By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
WWE SummerSlam
Aired August 21, 2021 live on Peacock, WWE Network, and pay-per-view
Aired live from Las Vegas, Nevada at Allegiant Stadium
WWE SummerSlam Kickoff Show result: Big E defeated Baron Corbin in 6:35.
A Vegas themed video package opened the show… Jimmy Smith welcomed viewers to the show and then they went to the entrances for the Raw Tag Title match…
1. AJ Styles and Omos vs. Randy Orton and Riddle for the Raw Tag Titles. The Raw broadcast team of Jimmy Smith, Corey Graves, and Byron Saxton called the match. Styles and Orton started, but Styles tagged in Omos after Orton tagged in Riddle. Omos dominated Riddle, then Styles tagged in and performed an assisted tornado DDT that resulted in a two count.
Riddle was isolated until he blasted Omos with kick while the big man was on the apron. Riddle dumped Styles to ringside and went for the tag, but Styles returned and cut him off. Riddle threw a knee at Styles and then made the leaping tag. Orton worked over Styles and took some shots at Omos, who held his ground on the apron. Orton eventually kicked Omos’s knee and knocked him to ringside.
Orton performed a Draping DDT on Styles. Orton struck the Viper’s Pose, but Omos pulled Styles to the floor. Riddle leapt off the apron at Omos, who caught him and chokeslammed him onto the apron. Styles clotheslined Orton using the top rope. Omos scooped up Riddle, who slipped off and shoved Omos into the ring post. Styles performed a backflip off the apron into a reverse DDT on Riddle.
Orton avoided Styles’ finisher. Orton went for his, but Styles rolled him into a pin. When both men stood up, Orton dropped Styles with an RKO and pinned him clean…
Randy Orton and Riddle defeated AJ Styles and Omos in 7:05 to win the Raw Tag Titles.
Powell’s POV: A crowd pleasing start to the show. The match was too short to be special, but they did a nice job with the time they had and the fans were vocal. The stadium set doesn’t feel WrestleMania big, but it still looks impressive. There’s a SummerSlam LED board along the wall off the main floor that’s opposite the hard camera, and the the entrance aisle curves rather than being the usual straight shot to the ring.
After some advertising, some Las Vegas imagery was shown and then a video package recapped the storyline involving Alexa Bliss, her damn doll, Eva Marie, and Doudrop. It closed with the footage of Eva slapping Doudrop twice…
2. Alexa Bliss vs. Eva Marie (w/Doudrop). Smith, Graves, and Saxton called the match. A fan held up a sign that read “Eva Marie is worse than an airport tuna sandwich,” which Smith even acknowledged. Bliss brought Lilly to the ring with her. There was an early “We Want Wyatt” chant. Eva picked up Lilly and there were boos, and then more boos one she slapped the doll.
Eva slapped Bliss with the doll. Bliss screamed and then attacked Eva, who called out to Doudrop for help, but Doudrop indicated that she was doing fine on her own. Bliss held up the doll and there were some cheers before she set it back on the turnbuckle. Bliss went up top again a short time later and went for Twisted Bliss, but Eva avoided it and then covered Bliss for a couple of near falls. Eva stood up and jawed at Doudrop. Bliss kicked Eva and then DDT’d and pinned her…
Alexa Bliss defeated Eva Marie in 3:50.
After the match, Eva tried to blame Doudrop, who got the mic from the ring announcer and introduced Eva as the loser of the match. Doudrop took Eva’s robe and pranced around while Eva acted shocked…
Powell’s POV: It was everything we thought it would be and more. Allegiant Stadium is the new Tokyo Dome and Bliss vs. Eva is the new Omega vs. Okada. Fine, they kept it brief and it wasn’t a stupid doll finish.
