wrestling / Columns

The WWE Weekend in Review

August 26, 2016 | Posted by RSarnecky
Brock Lesnar WWE Image Credit: WWE

It’s been billed as the biggest weekend of the summer in professional wrestling, and this past weekend lived up to the title. From the wrestling shows to backstage shenanigans, SummerSlam weekend definitely lived up to the hype surrounding the show. Unfortunately, I didn’t see anything that Evolve or Ring of Honor had to offer, so I can only judge the weekend from a WWE perspective. After four days of watching WWE wrestling, I’m exhausted. For those of you who also took in the Evolve and Ring of Honor shows, you must be ready for hibernation. The highest level of respect for those that saw all of the shows this past weekend.

NXT


Let me start out by saying that I am a casual viewer of the NXT brand. I don’t usually watch the weekly show. However, I always try to watch the Takeover specials as they usually deliver a fantastic show. This past Saturday was no different. NXT Takeover Back II Brooklyn was really good. Austin Aries is terrific in a heel role. If he was six feet tall, Aries would be in the main events on the main roster. The guy always delivers, and his upcoming feud with Hideo Itami should deliver a tremendous in ring product.

I was really curious about how the Andrade “Cien” Almas vs. Bobby Roode match would come off since the two men wrestle different styles. The former “La Sombra” needs to go back to that gimmick, or something vaguely familiar. The outfit with the suspenders and hat that he wore to the ring are death for him as a character. It made him feel like a midcard act, and Almas can be so much more. Speaking of entrances, Bobby Roode’s entrance as main event megastar written all over it. Everything about it was awesome. From standing high above the crowd on a pulpit where he appeared as a holier than though being to his entrance song “Glorious,” Bobby Roode became one of the top stars in NXT in just one night. While the pump handle slam is a weak finisher, Bobby Roode represented the TNA alumni well that night. While watching the match, and seeing how Roode was made a star, all I could think of is if James Storm regrets resigning with TNA instead of going to NXT. This time next year, Bobby Roode will probably be on the WWE’s main roster. He took a gamble on himself, and it looks like it’s paying off.

The first title match of the night featured Tommaso Ciampa and Johnny Gargano vs. The Revival for the NXT Tag Team Championships. What else can I say but WOW! The first time I saw Dash and Dawson, I couldn’t tell them apart. I still can’t. It’s not that they look alike. It’s that they were kind of generic looking. While the matches that I saw them in were good, I never gave them the credit that they deserved. I thought it was all their opponents making them look good. I was so wrong about the Revival. They are a tremendous team. They do such little, subtle heel tactics that guys just don’t do today. On the broadcast, they referenced that they were this generations version of the Andersons. I think that they remind me more of Tully Blanchard and Arn Anderson. Now, I haven’t heard them do any interviews, so I’m not sure if they are good on the mic. However, I can’t help but think that if they had a Jim Cornette or Bobby Heenan type of manager with them that their act could be one of the best heel tag teams over the next decade. Let’s not take anything away from Tommaso Ciampa and Johnny Gargano, as it takes two, or in this case four, to tango. They were great in this match as well. This match was the best tag team match that I have seen in a long time. After it was over, I was dumbfounded as to why these four men are in development. Tommaso Ciampa and Johnny Gargano should be in the new Cruiserweight division when it debuts on RAW in September, or they should be a tag team on SmackDown as that brand needs some serious top tag team talent. As for the Revival, I think that the WWE should make the American Alpha the first SmackDown Tag Team Champions. The next week, the Revival attack them and proclaim that the NXT Tag Team championships are the legit Tag Team titles, because the American Alpha lost to the Revival the last two times that they faced one another. This will get the Revival on the main roster, and will kick start the SmackDown tag team division with a great feud for the belts that will feature some of the best matches on the brand.

