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411’s WWE SummerSlam 2013 Report: 08.18.13
Welcome to 411’s WWE SummerSlam 2013 Report. For even more coverage, don’t forget to follow me on Twitter at @ScottSlimmer.
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United States Championship Match
Dean Ambrose (Champion) vs. Rob Van Dam
Van Dam and Ambrose lock up, and Ambrose quickly transitions to a rear hammer lock. Ambrose muscles Van Dam down to the mat, but Van Dam fights back to his feet and breaks the hold. Van Dam hits the ropes and drops Ambrose with a running shoulder block. Ambrose springs back to his feet, but Van Dam levels him with a reverse spin kick. Ambrose once again gets back to his feet, but Van Dam connects with a running clothesline. Ambrose traps Van Dam in the corner and works him over with a volley of punches and chops. Ambrose goes to work on the body, but Van Dam spins him around and connects with a volley of punches of his own. Van Dam whips Ambrose to the opposite corner and charges toward him but, Ambrose gets a boot up for a two count. Ambrose drags Van Dam back to his feet and delivers a neck breaker for another two count. Ambrose wrenches on Van Dam’s neck, ties him up in the ropes, and once again works over the body. Ambrose hits the ropes and connects with a running drop kick for yet another two count. Ambrose locks in a seated chin lock, but Van Dam fights back to his feet and levels Ambrose with a running clothesline. Van Dam whips Ambrose to the ropes and goes for his patented corner monkey flip, but Ambrose slides out of the way to avoid contact. Van Dam hops up top and connects with a flying crossbody. Ambrose sets up for the Headlock Driver, but Van Dam counters with a back heel kick. Van Dam heads up top to set up for the Five Star Frog Splash, but suddenly the Shield’s music hits. Van Dam climbs back down to the mat as Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns make their way toward the ring. Rollins, Reigns, and Ambrose surround Van Dam in the ring, but Mark Henry and the Big Show head down the ramp to even the odds. Ambrose heads back into the ring, and it looks like this match is going to continue. Ambrose catches Van Dam from behind with a standing chin lock and drags him down to his knees. Van Dam breaks the hold, but Ambrose whips him out of the ring and toward the Shield. Show and Henry make sure Rollins and Reigns don’t touch Van Dam, so Ambrose heads out to retrieve Van Dam. Van Dam suplexes Ambrose on the barrier and hits the apron-to-barrier leg drop. Van Dam rolls Ambrose back into the ring, heads up top, and hits a top rope rolling senton for a two count. Van Dam goes for Rolling Thunder, but Reigns cheap shots him from behind. Van Dam charges toward Ambrose, but Ambrose catches him with a spinebuster for a two count. Ambrose scoop slams Van Dam, heads up top, and goes for a flying senton, but Van Dam rolls out of the way to avoid contact. Van Dam heads up top and sets up for the Five Star Frog Splash, but Rollins provides the distractions. Ambrose whips Van Dam to the corner, but Van Dam catches him with a back elbow shot to the chin. Van Dam hits Rolling Thunder, heads up top, and connects with the Five Star Frog Splash, but Reigns charges into the ring and spears Van Dam for the disqualification. All three members of the Shield flee into the crowd as Show and Henry join Van Dam in the ring.
Match Result: Rob Van Dam defeats Dean Ambrose via disqualification.
Match Length: 13:44
Kane vs. Bray Wyatt w/ Luke Harper and Erick Rowan
The flames engulf the perimeter of the ring as soon as the bell rings, and Kane immediately drops Wyatt with an uppercut. Harper and Rowan creep toward the ring, but the flames shoot up to keep them at bay. Wyatt goes for a big boot, but Kane ducks, and Wyatt almost tumbles into the flames. Wyatt connects with a big splash in the corner and follows up with a running crossbody. Wyatt goes to work with mounted punches and grinds Kane’s face into the mat. Kane fights back to his feet and goes for the choke slam, but Wyatt breaks the hold. Kane regains control with a big splash in the corner and follows up with a sidewalk slam. Wyatt motions to Harper, and Harper retrieves a kendo stick from ringside. Harper tries to slide the kendo stick in to Wyatt, but the stick catches on fire. Harper drops the stick at ringside, and a fireman extinguishes it. Rowan grabs the fire extinguisher and puts out the flames on one side of the ring, but they immediately come back. Kane hits Wyatt with a choke slam, stares at Wyatt, and follows up with a second choke slam. Kane sets up for a Tombstone Piledriver, but Harper and Rowan throw a fireproof blanket over one edge of the ring and rush to Wyatt’s rescue. Harper and Rowan beat Kane down to the mat, but the match continues due to the no disqualification stipulation. Harper and Rowan hold Kane for Wyatt, and Wyatt delivers Sister Abigail (swinging reverse STO) for the three count. After the match, Wyatt sits in his rocking chair as Harper and Rowan drop the ring steps directly on Kane’s head. Harper and Rowan drag Kane to the back for unknown but undoubtedly nefarious purposes.
