The annual WWE Summerslam event is widely regarded as one of the companies ‘big four” those being such highlights as Royal Rumble, Wrestlemania and (the newly reinstated) Survivor Series and of course itself.
However sometime the formula goes wrong and the other monthly pay-per-views in the WWE Universe dilute the bigger ones impact.
Thats not to say Summerslam wasn’t entertaining, but it really was a one hit wonder in comparision to previous ones or thiis years Mania.
Although some of the undercard outings were an improvement on that show’s lesser match-ups.
Nexus made their presence felt early on by interupting the keenly fought opener between United States Champioon Dolph Ziggler and challenger Kofi Kingston. spokesman Wade Barrett taking a lot of heel heat for causing a non contest decision, as his team wiped out Kingston and Ziggler with ease.
The returning Melina won the Divas belt in an average match for that division, Melina showing she means business by planting Fox with a nice facebuster for the three count.
With his hair beginning to grow out CM Punk and his ‘Straight Edge Society’ goons Luke Gallows and Joey Mercury in tow, the cocky heel trio were in superb form for their battle with WWE man mountain Big Show.
Punk pounded away on Show for all his might, but Gallows and Mercury fell short in their efforts, as Punk made his escape with Serena the remaining two were slammed and pinned for the win.
It may have ended in a DQ finish and saw Sheamus retain his WWE Title, but the brawl between the Irishman and Randy Orton was a very decent attempt by them to be combative and enthusiastic about their match.
Orton went through his usual setlist of moves and Sheamus strode along in his usual manner, each trading power moves, wear down holds and more, before a chair, ref bump combo saw Ireland’s great white hope lose by DQ, but hang on to hiis gold.
Orton’s post-match RKO on the announcers table helped ease the pain a bit I guess, leaving Sheamus flailing in his wake.
Rey Mysterio taking on World Heavyweight Champion Kane was always going to be a David versus Goliath affai, Rey did give his all, even hitting some nice moves on his supernaturally powerful foe.
A chokeslam however dimmed Mysterio’s running lights as Kane kept his belt. The big story however was the post-match attempt by Kane too put Rey into a coffin at ringside.
A returning Undertaker appeared in the coffin, firstly teasing that Mysterio was the assailant who put him in a (storyline) vegetative state.
The truth being that Taker had suffered some very serious facial injuries in a match with Rey and needed to heal up from them.
After a stare down Taker and Kane swapped choke holds and kane won, nailing a tombstone piledriver to leave his brother prone in the ring.
The main event was a seven man tag team elimination match pitting Team Raw against The Nexus group.
The big story coming out of it was Daniel Bryan making return to WWE programming, since his firing.
The match itself saw some decent sparring between the teams, many falling quickly to three counts and heading to the back there role done for now at least.
Bret Hart left via DQ, after nailing a few blows on Heath Slater a sharpshooter and a chair shot on Skip Sheffield.
The finish came when Miz tried to cheapshot Wade Barrett, Daniel Bryan was pinned and after a few failed doubleteams from Nexus’ remaining duo of Justin Gabriel and Barrett were unable to beat the suuperhuman hero that is John Cena.
Summerslam was a mixed bag of matches, the show was wholey entertaining, but the results were predictable in many ways.
Undertaker began his returning feud, heading towards a match with Kane, Sheamus treaded water until Triple H comes back and of course The Nexus saw former member/leader Daniel Bryan oppose them, the faction did seem poor in relation to their Raw counterparts though.
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By Phil Allely
©FAMEmagazine.co.uk