I love the Asuka vs. Bayley matches. They are so different than any other women’s match in the WWE family. Where the other women’s matches feel like a wrestling match, the Asuka/Bayley matches feel more like a Japanese style or pseudo-MMA style match. Sometimes different is better. I was surprised by the outcome, because I thought the victor was too predictable so the WWE would put the belt on Bayley as a swerve. That being said, they did the right thing by having Asuka go over Bayley. The way the match ended, with Bayley hugging Charlotte, Sasha Banks, and Becky Lynch, followed by the slow walk up the ramp, it felt like a good bye to NXT. On Monday, we saw that it was. Before talking about the main event, I need to make a comment about Ember Moon. Her finisher is incredible. The stunner off the ropes is fantastic. It gives off a great visual, and puts John Cena’s springboard stunner to shame. I’m surprised that no one on the main stage has used this move before.

The main event of the night was Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Samoa Joe for the NXT Championship. Nakamura’s ring entrance was awe inspiring. The live violinist gave the entrance a subtle, yet “big time feel,” touch to Shinsuke’s act. They should do that entrance for every big Nakamura match. Plus, the crowd made the entrance feel even bigger as they sang along with the music. As for the match itself, I was a little disappointed. Going into the match, this felt like a dream match. I had visions of a five-star classic, like Joe vs. Kobashi from Ring of Honor many years ago. Maybe it was because I was tired at this point, but I thought the match was missing something. Don’t get me wrong, I still thought it was good. I just didn’t think it was great. That being said, after the show was over, I was left thinking that Austin Aries, Bobby Roode, The Revival, Tommaso Ciampa, Johnny Gargano, Bayley, Asuka, Samoa Joe, and Shinsuke Nakamura should be nowhere near NXT. Aries, Gargano, and Ciampa should be the cornerstones of the Cruiserweight division. The Revival should be the WWE’s top heel tag team on SmackDown. Bayley and Asuka should be the newest members of the Women’s Revolution. Bobby Roode should be one of the top heels on either brand, and Samoa Joe and Shinsuke Nakamura should be in the WWE main events. NXT should be for “development.” These performers don’t need to be developed.

SUMMERSLAM


A six hour wrestling broadcast is too long to sit through. Since the first two hours were mostly video packages and panel discussions, I only checked in every so often so I missed the pre-show matches. The first match I saw was the Enzo Amore/Big Cass vs. Chris Jericho/Kevin Owens match. These guys are so entertaining. During the pre-show interview with Chris Jericho and Kevin Owens, Jericho mentioned that he took an online course, and is now also a certified G. He asked the rotund Owens to show the certificate, and Owens mentioned that he left it in catering. For some reason, I found this really funny. These two are so good together, and have such great chemistry. They are both heels who get cheered, but still do their damnedest to get boos from the crowd. While the match was a little sloppy, as Enzo botched a few spots, I was still entertained to the point that I want to see this match again. I also want to see Jeri-KO wearing the RAW tag team gold in the near future.

In somewhat of a shocker, Charlotte defeated Sasha Banks to recapture the WWE Women’s Championship. At the time of the match, I didn’t realize that Sasha would be taking some time off to heal her injuries so I was really surprised when she dropped the belt. I liked this match too. Despite some botches, I thought the two women worked really hard. However, I cringed at that corner spot where Charlotte dropped Banks. Sasha needs to slow down in the ring for her own safety. It seems that every Sasha Banks match features a couple of spots where it looks like she’s gonna kill herself. We want you to have a long career in the WWE. For your own good, please slow down.

The Miz and Apollo Crews were next. It was an OK match. Nothing more, nothing less. I don’t think the match did anything to elevate either wrestler. The ending also didn’t do anything to seriously kill any credibility that Apollo Crews is trying to obtain. Should the ending have been less clean than it was? Yes. However, I don’t think it buried Crews either.