After more ads, Mario Lopez (yes, that Mario Lopez) sported a Hart Foundation t-shirt while interviewing Randy Orton and Riddle about their tag title win. Orton said it would be smooth sailing for him and his partner from now on. Orton tried to deliver his RKO line, but Riddle said bro instead. Orton walked away. Riddle told Lopez to wait and see what what he has in store for Orton on Raw…
3. Sheamus vs. Damian Priest for the U.S. Championship. Smith, Graves, and Saxton called the match. Sheamus wore his face shield. Priest performed his springboard flip over the top rope and landed on Sheamus before crashing hard on his hip. Priest got up slowly. Sheamus ended up catching him going for a kick and tossed him back first into the ring post casing.
Back inside the ring, Sheamus applied a chinlock and that’s when Smith decided to enthusiastically state that the 50,000 in attendance were loving the match. Sheamus set up for a powerbomb, but Priest countered into a huracanrana. Sheamus came right back with a bodyslam and got a two count.
Sheamus taunted the crowd and got some heat. Priest rallied with a tornado DDT. Priest threw some punches to Sheamus’s face (apparently below the shield) and then put him down with a clothesline. Priest performed a spin kick from the rope and covered Sheamus for a near fall.
A short time later, Priest cut off Sheamus as he was standing on the ropes, but Sheamus dropped down and clotheslined Priest with the top rope in a cool spot. Sheamus returned to the ring and performed an Alabama Slam and got a near fall. Sheamus showed frustration over not getting the pin.
Sheamus headbutted Priest. Sheamus went for a Brogue Kick, but Priest beat him with a kick to the head. Priest followed up with a sit-out chokeslam for a near fall. Priest tried to lift Sheamus and then sold his back. Sheamus caught him leaping off the ropes with a Brogue Kick. Sheamus covered Priest for a near fall.
Sheamus went for a cloverleaf, but Priest countered into an inside cradle for a two count. Sheamus caught Priest in a heel hook. Priest fired up and then ripped Sheamus’s shield off. Priest threw punches at Sheamus, who covered up his face. They got to their feet and Priest hit a spin kick and followed up with The Reckoning and got the pin…
Damian Priest defeated Sheamus in 13:50 to win the U.S. Championship.
Powell’s POV: The most entertaining match of the night thus far. Some of Priest’s kicks looked slow, but they had some good near falls and the crowd seemed to get more invested the deeper the match went.
Post match advertising included an ad for Sunday’s NXT Takeover 36…
Powell’s POV: Join John Moore for his live review of NXT Takeover 36 tomorrow night and then he and I will team up for a same night audio review for Dot Net Members. While I’m dishing out the plugs, it’s fantasy football draft season and if you’re looking for a great league host, I can’t recommend MyFantasyLeague.com highly enough.
Backstage, Rey Mysterio spoke to Dominik, who tried to apologize for costing him the match against Jey Uso on Friday’s Smackdown. Rey cut Dom off and wanted him to focus on the tag title match. The Mysterios made their entrances for the match and were followed by the Usos…
4. Jimmy Uso and Jey Uso vs. Rey Mysterio and Dominik Mysterio for the Smackdown Tag Titles. Michael Cole and Pat McAfee called the match. Dom went up top early, but Jey tossed him to ringside and eventually ran him into the ring post casing. The Usos isolated Dom back inside the ring. Jey toyed with Dom by letting him crawl toward his corner before stopping him. Dom rallied with a suplex.
The crowd came to life as Dom made the hot tag to his father. Jimmy also tagged in and was worked over with some of Rey’s signature spots. Jimmy eventually cut off Rey with a superkick. Jey tagged in and caught Rey with a superkick as he went for a springboard move. Jey performed a top rope splash and got a two count, then bickered with the referee about her count.
The Usos set up in opposite corners for top rope moves, but Dom cut off Jey. Rey avoided Jimmy’s top rope splash attempt. Rey hit the 619 on Jimmy and then threw a kick at Jey rom the apron. Rey went up top and did the Eddie Guerrero shimmy before going for a frogsplash on Jimmy, who put his knees up. The Uso hit a double superkick and then Jey performed a top rope splash on Rey and pinned him…
Jimmy Uso and Jey Uso defeated Rey Mysterio and Dominik Mysterio in 10:50 to retain the Smackdown Tag Titles.
