Recap and Review of WWE Summerslam 2020
Tonight was the annual Summerslam pay-per-view, which has always been the biggest wrestling event of the summer. This is the pay-per-view since February that hasn’t been in the Performance Center or Full Sail Arena. Summerslam took place in the newly created ThunderDome. The tagline was “You won’t see it coming.” Before I get to if there any shocking and surprising moments, here are the results of Summerslam:
-Kickoff Match: Apollo Crews defeated MVP to retain the United States Championship
-Bayley defeated Asuka to retain the Smackdown Women’s Championship
-The Street Profits defeated Angel Garza and Andrade to retain the Raw Tag Team Championships
-Mandy Rose defeated Sonya Deville.
-Seth Rollins defeated Domink Mysterio
-Asuka defeated Sasha Banks to win the Raw Women’s Championship
-Drew McIntyre defeated Randy Orton to retain the WWE Championship
-The Fiend defeated Braun Strowman to win the WWE
The opening match of Summerslam was between Bayley and Asuka for the Smackdown Women’s Championship. This was the first of two championship matches for Asuka. She won a Battle Royal for the right to face Bayley and she had a rematch due against Sasha Banks. Asuka continues to have great match after great match. She has proven that she can carry the torch and have a great match with anyone. Even though she lost to Bayley thanks to Sasha, she did had an opportunity later in the night.
One of the things I often criticize WWE about is their tag team division, but tonight the Street Profits took on Andrade and Angel Garza for the Raw Tag Team Championships. The tag team division across all three brands needs work and depth. At this point, we need one set of tag team championships between Raw and Smackdown due to the lack of teams. As for this match, it was a really well worked match that had a good story to it. I like the Street Profits, but I felt like Garza and Andrade needed the titles to shake things up a little bit. There is one tag team that is waiting in the wings and that would be Cedric Alexander and Ricochet. I would love them to get pushed into the tag title picture.
Going into this week, Sonya Deville has had a lot to deal with personally. It went from a Hair to Hair match to a Loser Leaves WWE match. The reason the match was changed is due to the trial that is coming up involving Sonya Deville almost being kidnapped by someone who has stalker for a lengthy match. I really had no feelings on this match given the circumstances surrounding it. It was really hard to believe that these two hate each other knowing that they live together and went through a terrifying experience together. Mandy won the match which was expected, but I could tell their full hearts weren’t into it. Somethings are bigger than performing in front of people. I truly hope Sonya Deville comes back from this.
They say you only have one chance to make a first good impression. Tonight, Dominik Mysterio had his first WWE match tonight against Seth Rollins. The buildup for this match has been absolutely phenomenal. A lot of people don’t think WWE does a great job at long-term storytelling, but this has been a shining example of great long-term storytelling. Rollins also told a story tonight with his gear that paid homage to Rey Mysterio’s match with Eddie Guerrero from Halloween Havoc 1997. This match was not a five star match by any means but it was a damn good fight between a veteran and a rookie who had a lot of pressure put on him. Dominik made a very good first impression and the story played out exactly how it was suppose to.
Earlier in the night, Asuka lost to Bayley after Sasha Banks interfered in the match. Asuka had some ill effects from earlier match which Banks tried to take advantage of throughout the match. Personally, Asuka and Banks had a better match then Bayley gave her. I think the start of Bayley and Sasha Banks imploding has just started because Bayley refuse to make the same sacrifice that Sasha did earlier. Next week, they defend the Women’s Tag Titles at Payback. Their opponents are yet to be determined but I have a feeling the implosion will continue.
For many years, Randy Orton has had much success on Summerslam pay-per-views. Tonight, he took challenged Drew McIntyre for the WWE Championship. I love when Orton gets tested and has an opponent that makes him work for it. McIntyre needed a challenge as well. This match had great storytelling, psychology and even had some blood. At the end of the match, McIntyre won with a backslide that Orton never saw coming. It was an interesting way to make use of the tag line and swerve people who thought Orton would take the title off McIntyre. I have a feeling that this story is far from over.
The Main Event was for the Universal Championship in a twisted Falls Count Anywhere match between Braun Strowman and Bray Wyatt. For a Falls Count Anywhere match, they did not go many places. It was a good brawl but they could have caused a lot more destruction and mayhem. After The Fiend captured the Universal Championship, Roman Reigns returned and wrecked everyone just like his new t-shirt says. I was not a fan of the match or the ending. If you are going to have a champion be down and out like that than the Money in the Bank Briefcase holder should be cashing in. Otis absolutely should have ended the night as WWE Universal Champion.
Summerslam is in the books and it was a solid show in terms of matches and in-ring work. For having the tagline, “You’ll never see it coming” there wasn’t a lot of surprises. WWE did not bring the heat in terms of shock factor. However, they did seem to be a lot more aggressive with the in-ring action tonight. With Payback a week a way, I’ll be curious to see what matches and stories they come up with. I have to give Summerslam 6 out of 10. Traditionally, Summerslam is really big but it didn’t feel all that big tonight. Hopefully we get paid back with some great matches at Payback.