Match Result: Bray Wyatt defeats Kane with Sister Abigail.
Match Length: 7:39
Cody Rhodes vs. Damien Sandow
Rhodes and Sandow immediately lock up, and Rhodes muscles Sandow to the corner. Sandow charges at Rhodes, but Rhodes catches him with a big back body drop. Rhodes hits Sandow with a front suplex and gets a two count. Sandow knocks Rhodes off the ring apron, follows him out of the ring, and rams him back-first into the ring apron. Sandow rolls Rhodes back into the ring and delivers a suplex for a two count. Rhodes goes for an early Cross Rhodes, but Sandow counters and hits the Cubito Aequet. Sandow locks in a modified Sharpshooter, but Rhodes rolls to his back to kick Sandow away. Sandow heads up top, but Rhodes carries him off the top turnbuckle and hits a muscle buster. Sandow whips Rhodes to the ropes, waits for him to rebound, and ducks the head to telegraph the back body drop, but Rhodes drops to the mat and connects with the Goldust uppercut. Rhodes hits a gorgeous springboard drop kick and goes for the Disaster Kick, but Sandow counters and goes for a sunset flip, but Rhodes rolls forward for a two count. Rhodes hits the ropes and connects with the Disaster Kick for another two count. Rhodes charges toward Sandow in the corner, but Sandow slides out of the way and causes Rhodes to post himself in the corner. Sandow waits for Rhodes to get back to his feet, but Rhodes catches him with the Cross Rhodes for the three count.
Match Result: Cody Rhodes defeats Damien Sandow with Cross Rhodes.
Match Length: 6:42
Alberto Del Rio (Champion) vs. Christian
Del Rio catches Christian in a standing side head lock and throws him down to the mat. Christian gets back to his feet and whips Del Rio over the top rope. Christian follows Del Rio out of the ring and chases him back between the ropes. Christian heads up top and jumps over Del Rio when Del Rio tries to make him lose his balance. Christian sets up for a top rope hurricanrana, but Del Rio slides out the bottom and crotches Christian on the top turnbuckle. Christian ends up in the tree of woe, and Del Rio drills Christian with a running kick to the shoulder. Christian tumbles out of the ring, and Del Rio follows him. Del Rio throws Christian shoulder-first into the barrier and rolls him back into the ring for a two count. Del Rio wrenches on Christian’s arm and shoulder, but Christian fights back to his feet and breaks the hold. Christian hits the ropes and charges at Del Rio, but Del Rio throws him up into the air and lets him slam face-first into the mat. Del Rio drapes Christian over the second rope and connects with a drop kick to the injured shoulder. Del Rio charges at Christian, but Christian slides out of the way, and Del Rio tumbles between the ropes and out of the ring. Christian heads up top and connects with a flying splash to Del Rio on the outside. Christian and Del Rio both make their way back into the ring, and Del Rio immediately begins to stomp on Christian’s injured shoulder. Del Rio is doing a great job of working over Christian’s shoulder to set up for the cross armbreaker. Christian heads up top and Del Rio goes for the ring-assisted step-up enzuigiri, but Christian leans back to avoid contact. Christian goes for the Kill Switch, but Del Rio counters. Christian again tries to head up top, but Del Rio catches him with a Backstabber off the second rope. Del Rio catches Christian with an enzuigiri in the corner and makes the cover, but Christian kicks out at two. Del Rio heads up top and goes for a senton, but Christian slides out of the way. Christian heads up top and connects with a top rope flying elbow shot. Christian takes Del Rio up top and hits the top rope hurricanrana, but he only gets a two count. Christian heads to the corner and sets up for the Spear, but Del Rio counters with a vicious drop kick to the face. Del Rio sets up for the cross armbreaker, but Christian counters and drop toe holds Del Rio into the rope. Christian leaps the tope rope and connects with an uppercut, but Del Rio hits him with another drop kick when he tries to get back into the ring. “This is awesome! This is awesome! This is awesome!” Del Rio goes for a running knee shot, but Christian rolls him up for a two count. Christian hits a Spear with the bad shoulder, but he’s in so much pain that he can’t make the cover. Del Rio locks in the cross armbreaker, and Christian has no choice but to tap.
Match Result: Alberto Del Rio defeats Christian with the Cross Armbreaker.