Powell’s POV: I’m not surprised by the Usos retaining the tag titles, but I am surprised that it wasn’t another Dom mistake that led to the loss for his team. Nevertheless, it was an enjoyable match and the fans were especially hot for Rey’s spots.
After some ads, Tiffany Haddish stood backstage and introduced Damian Priest as a first time “National Champion.” Priest spoke about Sheamus being a bully and how it’s the land of opportunity and he got his…
Powell’s POV: Why don’t they pre-tape these celebrity appearances?
Rick Boogs introduced Intercontinental Champion King Nakamura. Boogs played his guitar and they ended up rocking out on the broadcast table…
A video package set up the Smackdown Women’s Championship match…
Bianca Belair made her entrance. Ring announcer Greg Hamilton announced that Sasha Banks was unable to compete and therefore Belair would defend her title against Carmella, who made her entrance. McAfee said Vegas wasn’t thrilled. Cole said no one was. Belair did not looked pleased. She took the mic and said it may not be tonight, but sooner or later she will face Banks in the ring. Belair said she would take her frustrations out on Carmella. The referee held up the title belt.
Becky Lynch’s entrance music played before the referee could call for the bell. Lynch made her entrance to a huge pop. Lynch wore. “The Man’s Back In Vegas” t-shirt. The crowd continue to cheer as Lynch looked to them once she was in the ring standing between the champion and would be challenger. Lynch turned and kicked Carmella and ended up tossing her out of the ring. Lynch told Belair that she’d be back. Lynch went to ringside and ran Carmella into the ring steps.
Lynch removed her t-shirt and entered the ring in her gear and had a face to face with Belair. Lynch called for a mic. “What do you say The EST and The Man blow the roof off this place for the Smackdown Women’s Championship?” Lynch asked. Belair thought about it and then motioned for Lynch to bring it…
5. Bianca Belair vs. Becky Lynch for the Smackdown Women’s Championship. Lynch offered Belair a handshake. When Belair accepted. Lynch blasted her with a forearm to the head. Lynch followed up with a Manhandle Slam and scored the pin…
Becky Lynch beat Bianca Belair in 0:27 to win the Smackdown Women’s Championship.
Powell’s POV: The company was put in a tough spot with Banks being unable to compete, and they followed the playbook of having the replacement get the pin. I can’t say that I like it for Belair, but I understand if they had to keep it brief simply because Lynch wasn’t ready to have a full length match. Lynch received a mega reaction from the live crowd for her return, but it really faded during her post match celebration.
An ad aired for WWE Crown Jewel in Saudi Arabia for October. The narrator said they are returning to a place that brings out the best for all the world to see (gross).
After some additional ads, Greg Hamilton introduced U.S. Olympic Gold Medalists Tamyra Mensah-Stock and Gable Steveson. The duo made their entrance and slapped hands on their way to the ring and then played to the cheering crowd…
An ad aired for WWE Extreme Rules taking place on September 26…
6. Drew McIntyre vs. Jinder Mahal. Smith, Graves, and Saxton called the match. Mahal got a little offense in, but McIntyre came back, did the countdown, and hit a Claymore Kick for the win.
Drew McIntyre defeated Jinder Mahal in 4:40.
Afterward, Veer and Shanky came out to check on Mahal. McIntyre grabbed his sword and swung it, causing the heels to scramble away…
Powell’s POV: So much for McIntyre and Mahal being out to prove something. Well, they may have been, but they weren’t given a chance to do it with so little time. I’m not complaining. I wanted this to be a one and done feud and so did the crowd based on their reaction. So hopefully the decisive win for McIntyre means it was just that and he can move on to bigger and better things.
