos and early hope, The Critic of the Critics is now a generic heel used to put over talent WWE actually cares about. Anywhere else in the world, he'd be a top guy.

I wonder how much longer Zayn sticks around with this company that makes a mockery of him.