Chicago Sun-Times: A title double at SummerSlam

If WrestleMania is the Super Bowl of wrestling, then this weekend is the Rose Bowl as WWE puts on its annual SummerSlam program tonight.

As a co-branded show featuring SmackDown and Raw stars, there will be two world-title main events. On the Raw side, by virtue of winning a battle royal, Randy Orton gets a shot at Chris Benoit and the WWE championship. Orton is odds-on favorite to take the title and begin a long run as the champ. Also from the Raw side, Kane will meet Matt Hardy, with the winner getting to marry Lita, Eugene will face HHH in a grudge match, and Edge will defend the Intercontinental title against Batista and Chris Jericho.

The SmackDown main event has John Bradshaw Layfield defending the world title against the Undertaker. Surprisingly, JBL is the favorite to retain his belt. Also, Kurt Angle makes his PPV return against former champion Eddie Guerrero, and Booker T faces John Cena in the first of their best-of-five series for the U.S. Championship.

HEARD AROUND THE RING: Rena Mero (previously known as Sable) has been released by WWE. There are conflicting reports as to why the decision was made. Some feel Sable dug her own grave with the company with her actions backstage, while others feel this was WWE's way of getting back at Brock Lesnar. ... Jeff Hardy said he is much happier working a two-day-a-week schedule and is content in the NWA. Hardy said he and Jim Ross were close to getting a new contract with WWE done not too long ago, but the idea of working two days a week was too much to pass up. ... Some of the wrestlers are unhappy with the Diva Dodgeball game scheduled for SummerSlam. The feeling is why keep younger talent off the card to have girls throwing balls at each other. ... It's possible that Shawn Michaels will do a run-in and interfere in the Kane vs. Matt Hardy match.