A video package set up the Raw Women’s Championship match…
7. Nikki ASH vs. Charlotte Flair vs. Rhea Ripley in a Triple Threat for the Raw Women’s Championship. Smith, Graves, and Saxton called the match. Mike Rome delivered in-ring introductions for the title match. With ASH at ringside, Ripley headbutted Flair. Ripley knocked ASH off the apron and then performed a Northern Lights Suplex on Flair for a near fall.
Ripley took her turn at ringside as ASH returned and executed a tornado DDT on Flair for a near fall. Flair picked up ASH and had to wait for Ripley to return to the ring. Ripley suplexed Flair, who gave ASH a fallaway slam in the process. Ripley got a two count on Flair moments later. Flair rolled to the floor. Ripley followed and they traded strikes. ASH climbed up top and dove onto both opponents on the floor.
Back inside the ring, Ripley and ASH held up Flair for a double vertical suplex, but she swung them both into a double DDT, which got a rise out of the crowd. Flair back body dropped Ripley over the top rope to the floor a short time later. Flair performed a top rope corkscrew moonsault and once again got a rise out of the crowd (despite being the only heel in the match).
Later, Flair countered out of a Ripley submission hold and put her in the Figure Eight. ASH leapt from the top rope and landed on both women to break up the hold. ASH performed a neckbreaker on Flair and went for the cover, but Ripley broke it up. Ripley went for her finisher on ASH, who countered into a DDT, which sent Ripley to the floor. ASH went up top and dove at Flair, who rolled out of the way. Flair put ASH in the Figure Eight and got the submission win…
Charlotte Flair defeated Nikki ASH and Rhea Ripley in a Triple Threat in 13:05 to win the Raw Women’s Championship.
Powell’s POV: I wrote in my predictions piece that I would feel numb if Flair won another title. I do, but I’m also not complaining. WWE positions her as the top woman on the Raw brand, so why not give her the belt? I just hope they stop playing hot potato with this championship. The match was entertaining and it was actually comical that Flair seemed to be the most cheered of the three despite being the only heel in the match.
After some ads, McAfee thanked Cardi B for the song “Up” being a SummerSlam theme. Cole set up a video package on the Edge and Seth Rollins feud…
8. Edge vs. Seth Rollins. Cole and McAfee called the match. Edge came out to The Brood music and then his regular theme kicked in and he fired up. Cole said Edge had to “avoid The Stomp that could end his career.” The bell rang and the crowd came to life before there was any physicality.
Later, Rollins performed a Sling Blade clothesline and then backed into the corner for his finisher. Edge rolled to the corner to avoid it. Rollins picked him up and gave him a neckbreaker and covered him or a two count. Rollin looked to the crowd and cackled, then taunted Edge. The fans fired up. Edge showed some life, but Rollins cut him off with a boot to the head.
Rollins performed a springboard knee strike and covered Edge for a near fall. “Like an Antonio Brown right hand in training camp, clean, flush,” McAfee said. Nice. Rollins went for another neckbreaker, but Edge countered into a backslide for a two count. Edge went on the offensive and placed Rollins on the ropes. Edge joined him on the ropes. Rollins hit him with elbows to the back of the neck and then knocked him down. Rollins performed a frogsplash for a near fall.
Rollins set up for his finisher, but Edge rolled under the ropes to avoid it. Rollins went to that corner and stood on the ropes before pulling Edge up with him. Edge fought back and ended up performing a neckbreaker from the top rope. Edge took offensive control and performed an Edgecution DDT for a near fall that the crowd didn’t buy as a potential match finish.
A short time later, Edge went to the top rope. Rollins ran up and met him and gave him a superplex. Rollins stood right up and hit the Falcon Arrow for a near fall. Rollins went for The Stomp, but Edge avoided it. After a couple of reversals, Edge hit wife Beth Phoenix’s Glam Slam finisher for a near fall. Rollins clotheslined Edge over the top rope and performed a neckbreaker through the ropes.
