WWE Summerslam 2019
Opening Package - Bad. Didn't tell me anything about the angles.
Becky / Natalya video package - Bad. Both women are heels which is weird.
Submission Match for the Raw women's championship
They start out hot. They do some technical wrestling and Nattie works Becky's leg. Top turnbuckle sharpshooter!! Nattie goes arm first into the announce table and stairs. They basically tease Montreal with Nattie being in the sharp. shooter but she gets out. Both women sell awesomely. Nattie puts in an arm bar Becky crawls out of the ring mid sharpshooter. Nattie just kinda faceplants into the Disarm-her for the submission loss.
This was a great match with above average selling for a WWE match the finish was a bit anti climatic though.
Not-Dasha interviews Trish - Bad. Why is Trish wearing a bootleg Seth Rollins logo?. Trish sounds like a guest speaker at a dinner.
Dolph vs Goldberg package - Dolph is basically doing a shoot version of the legend hater gimmick that inevitably jobs to legends. This angle was really wacky.
Dolph promo - Can this dude shut the fuck up please and never appear on my TV again?
Dolph hits super kicks but Goldberg kills him. Glad to see Dolph get jobbed out. Have fun jobbing to pregnant Maria Kanellis you nothing piece of shit.
Post-match - This is meant to be Dolph's "thank you sir may I have another " but unlike Dolph people actually cared about Tommy Dreamer.
AJ Styles vs Ricochet package - Decent.
Why did Truth and Carmella invade the foreign announce team oh it's to set up Drake being a goof? I'm getting Crash Holly vibes which is a good sign. Ooh AJ gets heel red lighting. And Gallows has face paint! Life is good !
WWE United States Championship
Wtf is up with Ricochet's ring gear? Styles works Ricochet leg and Chef fights back only for AJ to get it back quickly but Chet won't stay down. Ricochet counters a Calf Crusher with an Anaconda Vice. Cool suplex combo for two. Anderson and Gallows distract Chet but AJ hits a botchy looking catch Styles Clash to retain
I saw this touted as a two and a half star match which is bullshit This got over a slower, douchier AJ well enough.
Post-match - The OC hit Rico with the Magjc Killer because they're evil.
Street Profits promo - It's nice to see these guys oozing personality on the main roster as they do in NXT Angelo has a crush on Nikki. Ric Flair appears and they party. Is it bad I want this to be a regular thing?
Smackdown Women's Championship
This was a babyface vs babyface match, but gets no video package. Of all the matches tonight I feel like this needed one the most. Bayley is the heel by default which is strange. Ember did a weird Landslide/Codebreaker which looked dope Ember takes a HORRIFIC top rope Bayley to Belly for the champ to retain. The girls did moves and it only picked up in the closing sequences or so
Kevin Owens vs Shane McMahon video package - Alright. Owens cuts a great promo. This felt like an angle that should've had more meat to it.
if Kevin loses he will quit WWE. Elias is a special guest enforcer
Kevin almost immediately gets counted out jaw jacking Elias. If happens again after Kevin gets tripped. Elias blocks a suicide dive allowing Shane to get momentum. This is the third near count out that no one ever buys (TM) (sorry BRM). Well at least KO kicks out at one. Owens sells the shit out of a DDT. They tease Montreal. Elias distracts the ref. Kevin teases using a chair that Elias introduces. He doesn't. Shane slaps him which causes KO to....jaw jack with Elias which leads to a distraction and ref being pulled out , which leads to KO taking out both refs KO finally gets to beat the shit out of Elias ,.but KO gets a low blow while the official is distracted. KO gets the stunner and wins.
I hate being so critical of this, as this is clearly Chapter 1 of a long story, so we'll get more cohesive matches down the road, but this was sooo clunky. This would've been a dud if not for KO's ability to convey emotion. The reactions he was getting proves Kevin has too guy potential.
Roman Reigns' series of unfortunate events - WWE Creative can't even do the "who ran down Stone Cold?" angle without overdoing and rushing it Okay, Roman interrogating Buddy Murphy turned me around on this, both are pretty good actors. Rowan gets accused by Buddy so Rowan beats up Buddy on the kickoff while Daniel Bryan watches. Samoa Joe is also a critical player. Hmm....
