Csonka’s WWE Summerslam Review 8.23.15

WWE Summerslam Review 8.23.15

OFFICIAL RESULTS
– Sheamus defeated Randy Orton @ 12:14 via pin [**¾]
– Fatal 4 Way WWE Tag Team Title Match: New Day won the titles @ 11:25 via pin [***¼]
– Rusev vs. Dolph Ziggler went to a double count out @ 12:05 [**¼]
– Stephen Amell & Neville defeated King Barrett & Stardust @ 7:35 via pin [**½]
– IC Title Match: Champion Ryback defeated Miz and Big Show @ 5:13 via pin [**]
– Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose defeated Bray Wyatt and Luke Harper @ 10:54 via pin [***¾]
– Winner Takes All US & World Heavyweight Title Match: Seth Rollins defeated John Cena @ 19:26 via pin to retain the WWE Title and to win the US Title [****]
– 9 Diva Tag Team Elimination Match: Team PCB defeated team Bella and Team BAD @ 15:17 via pin [*]
– Kevin Owens defeated Cesaro @ 14:10 via pin [***½]
– Undertaker defeated Brock Lesnar @ 17:17 via submission [***¾]

---

* They had a segment with Jon Stewart and Mick Foley to kick off the show.

Sheamus vs. Randy Orton: This wouldn’t have been my choice for the opener, but overall this was rock solid. I personally feel that these guys don’t have the greatest chemistry, their matches are fine, usually not bad, but they hit a level and then it just stays there. The middle was a little slow, but I felt that what they did largely worked and they didn’t let the crowd get to them. Overall this served as a fine opener, with Sheamus winning clean after two brogue kicks. I really liked the fact that they didn’t do any bullshit; they had a match and one guy won with his move, no messing around.

Fatal 4 Way WWE Tag Team Title Match: The New Day vs. The Lucha Dragons vs. Los Matadores vs. Champions The Prime Time Players: New Day was great early, tagging in both members and trying to get the pin to steal the titles. I like those little things that they do, a little tribute to the New Age Outlaws. Big E tried to end Young by hitting a big splash on the apron, which looked as if it sucked for Young. Young’s mouth was later bleeding following a rough kick from Kofi. New Day dominated the match, with Woods being so much fun on the outside. Titus finally got the hot tag and ran wild, and the crowd responded very well. It got wild down the stretch, with everyone in and some sloppiness from Cara and a Matadore. It was really chaotic, but also fun. One of the Matadores fell to the floor as they were working a tower of doom spot, but the other smartly took his place and things went on. Kofi had got the blind tag, Big E took out Titus and Kofi snuck in to pin the Matadore for the win. New Day then did their glorious celebration (with BIG E DANCING!), and the crowd loved it. Despite a couple small issues (sloppiness) when it broke down, this was a really fun and enjoyable match with a smart finish and great reaction from the crowd.

* Stewart talked with Amell and Neville, and the lights dropped and Taker walked through with some fog.

Rusev w/Summer vs. Dolph Ziggler w/Lana: Lana is now dressing like a late 80s high school chick on her way to a New Kids concert. Something from the Saved by the Bell collection by Tiffani Amber Thiessen. Summer apparently hit a Debra McMichael yard sale. They brawled right away, with Rusev taking control early and beating Ziggler down. It quickly slowed as Rusev worked a bear hug spot that felt as if it lasted way longer than it was. After a Ziggler comeback and some back and forth, Ziggler got the sleeper to wear down Rusev. After an escape, Rusev posted himself and ate the fameasser for a good near fall. Ziggler would fight back and get the accolade. Summer and Lana fought, which distracted Rusev. They went to the floor, Summer took out Lana and Ziggler superkicked Rusev, and we got a double countout to set up the mixed tag match. They all brawled post match to make sure we know that the mixed tag is coming. The match was ok, but completely unspectacular; it was really just an angle to get to the mixed tag match. It’s fine, but really felt as it this should have been on TV and not the second biggest PPV of the year. I also feel that both Rusev and Ziggler could be doing so much more, this felt disappointing.

Stephen Amell & Neville vs. King Barrett & Stardust: I have to say, I am really glad that Barrett, Stardust and Neville are getting shots on the show, and I like Arrow, so I am pretty excited for the match. Neville and Barrett have developed a good chemistry. Amell got in some spots to show off his athleticism, and then Barrett and Stardust got the heat on him and he sold pretty well. Neville got the hot tag, ran wild and looked to finish off Barrett, but Stardust made the save. Amell hit a high cross from the ring to the floor, Neville hit the red arrow and pinned Barrett. That was a perfectly enjoyable and acceptable match. Amell did enough to look fine, while Barrett, Stardust and Neville worked hard to made the match work, with Neville especially looking good on the big stage. They showed the Tough Enough finalists at ringside, and they likely feel shamed that Amell is already better than they are.

