Five months after WWE delivered WrestleMania in an empty Full Sail Arena at the height of the global pandemic, they presented yet another spectacular without fans in attendance with SummerSlam. This time around, though, the event emanated from the more conventional Amway Center in Orlando – rechristened the WWE ThunderDome and presenting an array of virtual fans.
Many of WWE's biggest titles were on the line, with several very personal scores also due to be settled at the Biggest Show of the Summer. Not least the fact that Dominik Mysterio was out to avenge his father's dislodged eyeball, inflicted by Seth Rollins. Wrestling is weird.
Let's take a look at the show…
Kick-Off: US Champion Apollo Crews defeated MVP via toss powerbomb
Apollo Crews tried to overwhelm the leader of the Hurt Business with speed early on, with MVP attempting to fight back using underhanded trickery and sleight of hand. The challenger tossed Crews over the top rope, smashing his face on the steel steps. Crews fought back into it and flattened MVP with a somersault senton so devastating that both men were almost counted out. Back in the ring, Crews countered the Playmaker into his toss powerbomb for the decisive pinfall. The Hurt Business ran in to attack Crews, but he was able to make a swift exit.
This five-minute nothing affair made me yearn for the days of a few years ago when pre-show matches were routinely 15-20 minute show stealers. They have now become truly throwaway, with almost no surprise to them. As for this contest, it seemed like a prime occasion to allow the Hurt Business to put their money where their mouth is for once. Sadly, it was not to be. This storyline could've used a title change to give it some spice.
Thank YOU, Renee. ❤️#SummerSlam @ReneeYoungWWE pic.twitter.com/KOAlGpGqqT
— WWE (@WWE) August 23, 2020
Renee Young announced during the pre-show panel that the rumours of her WWE exit were true and that SummerSlam was her last hurrah. Just before the panel passed the baton on to the main show, she was able to say an affectionate goodbye to the company. Whatever she does next, whether it's a lucrative presenting gig or something altogether different, she'll undoubtedly be a success. WWE has lost one of its most talented on-camera personalities.
SmackDown Women's Champion Bayley defeated Asuka via small package
Asuka opened the contest with a flurry of viciousness, including a brutal DDT leaping from the steel steps to spike Bayley on the outside. Bayley immediately began favouring her right shoulder but was able to hit an early Bayley-to-Belly for a two count. Asuka sought to quicken the pace, but Bayley slowed things down after dumping the challenger shin-first on the apron and following it up with a chop block. A missile dropkick attempt from Asuka turned into a kneebar from Bayley, but the champion's attempt at a diving elbow was also countered into submission, with the challenger locking in an armbar.
Sasha Banks yelled at Asuka from the outside and the Empress of Tomorrow met her with a kick to the face. Banks then jumped up on the apron and, when Bayley avoided a running hip attack, Banks took the bullet for her friend. This opened the door for Bayley to score the win with a small package. After the bell, Banks wasted no time in rushing in to soften up Asuka for their match later on the card. The Golden Role Models carried out a double team attack before leaving as best friends.
A little insurance for The BO💲💲#SummerSlam @SashaBanksWWE @itsBayleyWWE pic.twitter.com/UexYTFGqYd
— WWE SummerSlam (@SummerSlam) August 23, 2020
This was a solid match between these two, but it was clearly designed to set the table for a bigger angle in the Banks vs. Asuka contest later in the evening. Bayley's title reign is shaping up to be even more of a record-breaker as it stretches on, with it currently unclear whether anyone will be able to unseat her from her throne. Maybe she ought to look closer to home.
RAW Tag Team Champions Street Profits defeated Andrade and Angel Garza via a frog splash
Kevin Owens joined commentary for this one. Meanwhile, the Street Profits swapped pyro for a shower of red solo cups. In the ring, the recently poisoned Montez Ford (wrestling is weird) got off to a fast and furious start. He got caught mid-dive, though, and was subject to severe punishment from both Andrade and Garza. When he finally made the hot tag to Angelo Dawkins, this triggered a somewhat delayed pop from the virtual crowd as the big man cleaned house.
Ford and Garza soon ended up back in the ring together, only for an errant superkick to knock Ford into the ropes just as Zelina Vega leapt on to the apron. Andrade went to check on Vega, which left Garza with no one to tag. He took the Cash Out spinebuster from Dawkins, followed by a stunning twisting frog splash from Ford, allowing the champions to retain.