Rollins went for a Stomp on the apron. Edge avoided it and ran Rollins into the ring post casing. Edge charged Rollins and speared him through the ropes Big E style and then both men tumbled to the floor. Edge ran Rollins into the LED board on the side of the ring, which turned off. Back inside the ring, Edge covered Rollins for a two count.
Edge went for a spear, but Rollins leapt into the air and gave him a Pedigree on the way down. Rollins covered Edge for a good near fall. Rollins climbed up top and went for a corkscrew moonsault, which Edge avoided. Rollins landed on his feet and was speared when he turned around. Edge covered him for a great near fall.
Rollins caught Edge with a shot to the back of the neck and followed up with another. Rollins superkicked Edge, who was on his knees. Rollins set up for The Stomp, but Edge rolled over and caught his foot. Edge pushed Rollins over and then applied the Edgecator submission hold. Edge released the hold and was rolled into a pin for a two count. Edge put Rollins in a crossface and maintained the hold after rolling Rollins into the middle of the ring. Rollins broke free, but Edge slammed his head onto the mat repeatedly. Edge applied a crossace sleeper, causing Rollins to tap out…
Edge defeated Seth Rollins in 21:15.
Powell’s POV: A terrific match and easily the best of the night. They did a great job of establishing the idea that a Stomp could be the end of Edge due to his surgically repaired neck and then played it up repeatedly throughout the match. I’m curious see what’s next for both men. The Rollins character should be even more unhinged after losing, but this felt like the end of the feud at least for now.
An ad aired for WWE Money in the Bank being held in Las Vegas at Allegiant Stadium during Fourth of July weekend…
Powell’s POV: MITB is now a stadium show? The Fourth will be on a Monday next year, but it seems like they haven’t decided whether to run on the Saturday or Sunday just yet.
Mike Rome announced 51,326 as the attendance for SummerSlam…
The Miz and John Morrison arriving in the water truck was recapped. The duo were in the ring and Morrison spoke about how the crowd was “hurtin’ for a squirtin’.” Miz told the fans to prepare to be soaked by the Drip Stick 2000. Morrison said he thought Miz had it, then wondered who had it if Morrison didn’t have it.
Xavier Woods came out with a drip stick attached to a tank of water on his back. Woods had his hair like Razor Ramon and had a toothpick in his mouth. He also had a Razor Ramon style vest and gear. Miz said there were two of them and only one of him. Woods surveyed the crowd and then shot water at both heels, who flailed around like morons before leaving the ring…
Powell’s POV: Bring back the zombies? Okay, it wasn’t that bad, but it wasn’t far behind.
More Vegas imagery aired, this time with a sports theme while Smith spoke about how the city has become a sports mecca. He set up a video package on the WWE Championship match… Bobby Lashley and MVP made their entrance. Goldberg got the knock on the locker room door and security escort through the back entrance…
9. Bobby Lashley (w/MVP) vs. Goldberg for the WWE Championship. Rome delivered in-ring introductions, and Smith, Graves, and Saxton called the match. Golberg went on the offensive and got some boos. Goldberg knocked Lashley down with a short-arm clothesline. Lashley got up and fired back at Goldberg and set up for a Jackhammer, but Goldberg blocked it.
Goldberg went for the Jackhammer, but Lashley escaped it and put him down with a Flatliner. Lashley threw some punches at the back of Goldberg’s neck. Lashley went up top, but Goldberg cut him off and tossed him across the ring. Goldberg backed up for a spear and there were a lot of boos, but MVP pulled Lashley to ringside. Goldberg followed and speared Lashley on the floor.
Lashley returned to the ring and Goldberg followed. Goldberg set up for the spear again, but Lashley rolled to the apron. MVP hit Goldberg’s knee with his cane. Lashley returned and speared Goldberg. Lashley performed the Dominator and received loud cheers. Lashley tried to put Goldberg in the Hurt Lock, but Goldberg elbowed his way out of it to boos.