Match Length: 12:06
After the match, Del Rio grabs a mic and says that he will be a hero to the Latino community. The Latinos need a hero, and they have one – Alberto Del Rio. That promo seemed like it was setting up Rey Mysterio’s return, but it evidently wasn’t meant to be.
The Miz is in the back with Maria Menounos, who teamed up with Natalya to defeat Brie Bella and Eva Marie at SummerSlam Axxess earlier today. Fandango inexplicably dances his way onto the scene, so Miz and Maria show Fandango what real ballroom dancing looks like. That was… bizarre.
Natalya w/ The Funkadactyls vs. Brie Bella w/ Nikki Bella and Eva Marie
Brie and Natalya trade slaps to start, but Natalya catches Brie with a double leg takedown and goes for the Sharpshooter. Brie escapes and rolls to the outside, but Natalya give chase and rolls her back into the ring. Natalya climbs up onto the ring apron, but Nikki and Eva Marie pull the ring skirt to make her lose her balance. Brie rolls Natalya back into the ring and hits a standing leg drop. Brie hits another standing leg drop, traps Natalya in the corner, and drives her shoulder into Natalya’s gut. By the way, the crowd has been chanting for JBL and Jerry Lawler for most of the match, and now their demanding tables. Awesome. Natalya regains control with a jaw breaker and locks in the Sharpshooter, but Brie reverses and sends Natalya slamming into the corner. The Funkadactyls attack Nikki and Eva Marie to prevent them from interfering. Brie kicks Natalya in the chest and goes for a sunset flip, but Natalya catches her and counter into an Alabama Slamma. Natalya once again locks in the Sharpshooter, and Brie has no choice but to tap.
Match Result: Natalya defeats Brie Bella with the Sharpshooter.
Match Length: 5:15
No Disqualification Match
CM Punk vs. Brock Lesnar w/ Paul Heyman
For those of you who believe that Punk has been channeling Wolverine as of late, Punk is wearing blue and gold trunks tonight. Lesnar takes control right from the start. Lesnar tosses Punk all around the ring, and it looks like this might be a very short match. Lesnar traps Punk in the corner and chokes him against the turnbuckle, but Punk fights back with a knee to the face. Punk connects with another knee to the face, and a third knee to the face knocks Lesnar out of the ring. Punk drills Lesnar with a suicide dive and picks up the ring steps, but Lesnar runs shoulder first into the steps, driving them into Punk. Lesnar picks up Punk and tries to drive him shoulder first into the ring post, but Punk floats over and shoves Lesnar into the ring post. Punk heads up top and connects with a dive onto Lesnar on the outside. Punk climbs up onto the announce table and levels Punk with a flying shoulder tackle. Punk sees Heyman and begins to stalk him, but that gives Lesnar a chance to level him from behind. Lesnar tosses Punk clear over the announce table and then bounces him off the other announce table. Lesnar sets the table cover on Punk and stomps on it, breaking it over Punk’s back. Lesnar delivers a gorgeous hammer lock suplex on the outside. Lesnar rolls Punk back into the ring, but Punk regains control with a series of leg kicks. Lesnar stops Punk’s momentum with a stiff clothesline. Lesnar traps Punk in the corner and repeatedly drives his shoulder into Punk’s gut. Lesnar locks in a big bear hug in the middle of the ring, but punk breaks the hold with elbow shots to the bridge of the nose. Punk charges at Lesnar, but Lesnar immediately regains control with a knee to the gut. That was… impactful. Lesnar targets Punk’s ribs with repeated kneed shots. Lesnar goes right back to the bear hug in the middle of the ring. Punk again breaks the hold, heads up top, and goes for a flying crossbody, but Lesnar catches Punk in mid-air and delivers a gorgeous fall away slam. Seriously, he sent Punk most away across the ring with that one. Lesnar picks up Punk, drops Punk ribs-first onto his knee, and slams him to the mat for a two count. Lesnar locks in a seated chin lock, but Punk fights back to his feet and BITES THE EAR! PUNK CHANNELS MIKE