Summerslam Sizzle

Summerslam 2014 sizzled.

Yes, I know this review should have been up last week. I’m playing catch up, okay.

Let’s get right down to business, Summerslam sizzled. It was easily the best PPV (or Special Event) the WWE has produced this year. Yes, even better than that below average Wrestlemania so many people have convinced themselves was the best Mania ever.

The focus of Summerslam was on in-ring action (as I constantly bemoan it should be) and did it deliver, with some exceptions. The most glaring exception is the horrendous main event between Lesnar and Cena, which turned into the exact waste of time that I predicted it would be.

I really had a bad feeling about the show when it opened up with Hulk Hogan (that was bad enough) and he cut a WWE Network promo. Fortunately, his presence and the promo were short – then the action began.

What a roller coaster of action we had, starting out with crowning a new Intercontinental champion in Dolph Ziggler. The Miz versus Ziggler match was a good opener and set the stage for the night.

Then we had a nice vicious catfight, in a match that finally lived up to the potential between AJ and Paige, which saw Paige come away as Top Diva. A Paige win is better for this feud; we now have a ‘chase.’

Two matches in and two title changes, Summerslam proves that if it could happen, it would.

Rusev beat Swagger because Swagger passed out. Think about that, Swagger passed out. He refused to submit to the Accolade (Camel Clutch). This was a nice finish, and old school. It put over Swagger’s toughness, protected him and gave Rusev a win. But since Swagger didn’t tap and wasn’t pinned, it still keep the question open, can Rusev beat Swagger? Can Swagger beat Rusev?

It is going to be interesting to see what route they go with Zeb after having Rusev knock him out with a kick.

Now is the match of the night and an easy match of the year candidate: Ambrose versus Rollins in a lumberjack match. Despite my reservations about the Lumberjack stip, and it did break down into a brawl as predicted, this was a great match and both guys delivered. Seth Rollins got the pin, the first victory in this feud so far for either guy.

Here is where we start having a few problems with Summerslam. After this match, it seemed like the crowd just checked out.

If I rated Summerslam to this point, about the hour-fifteen mark, I would give it a 9, but there is an hour-and-a-half-left.

Jericho versus Wyatt was the first crack in the foundation and a major let down. Scratch that, considering Wyatt was involved, let down is actually the average for him. This match should have been more, harder hitting, more vicious, more Jericho winning.

Instead, we got a letdown that saw Jericho carry the match again. Wyatt looked lost and bewildered and without a clue as to what to do. Their Battleground match was far better.

Brie Bella versus Stephanitrix. That will be my only comment on Stephanie’s outfit for Summerslam, but she did look good. Stephanie also looked good in the ring for not having a match in a decade or so. Brie also had a great match, perhaps the best of her career.

In all honesty, this was a good match between the two, with Stephanie winning. However, the match was overshadowed by the sudden, unexpected and shocking betrayal of Nikki, who turned on Brie.

I loved the spot, and Chris Rose called in it his predictions. I think it’s a great move to continue this feud with more venom and emotion. Now it really is personal.

This was better than Jericho versus Wyatt.

Orton versus Reigns was a really good match. The best match Reigns has ever had and his biggest win to date. This was hard-hitting, pounding, smash mouth type of match I wanted from these two. The second best match of the night that highlighted the strengths of both men.

It was on the right spot on the card, the last match before the main event. Even with the Reigns win, I don’t think this feud is over.

Time for the German Suplex Exhibition. I mean the massive let down of the night. I mean . . . that was the main event?

Brock Lesnar versus John Cena. I wrote in my preview this was my least looked forward to match of the night, and it turned into the waste of time I thought it would be.

Point Blank: This was the worst PPV Main Event I have ever seen. (And before someone comments, I have seen every PPV Event from WCW, WWE, TNA, ROH and most Japanese promotions).

I know why they did it, to put Lensar over big time and to make Cena look good when he eventually comes back and defeats Brock.

This would have been a fine match on Raw, but not a PPV. As for the worst beating of Cena’s career, not even close. How often has he been laid out? Plus, both Khali and Big Show have squashed Cena in less time during their feuds.

Overall, Summerslam was a good show. For the first half, Summerslam was a great show. It was on cruise control, which went off road after the Ambrose/Rollins match. It came to a dead stop when it hit the Main Event.

I can’t stress enough how terrible the main event was. I am not looking forward to the rematch.

If I could take out Jericho/Wyatt and Lesnar/Cena I would rate the show close to a 9, but I can’t. You either take the show as a whole, or you take nothing.

Final Rating: 6.5

Summerslam could have been great. As it was it Sizzled, then Fizzled in the end.

Ace Masters