Lashley took out Goldberg’s knee with a chop block. Lashley waited for Goldberg to stand up, but Goldberg rolled to the floor and sold knee pain. Lashley followed to the floor, hoisted up Goldberg, and ran his knee into the ring post. Lashley hoisted up Goldberg on his shoulders and repeated running his knee into the post casing.
Lashley threw Goldberg back inside the ring. Goldberg tried to stand up and then fell to the mat and clutched his knee. The referee asked about stopping the match, but Goldberg declined. Goldberg tried to stand up again, but his knee gave out and the referee called for the bell.
Bobby Lashley defeated Goldberg via ref stoppage in 7:10 to retain the WWE Championship.
Lashley wasn’t pleased by the way he won. MVP slid him a chair, which he used to clip the back of Goldberg’s bad knee. Lashley struck Goldberg’s knee with the chair several times. Goldberg tried to pull himself up by using the ropes, but Lashley hit him with the chair again.
Goldberg’s son Gage entered the ring and jumped on Lashley’s back. Lashley shook him off quickly and put him in the Hurt Lock. MVP talked down Lashley. MVP got a microphone and said there was no way that Lashley could have known that it was Goldberg’s son who attacked him from behind. Goldberg crawled over to check on Gage. MVP introduced Lashley as the winner and then they left the ring together. “I’m gonna kill you,” Goldberg yelled at Lashley while consoling his son.
Powell’s POV: Dear lord, did they really protect Goldberg to set up a rematch? WWE had the formula down in that Goldberg hasn’t had a match reach the three-minute mark since the 2019 SummerSlam. They really should have stuck with that formula. On a side note, reader @JasonCarter03 reached out via Twitter to say that Money in the Bank will be held on Sunday, July 3, 2022.
A video package set up the WWE Universal Championship match… Entrance for the main event took place. The fans sang “John Cena” sucks as he made his entrance. Cena showed off the back of his t-shirt that listed his 16 championships. Cole stated that Cena could break the record that he and Ric Flair hold with sixteen title reigns each. The Roman Reigns CGI monster spewed something out of his mouth to remind everyone how COVID-19 spreads, and then Reigns, Paul Heyman, Jimmy Uso, and Jey Uso came out. The Usos headed to the back while Reigns and Heyman walked to the ring.
10. Roman Reigns (w/Paul Heyman) vs. John Cena for the WWE Universal Championship. Greg Hamilton delivered the in-ring introductions for the title match, and Cole and McAfee called the match. Cena scored an early two count and taunted Reigns over it. The broadcast team played up Reigns stating that he would leave WWE if he failed to leave the match with the championship.
Reigns took offensive control and taunted the crowd. He continued to rough up Cena at ringside. Reigns walked to the top of the ring steps and held up the title belt while telling the fans that they need him. Back inside the ring, Cena caught Reigns in an inside cradle for a near fall. Reigns got up and knocked Cena right back down with a clothesline.
Reigns jawed at Cena, who hoisted him onto his shoulders for his finisher, but Reigns slipped away and DDT’d Cena. Reigns covered Cena for a near fall and then glared at the referee over the count. Reigns looked into the camera and told Hollywood that he was going to hurt Cena. Once Cena got to his feet, he hit Reigns with a couple of punches, but Reigns caught him with an uppercut to knock him back down again.
Reigns talked trash about how easy it was. Cena rolled up Reigns for another two count. When they stood up, Reigns put Cena in a sleeper hold. Cena eventually got back to his feet only for Reigns to hop onto his back, causing Cena to fall back to his knees. Cena powered up again. Reigns hopped on his back while maintaining the hold, but Cena ran backwards and drove Reigns into the corner to break the hold. Both men stood up and Cena clotheslined Reigns.
Cena got up and hit a couple of shoulder block and then slammed Reigns to the mat. Cena did the You Can’t See Me bit over Reigns, who reached up and put him in a guillotine choke. Cena rolled into a pin, forcing Reigns to break the hold. When they stood up, Reigns dropped Cena with a Superman Punch.
