By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
WWE SummerSlam Kickoff Show
Aired live August 21, 2021 on Peacock, WWE Network, and social media
Las Vegas, Nevada at Allegiant Stadium
-Kayla Braxton hosted the show on the stadium floor and was joined by Booker T, Jerry Lawler, Kevin Patrick, and Peter Rosenberg. There were masked fans standing behind the panel. Patrick was the rookie of the panel, but he worked in an obligatory shot at Rosenberg.
-Big E vs. Baron Corbin was announced as a Kickoff Show match.
Powell’s POV: Why didn’t they announce that match last night or even today before the show? Strange.
-A video package spotlighted Bobby Lashley vs. Goldberg for the WWE Championship.
-The Smackdown Women’s Championship match between Bianca Belair and Sasha Banks was featured in a video package.
-Sonya Deville joined the panel and spoke about Belair vs. Banks.
-An Edge vs. Seth Rollins video package aired.
-The next video package was on Nikki ASH vs. Charlotte Flair vs. Rhea Ripley for the Raw Women’s Championship.
-The Miz and John Morrison were shown arriving at the stadium in a Pure Life water truck with the SummerSlam logo on the side.
-Mike Rome stood in the ring and introduced Raine Cruz as the guest ring announcer (she won the TikTok contest). She did really well.
1. Big E vs. Baron Corbin. The Smackdown broadcast team of Michael Cole and Pat McAfee called the match. Corbin brought the Money in the Bank briefcase to the ring with him like an idiot (though I suppose we don’t know if the contract is inside). Corbin didn’t want to let go of the briefcase and reluctantly handed it to the referee before the opening bell.
Big E performed a nice overhead belly to belly suplex, then followed up with a back suplex and covered Corbin for a two count. Big E placed Corbin over the apron and tried to splash him, but Corbin rolled out of the way. Corbin hoped to win via count-out, but Big E returned to the ring. Corbin immediately ran him through the ropes and into the ring post three times.
Big E came back briefly with a Stretch Muffler, but Corbin rolled out of it. Corbin hit the Deep Six for a near fall. A short time later, Corbin tried to leave with the briefcase, but Big E sent him crashing into the barricade with a shoulder block. Corbin ended up on the apron and was hit with the Big E spear through the ropes. Back inside the ring, Big E hit the Big Ending and scored the pin.
Big E defeated Baron Corbin in 6:35.
After the match, Logan Paul was shown applauding Big E in the front row. Big E celebrated with the Money in the Bank briefcase…
Powell’s POV: A solid Kickoff Show match. I still don’t understand why they didn’t advertise this match in advance after giving the MITB briefcase angle a solid amount of television time over the last couple of weeks.
-The panel ran through the pay-per-view lineup and then a video package aired on the Roman Reigns vs. John Cena match for the WWE Universal Championship. The panel discussed the match to close the show.
Join me for my live review of the WWE SummerSlam main card via the main page.
This is for anyone because I can’t figure this out? How do you find the kickoff shows on Peacock. I’ve missed each one since The Cock Era. They don’t list it separate like WWE network did. Just seems unreasonably inaccessible…. If anyone knows? Please help me! It’s super frustrating. Thank you.
Just use the actual SummerSlam show link. At least that’s how it worked via Peacock on Roku. If that doesn’t work, they stream the show on YouTube and elsewhere. Good luck.
Thank you so much! Much appreciated!