These teams took part in an enjoyable sprint of a contest, but one that never really had the time to bed in and become something truly special. The result was what it needed to be, given the heinous act that Street Profits were seeking vengeance for. Despite their talents, Ford and Dawkins haven't yet been given a signature in-ring performance as champions. They deserve a chance to put on the sort of high-octane clinic between the ropes that they can conjure given the opportunity.
Loser Leaves WWE: Mandy Rose defeated Sonya Deville via running knee
This quickly became a slugfest, spilling to the floor. Rose splatted Deville with a suplex on the ramp and then bounced her off several of the ring posts. God's Greatest Creation tried to set up a table at ringside, but struggled, Mr Bean-style with the furniture until Deville was able to blast her with several chair shots to the stomach. Deville peppered Rose with strikes and locked in a dragon sleeper, almost forcing a submission. Rose fought back and tried to put Deville through the table, only for her to roll off.
Back in the ring, both tried for Angel's Wings until Rose was able to hit a series of knee strikes, followed by Angel's Wings and a final running knee to secure the victory and her rival's departure. Otis joined his “peach” in the ring to celebrate and Rose tried out the Caterpillar. It didn't go well.
As with just about everything on the card thus far, this seemed to end just as it was getting going. The intriguing feud deserved a much better pay-off and hopefully, the story isn't over. Certainly, after the week Rose and Deville have had away from wrestling, they deserve full kudos for going out there and giving it their all in a big way.
Street Fight: Seth Rollins defeated Dominik Mysterio via Stomp
Seth Rollins, in an exquisite act of trolling, made his way to the ring wearing gear inspired by Rey Mysterio at Halloween Havoc in 1997. Rollins out-wrestled his inexperienced opponent early, until Dominik was able to pull off some impressive Lucha libre moves to fight his way into the contest. Rollins switched to more aggressive offence and continuously forced Rey Mysterio to watch from ringside as his son was punished. Dominik avoided a chair-assisted Stomp and hit a drop toehold on Rollins, crashing his face into the chair.
Dominik went wild with a kendo stick, lacerating Rollins's back, but Rollins fought back into things with a superplex and Falcon Arrow combination. He called for a table from Murphy but fell foul of his own idea when Dominik hit a Russian leg sweep from the second rope through the table. A frog splash only got a two count and opened the door for Rollins to drop Dominik with a vicious powerbomb and a kendo stick beating. Rollins retrieved some handcuffs as Rey Mysterio pondered getting involved and his wife, Angie, appeared at the top of the ramp.
The distraction allowed Murphy to join the fray and attempt to push Dominik's eye into the steps. Rey got involved and found himself cuffed to the ropes. Dominik prevented Rollins from attacking Angie and, back in the ring, nailed his opponent with a 619. Rollins got the knees up after another frog splash attempt and forced Rey to watch as he felled Dominik with a brutal Stomp to secure the victory. The two generations of Mysterios embraced in the ring, with Rey telling his son he was proud of him.
There's much more where that came from out of @35_Dominik.#SummerSlam @reymysterio pic.twitter.com/N7fccYoK4H
— WWE (@WWE) August 24, 2020
This was a terrific debut for Dominik Mysterio, who showcased an aptitude for violence as well as some stellar wrestling skills. Rollins made his opponent look like a million quid and the involvement of both Rey Mysterio and Murphy was kept to just the right level rather than feeling as egregiously overused as it often does. The in-ring storytelling was on point throughout. This seems to be a logical endpoint for this storyline, which begs the question of what will happen next for Dominik and indeed where Rollins will turn his attention if menacing the Mysterios is no longer top of his to-do list.
Asuka defeated Sasha Banks via Asuka Lock to become the NEW RAW Women's Champion
Banks wasted no time in going after the left knee that Bayley softened up in their match earlier in the night. Every attempt from Asuka to get into the match was cut off, most notably with a vicious powerbomb from the apron to the floor and a brutal boot to the face in the corner. Finally, Asuka was able to find a counter into a kneebar, followed by an ankle lock and she then planted the champion with a second rope DDT. Banks missed a frog splash and retreated to the corner for a pep talk from Bayley. The two women traded submissions until Bayley was given the chance to take a bullet as Banks did earlier in the night. She refused to do so and Banks submitted to the Asuka Lock shortly afterwards.