TYSON! Punk connects with a volley of short elbow shots, heads up tope, and connects with a top rope flying knee to the face. Punk hits two of his patented corner knee shots, but Lesnar catches him on the third. Punk creates distance with a roundhouse kick to the face, heads up top, and lands the Macho Man Flying Elbow Drop. Punk calls for the Go-To-Sleep, but Lesnar tries to counter into the F5, but Punk counters into another roundhouse kick to the face. Punk again goes for the Go-To-Sleep, but Lesnar counters into the kimura. Lesnar drags Punk down to the mat and grapevines the legs, but Punk counters into an arm bar. Lesnar tries to roll out, so Punk transitions into a triangle choke. Lesnar is close to tapping, but he’s able to lift Punk and powerbomb him. Punk managed to maintain the triangle choke throughout the powerbomb, but Lesnar again gets his feet under him and lifts Punk into the air. Punk drives his elbow onto the top of Lesnar’s head, but Lesnar damn near breaks Punk in half with a massive running powerbomb. Lesnar drags Punk back to his feet and hits the Guerrero rolling suplexes for a LOOONG two count. Lesnar heads to the outside and grabs a chair. Punk heads up top and flies at Lesnar on the outside. Lesnar gets the chair up, and both men tumble to the ground with the chair between them. Punk grabs the chair and unloads on Lesnar. Lesnar rolls back into the ring, and Punk follows him with the chair. Punk swings at Lesnar, but Lesnar catches the chair. Lesnar swings at Punk, but Punk counters with a blatant low blow, which totally pops the crowd. Punk grabs the chair, heads up top, and delivers a brutal Macho Man Flying Elbow Drop with the chair. Punk makes the cover, but Lesnar kicks out at two. Punk repeatedly slams the chair into Lesnar’s back, but Heyman climbs up onto the ring apron and pulls the chair away from Punk. Heyman’s distraction allows Lesnar to go for the F-5, but Punk grabs Heyman’s tie to block. Lesnar drops Punk, and Punk counters into the Go-To-Sleep. Punk makes the cover, but Heyman slides into the ring and breaks up the pin. Heyman once again distracts Punk. That allows Lesnar to once again go for the F-5, but Punk counters into a second Go-To-Sleep. Punk locks in the Anaconda Vice, but Heyman slides into the ring with the chair. Punk releases the hold and stands on the chair. Punk levels Heyman with a single punch and locks in the Anaconda Vice on Heyman. Lesnar grabs the chair and breaks the hold with a thunderous chair shot to Punk’s back. Lesnar follows up with two more chair shots to Punk’s back. Lesnar hits the F-5 right onto the chair and gets the three count.
Match Result: Brock Lesnar defeats CM Punk with an F-5 onto a steel chair.
Match Length: 22:00ish (stopwatch issues)
Dolph Ziggler & Kaitlyn vs. Big E Langston & AJ Lee
Ziggler and Langston start, and Ziggler connects with a drop kick to Langston. Ziggler makes the tag to Kaitlyn, so Langston is forced to make the tag to AJ. AJ connects with a spinning kick for a two count. AJ slams Kaitlyn’s head into the top turnbuckle and follows up with a snap mare takedown and a European headlock. Kaitlyn fights back to her feet and charges at AJ, but AJ catches her with a back elbow shot for another two count. AJ hits two neck breakers and drags Kaitlyn back to her feet. AJ locks in a rear chin lock, but Kaitlyn slams AJ into the corner to break the hold. Kaitlyn lands a shoulder tackle and makes the tag to Ziggler, so AJ makes the tag to Langston. Ziggler hits the rapid fire standing elbow drops for a two count. Langston lifts Ziggler and drops him back-first onto his knee. Langston goes for the cover, but Kaitlyn breaks up the pin. AJ charges into the ring and kicks Kaitlyn out of the ring. Langston charges Ziggler in the corner, but Ziggler slides out of the way, causing Langston to post himself in the corner. AJ grabs Ziggler’s leg from the outside, but Kaitlyn spears her. Langston sets up for the Big Ending, but Ziggler counters into the Zig Zag for the three count.
Match Result: Dolph Ziggler defeats Big E Langston with the Zig Zag.