Reigns went for a spear, but Cena cut him off. Cena performed the Five Knuckle Shuffle and followed up with an Attitude Adjustment for a good near fall. Heyman showed concern at ringside. Cena applied the STF. Reigns reached the bottom rope to break the hold. Reigns rolled to ringside. Cena followed and was immediately hit with a Drive By kick.
Moments later, Reigns charged at Cena, who gave him an AA through the broadcast table. Cena brought Reigns back inside the ring and covered him for another close near fall. Cena went to the ropes and jumped into a powerbomb from Reigns, who got a two count.
Reigns went for a Superman Punch, but Cena sidestepped it and rolled Reigns into a pin for a two count. Reigns avoided an AA and then tagged Cena with a Superman Punch. Reigns covered Cena for a two count and then showed frustration over not getting the pin. Reigns declared that this was it as he went to the corner and let out his war cry.
Reigns charged Cena with a spear attempt, but Cena avoided it, causing Reigns to crash and burn in the corner. Cena placed Reigns in a seated position on the top rope and then placed him on his shoulders and performed the Super AA for a great near fall.
Cena mimicked Reigns and charged him for a spear, but Reigns kicked him. Reigns and Cena traded punches while the crowd cheered Cena and booed Reigns. Roman got the better of it and tagged Cena with a pair of Superman Punches. Reigns declared that he is WWE. Reigns went to the corner and let out a war cry. Reigns speared and pinned Cena.
Roman Reigns defeated John Cena in 23:00 to retain the WWE Universal Championship.
After the match, Heyman placed a lei around the neck of Reigns and presented him with the title belt. Brock Lesnar’s entrance music played. Lesnar came out with his hair in a mohawk ponytail and wore jeans and a tank top as he walked to the ring to cheers. Heyman cowered in the corner of the ring. Lesnar did a lap around the ring while Reigns looked on in shock. Lesnar stood on top of the ring steps and smiled.
Lesnar entered the ring and approached Reigns, who moved toward him. Lesnar jawed at Reigns a little. Reigns backed out of the ring and left with Heyman while Lesnar smiled at him. Lesnar’s music played and then he played to the crowd while Reigns headed to the back.
Powell’s POV: The main event delivered in a big way. Reigns dominating early while Cena snuck in some two counts really worked in terms of those Cena near falls keeping things interesting. It was a battle of two iconic figures in WWE and it felt special. And I love that they didn’t just end the night with Reigns going over. They brought in the big crowd for Reigns vs. Cena, and then immediately set up Reigns vs. Lesnar for down the line. Overall, though, SummerSlam was very much a mixed bag. I really enjoyed the main event. I will be discussing it shortly with Jake Barnett in our audio review for Dot Net Members, and I’ll be by with a WWE SummerSlam Hit LIst on Sunday.
Join John Moore for his live view of NXT Takeover 36 on Sunday.
Either Orton is a great actor or he is legit having a blast
(Also that pop Riddle got was significant. That had to be noticed backstage)
Oh that Mario Lopez. *Scooby Doo huh noise*
That Becky Bianca bit sucked
This has been a snooze fest. They ruined Bianca with a 27 second loss to get a pop with Becky, I’m assuming as a rebuttal to CM Punk’s return.
WWE just seems so much more slower and childish. Feel like we’re reliving the 90’s again.
This is actually a smart comment. We are reliving the 90s (well not the best parts but I digress)
The best thing that ever happened to WWF/E was the temporary rise of WCW. Easy E and his blank checkbook took a lot of dead weight off Vince’a hands and while it took about 24 months for WWE to reboot it lead to the attitude era (arguably the most successful period for the company)
What is different this time is Tony Kahn’s dad has a TON of money so if they want to run AEW for a while and not worry about profit and loss they probably can.