IC Title Match: Champion Ryback vs. The Miz vs. Big Show: Everyone has new gear and a lot of guys are trying new shit, like Big Show doing a second rope senton.

https://twitter.com/SenorLARIATO/status/635610268232511488

I have no words. Show dominated most of the match, with Miz taking a nap on the floor. Ryback would hit Show with shellshock, and then snuck in and hit the skull-crushing finale on Ryback for a near fall. They did a lot of stealing pins and such down the stretch, Show KO’d Miz and then Ryback clotheslined him to the floor and covered Miz for the win. Well, it was better than I thought, but I wouldn’t call it good. They did a lot of moving parts, and the right guy won. Lets move on.

* Jon Stewart tried to interview Brock Lesnar, and Heyman told him that it was a bad time. Stewart plays angry fan and is pissed that Lesnar broke the streak. Heyman then sang some of his “Glory, Glory, Brock Lesnar” song and then said WWE couldn’t get Letterman to host.

* The show has been fine so far, but these remaining matches really have to kick it up a notch.

Bray Wyatt and Luke Harper vs. Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose: This had a great energy early, with chaotic brawling and action to the floor. Ambrose ran across all three announce tables to attack Wyatt; the pacing and action was really what I had hoped for to help turn the show around. Hey Wyatt’s took out Reigns with am apron Uranage and suicide dive, allowing them to work over Ambrose. During the heat on Ambrose, the crowd actually chanted “Roman’s sleeping” and then popped when he got to the apron. Reigns got the hot tag and battled with Harper, those guys just kick the shit out of each other. Reigns hit Superman punches to both Harper and Wyatt, and then he and Ambrose hit the Doomsday Device on Wyatt for a near fall. After cleaning house a bit more, Reigns hit the spear on Wyatt and picked up the win. This was exactly what it needed to be, which is why it succeeded. It was wild, chaotic, kept a great pace and felt completely different than anything on the card. This was easily the best thing on the show so far, and exactly what the show needed.

Winner Takes All US & World Heavyweight Title Match: John Cena vs. Seth Rollins: Seth Rollins debuted new all white gear here, looking like the white Power Ranger. If this were several years ago I would say that it was a perfect “I’m going to bleed like a stuck pig” outfit. With this going on so early, my initial thought is a long and good match with a bad finish. I hope I am wrong on the bad finish. After a slow start, Rollins summoned his AR Fox power card and hit three consecutive dives. Rollins largely controlled early answering Cena and busting out the meteora, a standing shooting star press and the double stomp from the corner. Outside of Cena’s ugly as hell springboard stunner, we were off to a really good start. We had a scary spot as Rollins countered the top rope AA into the buckle bomb, but they almost completely lost it but recovered. Rollins later stole the roll through spot and powered Cena up into an AA for a near fall, which was cool. Rollins continually tried for the pedigree, but Cena would counter, including once into a figure four to play off of the Flair name-drop on Monday. Rollins followed with a great near fall off of the superplex, which he rolled into the falcon arrow. Cena hit an AA, and we had a REF BUMP… UGH. Rollins hit the knee to the face of Cena, and then Jon Stewart ran in with a chair, and hit Cena. Rollins hit the pedigree on the chair and that was it. The match was really, really good and I thought that they were heading for something special, and then that finish just killed it for me. I haven’t been a huge fan of Rollins’ title run, but he looked so awesome here and it felt like we were going to have a special match. Instead, they opted to so what they do and did the shit finish to make sure they get some extra SportsCenter time. Not exactly long, but they had a really good match with the bad finish. Give that a few more minutes and a clean finish and it’s likely a MOTY contender. I guess when you have a match that is for two titles and hyped as important, asking for a clean and decisive finish is too much to ask from WWE. They worked the right match, both guys delivered, I just feel that the booking failed.

* They are doing a live special on the Network from Madison Square Garden, which will feature Brock Lesnar.