Why is Trish's titantron so boring? Corey rightfully rips on the crowd of dorks for singing O'Canada. Trish wows but then Charlotte takes control. Trish makes the most hate fueled comeback of all time until Charlotte boots her off the apron. Charlotte show boats and hits a springboard Complete Shot. Charlotte still has control but Charlotte fights back. A Stratusphere leads to a Frankensteiner counter of a Super Powerbomb. Big kick outs and finisher teases a plenty. Corey calls out Trish's shoulders being down. Corey drops a "Fair to Flair" reference which no doubt made his year. Charlotte kicks out of Stratusfaction! Chop.war, nearfall. Charlotte kicks out of a Chick Kick! They go for big boots but because Charlotte's legs are longer. Figure Eight and Trish has to tap !
This was the most King's Road match I've seen out of WWE since Cena/Styles at the Rumble , with both wrestlers going hell for leather and busting out everything.
Post-match - Trish gets a nice send-off.
Seth Rollins segment - Bret appears and barely wishes Seth luck.
WWE 2K20 commercial - Becky crashes a WWE themed mansion dinner party full of legends. Also Velveteen Dream looks a little turned on, which is a highlight.
Randy Orton vs Kofi Kingston video package - GREAT! I'm glad we're getting backstage douche Orton as a character. Also glad a feud around Orton saying "STOOPID" which my friends and I mocked for YEARS.
WWE Championship
I love the fire we're seeing even during intros. Hot headed Kofi vs cold Randy is a cool contrast which works well in the first few sequences. When Orton uses it to get the heat Randy turns into a stone cold killer. When Kofi gets back into it his hotheadedness costs him again. Tom and Corey do a good job getting this over by saying that it's the only way Kofi knows how to do things and that's what's costing Kofi. Kofi blocks a punch with his big jumping forearm. Trouble in Paradise gets countered into his back breaker. More stuff happens and we get the smoothest transition to the draping DDT I've ever seen.
Now we're getting some smooth sequences and a catching RKO. Kofi rolls out because Randy took too long. Orton stares down Kofi's family. They both get counted out and Randy being a douche fires up Kofi who beats the shit out of him and hits him with a TiP The crowd boos this because they don't understand nuance or storytelling.
This was a bit clunky , but the finish is like a more organic version of Joe vs AJ from.last year. I'm excited for where this leads.
Bray Wyatt vs Finn Balor video package - Generic creepy stuff but I still think anything Bray does is gold. I especially like the duality vs Mr.Rogers Bray Wyatt and The Fiend.
Forget my trepidation from earlier. Everything about The Fiend fucking rules. His new theme , his new decapitated Bray head lantern. It's weird that Finn Balor of all people is spooked by a demonic character. Okay Bray's half crab walk is much scarier in the new mask. Bray appears to have a schizophrenic melt down, which gives Finn momentum to do his comeback but Bray counters the Coup De Grace into a mandible claw for the pinfall win (which somehow gives the move more oomph).
Fiend gets spooky lighting and teleports away. I haven't marked out for a wrestler like this in YEARS.
Brock Lesnar vs Seth Rollins video package - They're literally trying to channel Edge's heat , having Seth get cashed in on after a grueling match. There's been a lot of ska about Seth being set back by Lesnar but the sequence of events makes it work. Plus Seth looks like a hero doing so.
WWE Universal Championship
This is the usual Brock match someone turned on infinite finishers in Smackdown vd Raw. Seth gets shit in early but Lesnar gets his beast shit in We also get a Russian neck-lift via Seth's rib tape. Suplexes Seth fights back with his big moves but more suplexes. I've never seen a Release Snap Suplex. Brock somehow makes the set up to a German a submission Seth gets more but Brock nearly drives Seth through the ring post Seth gets two splashes and a curb stomp for a nearfall! Jesus Christ Seth counters an F5 with a super kicks that looks like it floors Lesnar and a curb stomp to win! The crowd erupts !
This was a battle and an awesome main event.
Conclusion
This was a great show , bolstered by Lesnar vs Seth , Charlotte vs Trish , and THE FIEND! I can see how people aren't big fans of the program right now, despite me enjoying the show. Angles that should've had more going on in them (IE: Shane vs Owens) felt anemic. But, the wrestling in the ring, for the exception of the one match completely overloaded with story bullshit (Owens vs Shane) was GREAT at best, average at worst, which is a lot more than you can say of some WWE shows of the past 10 years.
Becky / Natalya video package - Bad. Both women are heels which is weird.