It's great to see Asuka with gold back around her waist, but it's also something of a shame to see her used as such an obvious pawn in the broader storyline of the Golden Role Models imploding. The match was little more than a facilitator for the angle. Hopefully, WWE pushes the Bayley and Banks storyline into the fast lane. There's no need for a slow burn, given these two were doing friendship therapy sessions way back in the summer of 2018. Burns don't come much slower than that. Just let these two fight and we might have another classic like the first-ever NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn on the cards.
WWE Champion Drew McIntyre defeated Randy Orton via backslide pin
Randy Orton played mind games early, repeatedly slithering out of the ring and frustrating the Scottish champion. McIntyre fought with rage, while the cerebral challenger always seemed to be one step ahead. He picked McIntyre apart with methodical attacks until the more explosive champion battled back into the game by locking in a Figure-Four to level the playing field. Both men were soon bleeding from the forehead and McIntyre almost scored the win with the Futureshock DDT.
Orton went for his trademark draping DDT but found himself on the receiving end of the Glasgow Kiss headbutt. The challenger called for the RKO, but changed his mind and lined up a Punt Kick, looking like a genuine maniac with blood pouring down his face as he readied for the killer blow. McIntyre countered the strike into a powerbomb, but only found mid-air with his subsequent attempt at a Claymore Kick. He side-stepped an RKO and deployed a backslide for the split-second victory.
⚔️🏆#SummerSlam @DMcIntyreWWE pic.twitter.com/LwHYImVzAR
— WWE (@WWE) August 24, 2020
This was an excellent wrestling bout that culminated in, really, one of the only finishes that would suit such an attritional battle. McIntyre and Orton have great chemistry and, if this feud does indeed continue, they might have a legitimate, five-star classic in their future. Before the match, it seemed likely that an Orton victory was the best option, but there are definite legs in this rivalry yet.
Falls Count Anywhere: The Fiend Bray Wyatt defeated Braun Strowman via Sister Abigail to become the NEW Universal Champion
The Fiend laughed at Braun Strowman as he began his attack and the challenger fought back with an array of brutal neck snaps. Strowman ploughed him through a barricade, but he stood straight up and also shook off a chokeslam on to the edge of the announce table. The duo fought on to the stage area and into Gorilla Position, where Wyatt hit Sister Abigail for a near-fall. The Fiend clawed at Strowman's eyes and tossed him into the LED screen, causing the Monster Among Men to bleed from his head.
A second running powerslam only got Strowman a two count, so he grabbed a Stanley knife and began to carve up the ring mat, exposing the wooden boards. Wyatt leapt to his feet and hit multiple Sister Abigails on to the wood, pinning the Monster and winning the title in a slightly muted fashion. He only had seconds to celebrate, though, before Roman Reigns made his return and flattened both Wyatt and Strowman with Spears. He brutalised Strowman with a chair and then delivered a final Spear to the Fiend, dubbing him “a freak in a mask” as he held the Universal Championship aloft.
For all of the slightly disappointing nature of the main event match, the climactic angle made up for it. The absence of Reigns has been an enormous loss for the WWE product since the coronavirus pandemic hit and he looks to be in terrific shape after his time away from the ring. Given the apparent face turn of The Fiend in recent weeks, it appears as if Reigns could finally be embracing the heel he should have been a long time ago. That's enough to get anybody excited.
You never saw THE BIG DOG comin'.#SummerSlam @WWERomanReigns pic.twitter.com/8lbMxugwuh
— WWE SummerSlam (@SummerSlam) August 24, 2020
Verdict
This was a very solid SummerSlam show across the board, albeit one that delivered more satisfying angles than it did top-level wrestling. The recent vogue for terrible finishes was nowhere to be seen on this occasion, with just about every match delivering a final flourish that made sense and furthered storylines. The only real bum note was the absence of RETRIBUTION. It was odd that a faction so clearly devoted to attracting attention would avoid the biggest show since they came on the scene.
It will, of course, be Roman Reigns who gets the headlines – and deservedly so – but this was an excellent night for WWE inside the ThunderDome. The jury is still out on the virtual fan concept at this stage, but it will be fascinating to see how the idea develops in the coming weeks.
All images and videos courtesy of WWE.com