(LATE) WRESTLING REVIEW: WWE SUMMERSLAM 2018

A surprisingly entertaining show, August 22nd, 2018

Given the current rocky state of the creative team at WWE, I came in with low expecations but ended up enjoying this PPV quite a bit!

KICKOFF:

Mixed Tag Team Match - Zelina Vega & Andrade Cien Almas vs. Rusev & Lana

A great opening match, filled with some humorous moments (Tranquilo!!) and some hard spots (Rusev pushing Almas off the top turnbuckle). Lana really began showing her ability in this match - she's getting much better at her in-ring work! Ending leaves a promisin future for this fued.

Vega (w) pins Lana with her feet on the ropes

Rating: 2.5/5

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Cruiserweight Championship Match - Cedric Alexander (c) vs. Drew Gulak

I haven't watched much of 205 Live, yet everytime I tune in for a Cruiserweight bout, I am absolutely blown away! Gulak did a great job of working Alexander's neck and implementing that injury into the story of the match. Gulak dominated Alexander throughout, yet the champion left with the title. It begs the question: who can actually dethrone the stoic Cedric?

Alexander (c) beats Gulak by pinfall - Retains

Rating: 3.5/5

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RAW Tag Team Championship Match - The B-Team (Bo Dalls & Curtis Axel) (c) vs. The Revival (Scott Dawson & Dash Wilder)

B-Team have been almost a comedy act at this point, but the crowd love them, and they really do add a fun underdog to root for, especially after living under The Miz's shadow for so long. The Revival took it to the poor rejects the entire match, but Dallas accidentally assisted Axel for the win. A true Kickoff classic!

Axel (c) pins Wilder - Retains

Rating: 3/5

KICKOFF Rating: 3/5

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MAIN CARD:

Intercontintental Championship Match - Dolp Ziggler (c) w/ Drew McIntyre vs. Seth Rollins w/ Dean Ambrose

Ziggler and Rollins really gave it their all this match. Despite opening the show, they tore the house down, and the crowd was red-hot for Rollins' win. An engaging climax sequence, and an all around electrifying finish!

Rollins (c) pins Ziggler - New Champion

Rating: 4/5

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Smackdwon Tag Team Championship Match - Bludgeon Brothers (Erik Rowan & Luke Harper) (c) vs. The New Day (Big E & Xavier Woods w/ Kofi Kingston)

Although a stale matchup at this point, the teams really brought intensity and flavor to the ring. The New Day were high flying, and the Bludgeon Brothers (as always) were shocking with their agility and tenacity. An annoying DQ finish, but fun nonetheless

Bludgeon Brothers DQ themselves - Retains

Rating: 3/5

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Money in the Bank Contract Match - Braun Strowman (h) vs. Kevin Owens

Total, complete squash. Owens took some gnarly bumps and Strowman looked very strong (and plays into the main event) but it all felt very forced

Strowman (h) pins Owens - Retains

Rating: 1/5

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Smackdown Women's Championship Triple Threat Match - Carmella (c) vs. Charlotte Flair vs. Becky Lynch

The match was decent, but the real show came afterwards. Becky had enough of constantly losing, and (heel?) turns on her best friend, Charlotte. The inevitable fued between them has the potential to be magical

Charlotte (c) pins Carmella - New Champion

Rating: 2.5/5

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WWE Championship Match - AJ Styles (c) vs. Samoa Joe

A great match! But what else can be expected from two all-time great industry legends like Styles and Joe. The back-and-forth was beautiful; no man looked to be the clear victor, all the way up to the finish. Joe calls out Styles' family once again, and pays the price. I have a feeling this fued will continue to grow and develop into a wonderful anchor for Smackdown

Styles (c) DQs himself - Retains

Rating: 3.75/5

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Singles Match - The Miz vs. Daniel Bryan

The match was entertaining enough, despite the crowd kind of being dead - and was growing into a exciting final sequence - but Maryse slips The Miz brass knuckles for the win. I hope this fued continues, and at least burns to The Royal Rumble so we could potentially see a Wrestlemania match for the ages.

The Miz pins Bryan

Rating: 3.5/5

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Singles Match - Constable Baron Corbin vs. Finn Balor

The appearance of "Demon" Balor came as a surprise to me, but really turned what would have been an annoying repeat of Extreme Rules into a story-progressing squash.

Balor pins Corbin

Rating: 1.5/5

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United States Championship Match - Shinsuke Nakamura vs. "Woken" Jeff Hardy

I almost zoned out during this match - not because I thought it was boring, but because I didn't expect it to be so great! Nakamura and Hardy proved themselves once again as amazing performers, and the crowd ate it up. It seems Randy Orton will be joining the midcard championship picture, and I hope the quality matches continue

Nakamura (c) pins Hardy - Retains

Rating: 3.75/5

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RAW Women's Championship Match - Alexa Bliss (c) vs. Ronda Rousey

Another squash, but one that showcases Rousey's devastating style and Bliss's cowardice. The beginning of Rousey's title reigns in WWE, and one that I hope will eventually result in a dream match agains Charlotte Flair

Rousey (c) pins Bliss - New Champion

Rating: 2/5

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MAIN EVENT: WWE Universal Championship Match - Brock Lesnar (c) vs. Roman Reigns

What looked to everyone to be a boring repeat of the last couple years, actually turned out to be exciting - ALL thanks to Strowman. The best thing to come out of this match is the potential for Strowman to cash in his contract at some point and finally earn the title he so rightly deserves.

Roman (c) pins Lesnar - New Champion

Rating: 2.5/5

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Match of the Night: Intercontintental Championship Match between Rollins (new champ) and Ziggler

MAIN CARD Rating: 3/5

An electrifying experience!

Aidan