But history shows that only running a wrestling show really is not profitable (you can only sell so many T-shirts to a million fans) so time will tell if AEW can diversify and eventually turn a profit
In the meantime tho I’m sure Vince and the other Kahn are fine with moving on from some of the people AEW is giving large sums of cash to. But the $64,000 question is how does WWE reboot? What theme will they move forward with. Who will be in charge. And most importantly who are their future stars to build around?
The current WWE product is on autopilot. The next 24 months should be fascinating
I still think there’s a better than 50/50 chance that Vince doesn’t even own WWE in 24 months. He’s going to be 76 on Tuesday, his health seems to have deteriorated significantly in the last 2-3 years, and Nick Khan has been cleaning house the way you do if you’re going to sell a company.
If not, then it’s most likely he’s really going through with a complete revamp of the type of people they recruit to NXT and tries to recreate something closer to early/mid 80s WWE.
If they are trying to reset to a format closer to the 80’s WWF then he/they better make the product and presentation a lot more colorful. Sure the in-ring workrate wasn’t top-notch for the most part but the characters WWF had in the eighties/early nineties were appealing not only to wrestling fans but casual people as well that didn’t actually watch the programming.
Right now the company just has no identity whatsoever in spite of having talented wrestlers on the roster.
The idea tonight was obviously to have the biggest names in the company at the top going into the fall. That is why Charlotte and Becky are your champs coming out of tonight, That is why Orton is carrying gold with the up and comer. The USOs also make sense as the top dogs in the Smackdown division.
Now that they have the stars at the top, where do they go long term? That is the trillion dollar question. Near-term, they will do the Lashley-Goldberg rematch. Perhaps Reigns-Lesner is your Survivor Series main event.
As for the women, isn’t there a roster shuffle coming? Would anyone be surprised if Belair is moved to RAW to feud with Charlotte, and perhaps Ripley going after Lynch? That would at least be fresh. We have no idea what is up with Banks (COVID?).
Obviously, when she is good to go, she has to be in the picture as well.
NXT will likely play a role as well, but who and when? Kross is obvious. Will they re-sign Cole with some sort of angle planned? Is the well-hyped recent class of recruits going to be fast-tracked? Will some of the Olympians who received a moment in the sun tonight come in? There are certainly long-term options they can use for a reset. The key is how they pull it off.
Those biggest names make sense in either the context of revamping how they sign and develop new talent or selling the company.
It also makes sense in the context of switching the US belt to Damien Priest, one of the few newer guys who fits the mold that Vince has always liked and having Boogs involved with Nakamura makes sense for the IC title.
Your idea for the Women’s belts make sense, and all of that feels like a holding pattern until Bayley comes back right around WM next year.
NXT will be interesting, especially since they cut quite a few people. Kross and Gonzalez fit the Vince mold, but the other champs don’t really. Austin Theory seems like a guy who could fill a role for a while for Vince. Cameron Grimes and Swerve Scott are both young enough and big enough that you would think that Vince might find a role for them as well. I don’t see Thatcher, Gargano, or Ciampa ever having a main roster spot and nobody else currently featured on NXT feels like a Vince type of worker. Rebooting that place is likely the key to everything the next 2 years.
Hilarious WWE thought Lynch and Lesnar would get anyone to stop talking about CM Punk in AEW. Just wait til how fun it will be when Bryan Danielson debuts.
They did enough to replace him on the ESPN front page.
Bryan isn’t the cultural phenomenon that either Lesnar or Punk are, and is only slightly bigger than Lynch.
Not a big deal I know,but what’s up with the lack of pyro?Just smoke?lol
Tony Khan cut pyro, lol!
I think the comments about regressing to the 80s and 90s are spot on. Think about it: we have gimmicks like Drew McIntyre being Scottish, Jinder Mahal being Indian, Roman Reigns being Samoan, Lashley being black and strong, Goldberg being old and no longer strong, Riddle being a surfer bro, Edge being back from retirement..
These characters are so one-dimensional they might as well be from the “occupational gimmick” era or the “dastardly foreign heel vs. all-American Hulk Hogan” era. What a creatively bankrupt place WWE is in.