Submission Match for the Raw women's championship
Natalya vs Becky Lynch (c) - 7.25/10
They start out hot. They do some technical wrestling and Nattie works Becky's leg. Top turnbuckle sharpshooter!! Nattie goes arm first into the announce table and stairs. They basically tease Montreal with Nattie being in the sharp. shooter but she gets out. Both women sell awesomely. Nattie puts in an arm bar Becky crawls out of the ring mid sharpshooter. Nattie just kinda faceplants into the Disarm-her for the submission loss.
This was a great match with above average selling for a WWE match the finish was a bit anti climatic though.
Not-Dasha interviews Trish - Bad. Why is Trish wearing a bootleg Seth Rollins logo?. Trish sounds like a guest speaker at a dinner.
Dolph vs Goldberg package - Dolph is basically doing a shoot version of the legend hater gimmick that inevitably jobs to legends. This angle was really wacky.
Dolph promo - Can this dude shut the fuck up please and never appear on my TV again?
Dolph Ziggler vs Goldberg - Amazing Squash
Dolph hits super kicks but Goldberg kills him. Glad to see Dolph get jobbed out. Have fun jobbing to pregnant Maria Kanellis you nothing piece of shit.
Post-match - This is meant to be Dolph's "thank you sir may I have another " but unlike Dolph people actually cared about Tommy Dreamer.
AJ Styles vs Ricochet package - Decent.
Why did Truth and Carmella invade the foreign announce team oh it's to set up Drake being a goof? I'm getting Crash Holly vibes which is a good sign. Ooh AJ gets heel red lighting. And Gallows has face paint! Life is good !
WWE United States Championship
Ricochet vs AJ Styles (c) - 6.75/10
Wtf is up with Ricochet's ring gear? Styles works Ricochet leg and Chef fights back only for AJ to get it back quickly but Chet won't stay down. Ricochet counters a Calf Crusher with an Anaconda Vice. Cool suplex combo for two. Anderson and Gallows distract Chet but AJ hits a botchy looking catch Styles Clash to retain
I saw this touted as a two and a half star match which is bullshit This got over a slower, douchier AJ well enough.
Post-match - The OC hit Rico with the Magjc Killer because they're evil.
Street Profits promo - It's nice to see these guys oozing personality on the main roster as they do in NXT Angelo has a crush on Nikki. Ric Flair appears and they party. Is it bad I want this to be a regular thing?
Smackdown Women's Championship
Ember Moon vs Bayley (c) - 5.25/10
This was a babyface vs babyface match, but gets no video package. Of all the matches tonight I feel like this needed one the most. Bayley is the heel by default which is strange. Ember did a weird Landslide/Codebreaker which looked dope Ember takes a HORRIFIC top rope Bayley to Belly for the champ to retain. The girls did moves and it only picked up in the closing sequences or so
Kevin Owens vs Shane McMahon video package - Alright. Owens cuts a great promo. This felt like an angle that should've had more meat to it.
if Kevin loses he will quit WWE. Elias is a special guest enforcer
Kevin Owens vs Shane McMahon - 2/10
Kevin almost immediately gets counted out jaw jacking Elias. If happens again after Kevin gets tripped. Elias blocks a suicide dive allowing Shane to get momentum. This is the third near count out that no one ever buys (TM) (sorry BRM). Well at least KO kicks out at one. Owens sells the shit out of a DDT. They tease Montreal. Elias distracts the ref. Kevin teases using a chair that Elias introduces. He doesn't. Shane slaps him which causes KO to....jaw jack with Elias which leads to a distraction and ref being pulled out , which leads to KO taking out both refs KO finally gets to beat the shit out of Elias ,.but KO gets a low blow while the official is distracted. KO gets the stunner and wins.
I hate being so critical of this, as this is clearly Chapter 1 of a long story, so we'll get more cohesive matches down the road, but this was sooo clunky. This would've been a dud if not for KO's ability to convey emotion. The reactions he was getting proves Kevin has too guy potential.
Roman Reigns' series of unfortunate events - WWE Creative can't even do the "who ran down Stone Cold?" angle without overdoing and rushing it Okay, Roman interrogating Buddy Murphy turned me around on this, both are pretty good actors. Rowan gets accused by Buddy so Rowan beats up Buddy on the kickoff while Daniel Bryan watches. Samoa Joe is also a critical player. Hmm....