What can be said about the John Cena vs. AJ Styles SummerSlam match that hasn’t already been said? WOW! Unbelievable! Phenomenal! I loved this match. I was on the edge of my seat the entire match. I was hoping that the WWE would do the right thing, and have AJ win, but I had my doubts. I first saw AJ Styles during his Ring of Honor days. However, the day he proved that he was amongst the best in the business was during the first AJ vs. Christopher Daniels vs. Samoa Joe match in TNA. It was the first of many TNA pay per views that I purchased around that era, and watching him over the years has been a pleasure. His WWE run has been incredible. At 38 years old, he’s better today than he was during his TNA prime. The guy delivers every time out. My only complaint is that the WWE didn’t bring him in sooner. I feel cheated not seeing AJ wrestle the likes of Edge, CM Punk, Shawn Michaels, and a WWE version of Daniel Bryan. Let’s not forget the work of John Cena. He did great in this match. Then again, he always delivers in big matches. After all of these years, Cena still can’t throw a worked punch, but the worst thing you can say about his in ring work is that he calls his spots too loudly. When John Cena first had the rocket strapped to his back, he was vilified by the hardocre fan base, because he was terrible in the ring. Go back and watch One Night Stand 2005, and then watch any of his matches from the past couple of years. He’s a totally different wrestler. Hard work pays off boys and girls. Sure, his character and jokes are still lame as hell, but you can’t complain about his match quality anymore. I have a tremendous amount of respect for John Cena the person and worker. Great match, and it was a nice touch by laying your wrist band in the ring to symbolize your retirement from full-time wrestler to part-time worker.

Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson faced the New Day in the death spot of having to follow AJ Styles vs. John Cena. I was hoping for a pure wrestling match from the teams. However, the WWE added John Stewart to the mix for comedy. Oh well, hopefully we get that on the next pay per view. I really thought that we would get a title change, as I have only been predicting that the New Day would lose the belts for the last nine months. Maybe, I will finally get the prediction right next pay per view when I pick against the New Day- again. Their SummerSlam match was OK. I’ve been waiting for a Revival-like contest from Gallows and Anderson. This wasn’t it. Being in the position on the card that they were, it should have been exactly what the match was.

Surprisingly, the WWE World title match was next. I was really looking forward to this match, because the build-up for the contest was really good. The lead-up made you take this match as a serious encounter between two stars ready to prove who was the best. There was an aggressiveness to the promos that hasn’t been seen before, especially from Dolph Ziggler. I agree with Wade Keller’s assessment on Steve Austin’s podcast this week. Following the opening bell, the two wrestlers should have charged at each other like bulls attacking their prey. Instead, they circled the ring waiting for their opportunity. This should have been a war. Instead, it felt like a regular television match. It was a good TV match, but for being on the biggest pay per view of the summer, the WWE title match should have been more heated. Plus, I think the fact that no one believed that Ziggler would win affected the view of the match. Look at the AJ Styles/John Cena match. The fans were not sure who would win, so every near fall was met with gasps and cheers. Every time Dolph Ziggler went for a pin attempt on Dean Ambrose, no one bought that he would score the pinfall. That’s what the WWE gets for creating an environment of 50/50 booking and start and stop pushes.

The SmackDown women’s match acted as a buffer between the two major title matches. I only got a couple of things out of this match. One was that Nikki Bella returned to the ring. The other was the way they handled Eva Marie’s wellness violation. I absolutely love the gimmick Eva Marie has right now. It such a heel gimmick. Over the past few weeks, every time Eva Marie is supposed to wrestle, something happens where she doesn’t. SummerSlam was supposed to be the event where we finally see her perform. Instead, she gets suspended, and we have to wait again. The announcer stating that she isn’t there because she is suffering from exhaustion when she never wrestles was great. Too bad that Eva Marie wasn’t a great worker, because with this gimmick, she would be the top female heel the WWE ever had.