Match Length: 6:44
Special Guest Referee: Triple H
John Cena (Champion) vs. Daniel Bryan
Cena and Bryan lock up to start, and Cena transitions to a standing side head lock. Cena drags Bryan down to the mat, but Bryan fights back to his feet and breaks the hold with a deep arm drag takedown. “You can’t wrestle! You can’t wrestle! You can’t wrestle!” Cena and Bryan lock up in a test of strength, and Cena quickly gets the better of it. Cena pins Bryan, but Bryan bridges to break the count. Cena jumps on Bryan, but he can’t break Bryan’s pin. Cena pulls Bryan back to his feet, but Bryan counters into a monkey flip. That sequence was taken directly from their 2003 match on Velocity. Love it. Bryan backslides Cena, but Cena kicks out at two. Bryan goes for the surfboard, but Cena prevents him from locking it in. Cena goes for the Attitude Adjustment, but Bryan floats over onto the ring apron. Cena hits the ropes and slams into Bryan, knocking him off the ring apron. Bryan hits the announce table HARD, and Cena follows him out of the ring. Cena slams Bryan into the ring steps, but Bryan regains control and goes sets up for what looks like a brainbuster on the steps, but Cena reverses into a suplex off the steps onto the floor. Both men head back into the ring, and Cena connects with a boot to the face. Cena drags Bryan back to his feet and hits him with a gorgeous sit-out powerbomb for a two count. When was the last time you saw Cena hit a sit-out powerbomb? Cena locks in a seated rear chin lock, but Bryan fight back to his feet and breaks the hold. Bryan beats Cena into the corner with elbow shots to the face and kicks to the gut. Cena creates distance with a knee to the gut, but Bryan regains control with a running clothesline. Cena gets to his knees and Bryan connects with a volley of kick to the body, but Cena ducks the head kick. Cena hits the Protobomb and sets up for the Five Knuckle Shuffle, but Bryan kicks him in the face. Cena hits another Protobomb and lands the Five Knuckle Shuffle, much to the displeasure of the crowd. Cena goes for the Attitude Adjustment, but Bryan flips all the way over the land on his feet (pretty much). Bryan heads up top and connects with a top rope drop kick for a two count. Bryan goes back to the kicks to Cena’s injured arm. Bryan wrenches Cena’s injured elbow over his shoulder. Bryan continues to kick the injured shoulder, and every time he screams at Cena to get back up. Cena goes for the STF, but Bryan counters into an STF of his own. Bryan drags Cena back to his feet and hits a gorgeous bridging leg-lock German suplex for two. Bryan hits another bridging German suplex for another two count. Bryan locks in the Yes Lock, but Cena fights back to his feet, so Bryan transitions into a Dragon Sleeper. Bryan drags Cena down to the mat and grapevines the legs. Cena fights back to his feet and slams Bryan into the corner, but Bryan doesn’t release the hold. Cena finally flips Bryan over his head and onto the ropes to break the hold. Bryan charges at Cena, and Cena catches him with the Attitude Adjustment for a two count. “Yes! Yes! Yes!” Cena heads up top, but Bryan follows him up. Cena pushes Bryan down to the mat, but Bryan spring right back up top. Cena again pushes Bryan down to the mat, but Bryan lands a drop kick to Cena on the top rope. Bryan heads up top and hits a SPIDER SUPERPLEX. Bryan pulls himself back up top and hits the top rope diving head butt for a LOONG two count. Cena rolls out of the ring to catch a breather. Bryan goes for a suicide dive, but Cena catches him with an uppercut between the ropes. Cena heads up top and lands a top rope diving leg drop for a two count. Cena takes Bryan up top and sets up for a second rope Attitude Adjustment, but Bryan fights back with elbow shots to the head. Bryan goes for a top rope hurricanrana, but Cena leans back and hangs on to counter. Bryan is hanging from Cena’s shoulders, and Cena jumps down to the mat, damn near dropping Bryan right on his head. That was precariously close to being a VERY bad situation. That may have been something akin to a top rope Styles Clash. Anyway, Cena locks in the STF, but Bryan counters into the Yes Lock. Cena breaks the hold, but Bryan lands a running dropkick in the corner. Bryan lands a second running dropkick in the corner, but Cena catches him with a brutal running clothesline when Bryan goes for a third running dropkick. Cena and Bryan slug it out in the middle of the ring and then trade leg kicks. Cena and Bryan both his the ropes and collide with a simultaneous running shoulder tackle / flying elbow shot. Both men are down in the middle of the ring. Cena and Bryan use each other to climb back to their feet. The slap each other again and again and again, just like Bryan described Monday night on Raw. Cena whips Bryan to the corner and Bryan tries to run up the turnbuckles into a back flip, but Cena catches Bryan in mid-air (pretty much). Cena goes for the Attitude Adjustment, but Bryan counters into a DDT. Bryan heads up top and goes for a flying crossbody, but Cena catches him in mid-air again. Cena goes for the Attitude Adjustment, but Bryan counters into an inside cradle for a two count. Bryan lands a kick to the side of the head and follows up with a running knee shot to the head for the three count.
Match Result: Daniel Bryan defeats John Cena with a running knee shot to the head.
Match Length: 26:56
After the match, Randy Orton makes his way down to the ring with the Money in the Bank briefcase. Orton stares at Bryan but decides to head back up the ramp. He pauses halfway, looks back at the ring… AND WATCHES TRIPLE H PEDIGREE DANIEL BRYAN! ORTON CASHES IN MONEY IN THE BANK AND WINS THE WWE CHAMPIONSHIP! ORTON AND TRIPLE H WERE IN CAHOOTS! EVOLUTION2K13!