9 Diva Tag Team Elimination Match: Team Bella vs. PCB vs. Team BAD: Once a member of your team is defeated, the whole team is done. Team BAD controlled early, getting the heat on Becky. It spilled to the floor, where Naomi and Sasha and then Brie and Nikki hit dives. Fox and Paige then went up top and Fox got pushed off onto the pile, and then Paige hit a senton onto the pile. Brie then hit an X-Factor onto Tamina to eliminate Team BAD at about the 6-minute mark. Sasha Banks, who was the focal point of last night’s homerun event, is nothing more than a body in this match. That’s the issue with “the revolution” is that there are too many people involved, no real story and just matches happening with no real consequences. This wasn’t good, it was slow and lacked heat outside of the dives, which always get a reaction, but it; snot as if they were very good or impressive. After a long beat down on Paige, Charlotte got the hot tag and ran wild to a mild reaction. Charlotte almost flubbed the figure four again, and then she did a double down a spot with Fox. Brie and Becky then got tags, they brawled a bit and Brie missed the missile dropkick (have you ever watched a baby bird fall out of a nest and crash and burn? It was just like that). Becky then won with a suplex. It was rough, unfocused and felt really long, way longer than it actually was. The right person scored the big win, but outside of that, this was rather bad at times. This is the exact opposite of what they need to make this revolution work, they need a trademark match, like from last night’s Takeover event to really turn heads. I never got into this match at all.

Kevin Owens vs. Cesaro: They worked a really hot opening (brawling, dives and such) to get the crowd into the match right away. Owens was in his “fuck you heel mode” like at Takeover, and he really thrives at that. Owens had the heat for a while, and then they worked into a really good back and forth segment. Cesaro’s a freak, hitting a dead lift gut wrench superplex at one point. I am sure this won’t come as a shock to you, but these guys work really well together. Cesaro scored with the swing and sharpshooter, but Owens escaped. Owens crotched Cesaro on the ropes, hit the fisherman’s buster and then scored with the pop up powerbomb for the win. This was an overall good match, which would have thrived in the opening slot when the crowd was red hot.

Brock Lesnar vs. The Undertaker: Lesnar attacked as soon as Taker hit the ring, and they brawled with Taker sending Lesnar to the floor. The match officially started and Lesnar hit a double leg takedown and we basically went into a brawl, which I am fine with. Taker would survive early suplexes, and hit the snake eyes and big boot to take Lesnar to the floor. Lesnar was cut over the right eye during the exchange. Lesnar, not pleased that Taker made him bleed his own blood, fought back with more suplexes. This led to them going to the floor and Lesnar hitting the F5 through the announce table. Once again Lesnar vowed to kill Taker, and Taker told him he’d have to and hit a sweet chokeslam. Lesnar then survived the tombstone, and when Taker sat up so did Lesnar. Lesnar laughed and Taker got pissed and then they just brawled again.

https://twitter.com/SenorLARIATO/status/635641515759534080

After Lesnar worked the kimura in the corner, Taker hit the last ride for another near fall, and then Lesnar hit the F5 for a near fall as they just kept going back and forth. Lesnar escaped the gogoplata, and got the kimura. Taker was trying to roll up Lesnar, and the bell rang and they played up that the timekeeper thought Taker tapped. On the replay, we see that Taker DID tap. Taker then hit a low blow and the gogoplata again, Lesnar flipped Taker the bird as he faded and then the match was stopped. Now I didn’t have high expectations, but I thought that they worked the right match and that they were putting on one hell of a match overall, working a good and physical style that felt like a fight at times. That was until the finish. This was the second very good match that really got hurt by the finish. I get that Taker tapped and took the cheap way out to extend the feud, but if they were going to do this then they shouldn’t have done the bullshit finish to Cena and Rollins. This was actually really clever, but comes off as annoying because it’s the second shenanigan filled finish on the show, so it fells like diminishing returns. Also, on one of the bigger shows of the year I wanted some great wrestling and good finishes, not ones that frustrated me. My guess is that this plays into the narrative that Lesnar has not “REALLY” been defeated in 2.5 years and they play that up for another possible WM match, which has been the rumor. I hope Lesnar takes this up with the New York Athletic commission, some shitty officiating here.

* End scene.

* Thanks for reading.

“Byyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyye Felicia!”

6.5

The final score: review Average

The 411

The opener was good, the tag match was a bit better, Rusev vs. Ziggler was fine, the Amell tag was solid and what it needed to be, the IC Title match was fine, and the Shield vs. Wyatts tag was very good. So we had a rock solid undercard, and were setting for the main matches to deliver. Rollins and Cena had a great match that could have ended up being epic if not for the finish, which was simply frustrating and a page out of the Russo playbook. They tried, but the ladies mess was an unfocused mess; the good news is that Owens and Cesaro rebounded and delivered a good match that set us up for the main event. The main event was over delivering on my expectations, and I dug the vibe; it was what it needed to be and it was working. And then the finish came, and while clever, it felt lazy following the finish of Cena vs. Rollins. There was a ton of effort on this show in the ring, and also some very good wrestling at times. But like a lot of the WWE main product, that hard work was rewarded with a poor effort from the creative team. We had a shit finish at Battleground, which led to the Summerslam main event, and then they do two poor finishes on this show and it just feels insulting at this point. Summerslam was a show with a lot of potential, but came off as an average show and overall disappointing to me.