SummerSlam Review

This past Saturday was SummerSlam which was a great show, now I’m probably going to be generous because it was also my very PPV I attended live, and I don’t think I could have picked a better one (I feel like I’ve been dropping was there live at every turn which I’m sure is annoying). But SummerSlam from start to finish match wise delivered so instead of doing my normal review where there is match ratings, show ratings, and etc. I am just going to do stream of thought on the whole show which feels like the best way to this.

A PPV or PLE live is an absolute experience that hopefully any kind of wrestling fan should experience in their life especially if it is a stadium show. Honestly, it was so nice to just get lost in the energy, atmosphere, and moment of the show itself where taking notes or what have you does not even cross your mind which made the show better for me at least.

Getting right into the show I am not well versed in who Jelly Roll is or his music, but his rendition of God Bless America was great and seeing the planes do the fly over is absolutely amazing definitely had a brief chill. Starting the show with the Women’s world championship match between Rhea Ripley and Liv Morgan was the ideal match to start, Rhea’s entrance was insane (Little heads up I sang a good portion of the night) but seeing Mami in person was great she looks incredible even in the three hundred sections of a stadium.

Liv Morgan is actually more impressive in person than I thought, the match was good especially Dominik Mysterio’s presence throughout the match really added something to it, Ripley is incredible live also and the end of the match certainly set the crowd off. The reaction to Dom was insane and yes, I do not believe the boos are piped in at all for him because it was overwhelmingly loud and clear when he kissed and left with Liv Morgan.

Bron Breakker vs. Sami Zayn for the IC title was next, naturally the dawg pound in Cleveland was certainly feeling Breakker and Sami’s entrance is absolutely infectious. Bron Breakker is absolutely awesome in person, he was such a blur and that franken Steiner was so smooth live he is absolutely a must-see attraction if you go to a live event but fun match and excited to see Breakker with some gold.

The United States championship followed where it is clear Cleveland does not care for Logan Paul or MGK for that matter (laughs) LA Knight is the man, and this match was a show stealer certainly did not expect that. LA Knight’s leaping super plex was incredible live and such a good moment for him winning the US title.

Next was Nia Jax vs. Bayley for the WWE women’s championship and the crowd came down a bit unfortunately, happy to see Bayley live (both ladies looked amazing even from my seats) the powerbomb Bayley did woke the majority of the crowd up until Tiffany Stratton’s music hits and the place went nuts. Nia Jax winning and not being double crossed was the least exciting option but was the best option, hopefully Bayley moves on to something more interesting.

Then came the match I was looking forward to the most, CM Punk vs. Drew McIntyre with Seth Rollins as guest referee. I completely lost my mind during Rollins and Punk’s entrances (Follow me on social media to see for yourself LOL) but was so happy to see Punk live.

McIntyre is sight to see live just awesome, the match was great absolutely had a big fight feel from start to finish, the in ring tension/story was great especially the call backs to Bret vs. Undertaker at Summerslam ’97 with HBK as guest referee which played at the end where Punk lost sight of match over the bracelet hitting Rollins with a GTS which  McIntyre capitalized and steal a victory which hopefully keeps this feud going, just an awesome match.

Unfortunately, the next match I did not watch live because I went to get some merchandise from the show but watched it back on Sunday.  Damian Priest vs. Gunther for the world heavyweight championship was a banger, certainly surpassed a lot of expectations.  Damian Priest cemented his place in the main event scene on Saturday with this match, but this Summerslam was the implosion of the Judgement Day where Finn Balor finally turned on Priest costing him the title and starts Gunther’s reign as world champion.

The main event between Cody Rhodes and Solo Sikoa for undisputed WWE title in a bloodline rules match was ok, I thought Solo stepped up in this main event position but had that large crowd against him compared to Cody who had that entire stadium if not all the entire city that night behind him. Guerillas of Destiny came out to help only for Kevin Owens and Randy Orton to even the odds where the crowd was ballistic for Orton until they fought off, Jacob Fatu then appeared, and he is absolutely box office to see in person that moonsault was incredible.

But the moment everyone was waiting for happened when the tribal chief Roman Reigns returned to easily the loudest response of the night where I completely lost my mind. Reigns hit the ring superman punches Sikoa then speared him with the crowd completely with him setting up Rhodes to take down Sikoa to retain his championship, the stare down between Rhodes and Reigns certainly leaves a lot to tap back into if it is in the cards.

Overall SummerSlam was a great show of course I am a bit biased being there, but this was probably the best choice for it being my first live PPV/PLE I went to. But certain interactions with other fans reminded me how awesome pro wrestling is, how it brings so many people together, and just how something so simple like pro wrestling can be a fun and happy escape from all garbage in the world even if it is just for a few hours.