Finn Balor and Seth Rollins was next. For me, this was the second best match on the show. I thought both performers brought their A game. While I expected the WWE to have Seth Rollins win, I thought the better move was to put the Universal title on Finn Balor. It would make him an instant, credible main event performer after being in NXT for the last couple of years. Aside from Balor winning, the big news coming out of the match was that he suffered a torn labrum following the buckle bomb from outside of the ring. I feel really bad for him. If Balor was 6’2” 240 pounds, I would have no doubt that he would return as a main eventer and recapture the top RAW championship. However, since he is a smaller wrestler, I fear that the WWE will not give him the main event push upon his return. I hope I’m wrong. Initially, I put the blame on Seth Rollins. I believe the buckle bomb is a dangerous move, and should be on the WWE’s banned list. However, watching replays, it was not Seth’s fault. Finn took the bump wrong as he reached back with his arm instead of taking the move as a back bump. On a side note, Balor is one tough SOB, as he popped the dislocated shoulder back into place, and finished the match.

The United States title match between Roman Reigns and Rusev was to follow. Instead, we got a brawl, and no match. Don’t get me wrong, it was a tremendous brawl. However, that brawl should have been on the go home RAW show, and not at SummerSlam. Instead, the WWE booked this backwards. We got a match on the go home show, and the brawl at SummerSlam. I hate when the WWE does this on a pay per view. Even though it was well done, people paid money to see SummerSlam. Whether it be $59.99 on pay per view, or $9.99 on the WWE Network, the fans paid to see the show. Rusev vs. Roman Reigns was one of the main matches that was being advertised for the show. The WWE should have delivered. That complaint aside, it was still a great brawl.

The main event was “fifteen years in the making.” Brock Lesnar fought Randy Orton in a hard hitting fight that fooled many people. One Taz’s radio show, he believed the ending with Orton bleeding wasn’t planned, which is why Shane McMahon came out. Chris Jericho believed that Brock Lesnar went into business for himself, and took liberties out on Orton. I was getting lunch a couple of days later, wearing my WrestleMania jacket, and people were asking me if the match turned into a shoot. Good job on the WWE’s behalf of fooling people into thinking what happened went off script. As far as the match goes, it was good, but couldn’t compare to the AJ Styles vs. John Cena or Finn Balor vs. Seth Rollins matches earlier on the show. In retrospect, with the TKO ending, this match shouldn’t have closed the show. Watching it on the network, it seemed like the fans in the building were expecting something more. They were waiting for Goldberg, not Shane McMahon, to put an end to the destruction. Even after Brock F5ed Shane, Randy Orton, at this point, was sitting in the corner. I expected him to RKO Lesnar to gain a measure of revenge. Instead, Lesnar left the ring as the screen faded to black.

THE AFTERMATH


As much as I enjoyed both NXT and SummerSlam, what happened after the shows received even more buzz than the shows themselves. Of course, I’m talking about the confrontation between Chris Jericho and Brock Lesnar immediately after the main event of SummerSlam. According to the Wrestling Observer, “the ending of the Randy Orton vs. Brock Lesnar SummerSlam match, which went pretty much as planned, led to a verbal and somewhat physical confrontation between Lesnar and Chris Jericho last night. According to multiple sources, Jericho came to the gorilla position just as the match ended, apparently to see if Orton was okay and to find out what exactly happened. He asked Michael Hayes what the finish was or if that was the finish. Hayes wouldn’t answer him at which point Jericho said, “That’s bullsh*t.” Jericho said that just as Lesnar came back from the ring. Lesnar thought he was talking about his match, and called Jericho a pussy according to one version, or “shut up” according to another, and to mind his own business. The two got face-to-face and started exchanging words, with one version saying they were shouting at each other the whole time. Lesnar pushed Jericho with his fingers, and Jericho did what was described as the “Rousey-Tate” foreheed press. One version also had Jericho shoving Lesnar to the wall at one point. They got tangled up against the wall and Lesnar told Jericho to punch him or kiss him. Paul “HHH” Levesque jumped in quickly and broke it up. It was heated enough that they went back at it at which time Vince McMahon broke it up. Jericho started yelling about Lesnar and McMahon told Jericho that it was all a work and to be professional. Levesque reportedly told McMahon that Lesnar started it, and Jericho was just standing up for himself but there were more words exchanged. Jericho saw Orton and got mad, which everyone noted was because he was concerned with Orton’s health and safety. Orton reportedly assured him that he knew the way everything was coming.”

