The biggest event of summer is here, Summerslam!
Summerslam is usually a showcase for a marquee match, but this year is a little different. Some feuds need settled, and the first title defense for the NXT Championship on a main roster PPV is featured on this years card.
Match 1: Brie Bella def. Paige and Nikki Bella to retain the Diva’s Championship
For me as a player, three-way dances are a little worriesome. Anything can go wrong, and someone can walk out with the title and not even pin the championship. Of course you guys know that, but it still scares me, especially when I like seeing Brie Bella as the Diva’s Champion. Since the first PPV, this title run has been one of the most interesting to me. Despite usually having a bunch of offense, Paige was more of a distraction than anything, as the two sisters tore her, and each other, apart. In a tense series of near-falls, Brie gets the pinfall on Nikki to retain her title.
Match 2: Randy Savage def. Ryback to retain the Intercontinental Championship
I thought this rivalry was over with. I was wrong. But, despite my hating Ryback, Savage went crazy and put on a great match. The pinnacle of the match was Savage piledriving Ryback outside the ring, making him bleed, and then climbing to the top rope and dropping a superb elbow drop to the outside. Savage cleaned up Ryback in the middle of the ring with a top-rope elbow drop for the pinfall.
Match 3: Mark Henry and Dean Ambrose wrestled to a draw
Ambrose dropped Henry outside the ring with a Dirty Deeds, but didn’t stop attacking him, getting both of them counted out.
Match 4: Finn Balor def. Sami Zayn to retain the NXT Championship
Balor and Zayn put on a great show to showcase the NXT brand on a main roster PPV. Even though Balor dominated most of the match, Zayn put up some fight. Zayn resisted tapping out to the dragon sleeper on several occasions, with one close call being stopped by a rope break. Balor suplexed Zayn from the apron to inside the ring and hit his finisher to retain his championship.
Match 5: Kevin Owens def. Seth Rollins to retain the US Championship
Owens stood his ground in this battle against Rollins, who wanted his title back. Remember back to the first event, Rollins had both the World Heavyweight and US titles and left with just the US title. Owens controlled most of the match, reversing a majority of the offense Rollins tried getting in. Rollins did try a dirty pin at one time for a near fall, but Owens destroyed Rollins with a popup powerbomb to win.
Match 6: Randy Orton def. Chris Jericho to retain the WWE Championship
In quite easily the quickest match on the card, Randy Orton dropped Jericho with a single RKO to take the victory.
Match 7: Rusev def. Roman Reigns to retain the World Heavyweight Championship
Both wrestlers hit power move after power move, with several near-falls. Reigns showed his fortitude and survived the Accolade submission move not once, but twice. Rusev hoisted Reigns up and dropped him with an Alabama slam for the pin and victory.
A few great matches, but overall, a slightly underwhelming card when all things are considered. Night of Champions is next, and I have a feeling a few interesting things may evolve out of that as we push towards the next big event, the Royal Rumble.
World Heavyweight Champion: Rusev (RAW)
WWE Champion: Randy Orton (Smackdown)
United States Champion: Kevin Owens (RAW)
Intercontinental Champion: Randy Savage (Smackdown)
NXT Champion: Finn Balor
Diva’s Champion: Brie Bella
Tag Team Champions: Luke Harper and Erik Rowan
Money in the Bank Holder: Luke Harper
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