Charlotte Flair vs Trish Status - 9/10
Why is Trish's titantron so boring? Corey rightfully rips on the crowd of dorks for singing O'Canada. Trish wows but then Charlotte takes control. Trish makes the most hate fueled comeback of all time until Charlotte boots her off the apron. Charlotte show boats and hits a springboard Complete Shot. Charlotte still has control but Charlotte fights back. A Stratusphere leads to a Frankensteiner counter of a Super Powerbomb. Big kick outs and finisher teases a plenty. Corey calls out Trish's shoulders being down. Corey drops a "Fair to Flair" reference which no doubt made his year. Charlotte kicks out of Stratusfaction! Chop.war, nearfall. Charlotte kicks out of a Chick Kick! They go for big boots but because Charlotte's legs are longer. Figure Eight and Trish has to tap !
This was the most King's Road match I've seen out of WWE since Cena/Styles at the Rumble , with both wrestlers going hell for leather and busting out everything.
Post-match - Trish gets a nice send-off.
Seth Rollins segment - Bret appears and barely wishes Seth luck.
WWE 2K20 commercial - Becky crashes a WWE themed mansion dinner party full of legends. Also Velveteen Dream looks a little turned on, which is a highlight.
Randy Orton vs Kofi Kingston video package - GREAT! I'm glad we're getting backstage douche Orton as a character. Also glad a feud around Orton saying "STOOPID" which my friends and I mocked for YEARS.
WWE Championship
Randy Orton vs Kofi Kingston (c) - 6.5/10
I love the fire we're seeing even during intros. Hot headed Kofi vs cold Randy is a cool contrast which works well in the first few sequences. When Orton uses it to get the heat Randy turns into a stone cold killer. When Kofi gets back into it his hotheadedness costs him again. Tom and Corey do a good job getting this over by saying that it's the only way Kofi knows how to do things and that's what's costing Kofi. Kofi blocks a punch with his big jumping forearm. Trouble in Paradise gets countered into his back breaker. More stuff happens and we get the smoothest transition to the draping DDT I've ever seen.
Now we're getting some smooth sequences and a catching RKO. Kofi rolls out because Randy took too long. Orton stares down Kofi's family. They both get counted out and Randy being a douche fires up Kofi who beats the shit out of him and hits him with a TiP The crowd boos this because they don't understand nuance or storytelling.
This was a bit clunky , but the finish is like a more organic version of Joe vs AJ from.last year. I'm excited for where this leads.
Bray Wyatt vs Finn Balor video package - Generic creepy stuff but I still think anything Bray does is gold. I especially like the duality vs Mr.Rogers Bray Wyatt and The Fiend.
Finn Balor vs "The Fiend" Bray Wyatt - 10/10
Forget my trepidation from earlier. Everything about The Fiend fucking rules. His new theme , his new decapitated Bray head lantern. It's weird that Finn Balor of all people is spooked by a demonic character. Okay Bray's half crab walk is much scarier in the new mask. Bray appears to have a schizophrenic melt down, which gives Finn momentum to do his comeback but Bray counters the Coup De Grace into a mandible claw for the pinfall win (which somehow gives the move more oomph).
Fiend gets spooky lighting and teleports away. I haven't marked out for a wrestler like this in YEARS.
Brock Lesnar vs Seth Rollins video package - They're literally trying to channel Edge's heat , having Seth get cashed in on after a grueling match. There's been a lot of ska about Seth being set back by Lesnar but the sequence of events makes it work. Plus Seth looks like a hero doing so.
WWE Universal Championship
Seth Rollins vs Brock Lesnar (c) w/ Paul Heyman - 8/10
This is the usual Brock match someone turned on infinite finishers in Smackdown vd Raw. Seth gets shit in early but Lesnar gets his beast shit in We also get a Russian neck-lift via Seth's rib tape. Suplexes Seth fights back with his big moves but more suplexes. I've never seen a Release Snap Suplex. Brock somehow makes the set up to a German a submission Seth gets more but Brock nearly drives Seth through the ring post Seth gets two splashes and a curb stomp for a nearfall! Jesus Christ Seth counters an F5 with a super kicks that looks like it floors Lesnar and a curb stomp to win! The crowd erupts !
This was a battle and an awesome main event.
Conclusion
This was a great show , bolstered by Lesnar vs Seth , Charlotte vs Trish , and THE FIEND! I can see how people aren't big fans of the program right now, despite me enjoying the show. Angles that should've had more going on in them (IE: Shane vs Owens) felt anemic. But, the wrestling in the ring, for the exception of the one match completely overloaded with story bullshit (Owens vs Shane) was GREAT at best, average at worst, which is a lot more than you can say of some WWE shows of the past 10 years.