That was fantastic. I love that Jericho stuck up for a co-worker that he thought was being harmed. Chris Jericho is crazy though to get into a physical confrontation with Brock. Must be the hockey player in him. I don’t understand why Michael Hayes wouldn’t answer him though. That added fuel to Jericho’s fire. Even if Hayes thought Jericho was ridiculous for buying into the beatdown as legitimate, all the former Freebird needed to say was, “stop being a mark, Chris,” and it probably would have been squashed. Either way, the confrontation makes for a nice story, and further cements Jericho as a guy who would go after anybody if he thinks they were wrong.

On RAW, Finn Balor relinquished the new Universal championship due to his shoulder injury that will keep him on the shelf for 4-6 months. The segment where a bunch of wrestlers came to the ring, like sharks after blood, to try to claim the new red belt should be theirs exposed the weakness of the brand split. Each brand lacked serious main event depth. In the series of matches, you had legit top level guys like Chris Jericho, Kevin Owens, Roman Reigns, and Seth Rollins. Besides them, you had Neville, Rusev, Big Cass, and Sami Zayn. In the two groups, only Kevin Owens or Rusev would feel like the WWE is giving someone new a shot. Jericho, Reigns, and Rollins is the same old, same old. Neville and Sami Zayn haven’t been pushed to the level where you can legitimately see them holding the brand’s top belt. Big Cass, though popular, is not ready for that spot. There really isn’t anyone that you can make a star the way that they were making Finn Balor into a top guy.

The other big news to come out of RAW involved an arrival and a departure. Bayley made her long awaited permanent debut to the main roster. It was a good intro for Bayley, and immediately injected her into the top women’s program with Sasha Banks being out of action. Charlotte was great in the segment as she brought up the fact that when all of the NXT talent was moved up to the main roster for the Diva’s Revolution, Bayley was left behind. Great line that would have been more powerful if we hadn’t seen Bayley hug her two nights prior.

The Dudleys said goodbye to the WWE fans. Everyone expected this to be Bubba’s heel turn on D-Von, but apparently, this was a legit good bye to the crowd. Good for them. If this truly is the end, they had a great career. Thanks for the memories.

On SmackDown, it was all about AJ Styles and the new titles. I love the look of the new SmackDown belts. While both belts feature the color blue, it is not overpowering like the red color on the WWE Universal Championship belt. Like on RAW, with the creation of two new titles, and tournaments/matches for each, the talent depth on the brand was exposed. The tag teams consisted of the Usos, the Ascension, Breezango, and the American Alphas advanced in the tournament that should also include Heath Slater/Rhyno, the Vaudevillains, Zack Ryder/Mojo Rawley, and a team yet to be announced. This isn’t exactly a stellar tag team division when they can’t even list an eighth team yet. The women, who will face off in a six-pack challenge, doesn’t show off a strong roster either. Battling for that title should be Nikki Bella, Becky Lynch, Natalya, Alexa Bliss, Carmella, and Naomi. Not exactly the WWE Women’s Revolution that they have on RAW.

AJ Styles was the star of the show. First, he went around the locker room bragging about beating John Cena. Then he had a pull apart brawl with Dolph Ziggler. He then ended the night beating Ziggler in a great match to cement his place as the #1 contender to the WWE Championship. AJ Styles is arguably the Wrestler of the Year for the WWE right now. It would only be fitting if he added the WWE title to his already lengthy resume. Even typing that sentence, I still can’t believe that this may very well happen. A year ago, if you told me one-time members of the Bullet Club, Finn Balor, AJ Styles, Luke Gallows, and Karl Anderson, would be main event players in the WWE in August 2016, I wouldn’t have believed it. If you told me that AJ Styles would be a few weeks away from possibly holding the WWE’s top prize, I would have thought you were crazy. What a difference a year makes. What a difference a week makes even. It’s been an exhausting week.