WWE Summerslam 2016 PPV Review
By: Larry Causion Jr. CausionCreations.com
Posted: Tuesday, August 23, 2016
Play By Play: Dave Meltzer
Posted: Tuesday, August 23, 2016
Play By Play: Dave Meltzer
Causioncreations was live in Brooklyn for Summerslam this past weekend and Today we give our thoughts form inside the arena. As always we turn to Dave Meltzer for his opinion on the show from his vantage point watching at home.
Brock Lesnar (with Paul Heyman)
vs. Randy Orton
Meltzer: This was really unique at the finish. Lesnar was ground and pounding him and looked like he knocked Orton out with an elbow as Orton was bleeding all over the place. The idea was clearly to have Orton busted open like with John Cena in Lesnar's return match, but Orton looked like he was knocked out. The doctors came in, but Lesnar kept going back to attack Orton.
Some of this was clearly planned but I'm not sure if this was the planned finish. Orton was a bloody mess. Lesnar continued to beat on him after the match with worked punches. Shane McMahon jumped in the ring and got F5'd. Paul Heyman was freaking out. It appeared the idea was to be graphic and violent and look like a shoot, but it didn't look like it was the planned finish of the match, although the Shane spot was clearly planned.
Some of this was clearly planned but I'm not sure if this was the planned finish. Orton was a bloody mess. Lesnar continued to beat on him after the match with worked punches. Shane McMahon jumped in the ring and got F5'd. Paul Heyman was freaking out. It appeared the idea was to be graphic and violent and look like a shoot, but it didn't look like it was the planned finish of the match, although the Shane spot was clearly planned.
LC: OK, I'm over the fact that all of Brock's matches follow the same exact pattern. The guy seems like a real bitch to work with, and he's really going to hurt somebody if this shit continues.
That aside, this was brutal. When he took those gloves off and pummeled Orton, you could tell his goal was to bust him open hard way style and get color. Every Brock match gets color now. I just thought this was a terrible way to end the show. the fans in the arena were puzzled, confused and hoping for a run in of some sort. but no, it was just over. Should have been in the middle of the show. Again, time to mix it up.
That aside, this was brutal. When he took those gloves off and pummeled Orton, you could tell his goal was to bust him open hard way style and get color. Every Brock match gets color now. I just thought this was a terrible way to end the show. the fans in the arena were puzzled, confused and hoping for a run in of some sort. but no, it was just over. Should have been in the middle of the show. Again, time to mix it up.
WWE Universal Championship
Finn Bálor vs. Seth Rollins
Meltzer: Balor won with a couple of running dropicks and the Coup De Grace for the clean pin. Balor kicked out of the pedigree near the finish. Tons of near falls. This was real good, and it didn't have a lot of heat early, but by the end, the crowd was with them and Rollins had a hell of a performance.
LC: This match was well constructed and should have closed the show. It was great and should have been received that way throughout. But instead, the match was overshadowed by the reveal of the terrible new Universal belt they unveiled before the match. Basically its the red version of the WWE title.
And the crowd absolutely shit on it. Oh, it was worst than what you heard on TV. There were so many chants about that bullshit belt. I felt horrible for Rollins and Balor who were busting their ass, but the crowd was too busy slaying the belt. And honestly, I was one of them!!
And the crowd absolutely shit on it. Oh, it was worst than what you heard on TV. There were so many chants about that bullshit belt. I felt horrible for Rollins and Balor who were busting their ass, but the crowd was too busy slaying the belt. And honestly, I was one of them!!
WWE World Championship
Dean Ambrose (c) vs. Dolph Ziggler
Meltzer: Ambrose won the match clean when Ziggler was trying for an X-factor and Ambrose blocked it, hitting the Dirty Deeds for the pin. The match was okay, but definitely not anywhere close to what you'd expect. The crowd was dead which also didn't help. You could really see they've beaten Ziggler down and nobody bought that he could win. Even when he did his superkick and his Zig Zag, there was only a light -- at best -- reaction as far as the kick out.
LC: This bullshit was doomed from the start. I said for weeks it was a dumb decision to think Dolph Ziggler would be received well as a true challenger, after we saw hi losing to Baron Corbin time after time. This was not championship worthy and the crowd was bored to tears. The guy next to me was heckling the entire match and led numerous hilarious cheers that overshadowed the match. Great for me, cause this was a TV opening match at best.
John Cena vs. AJ Styles
Meltzer: This was an incredible match. Both were trading near falls very early giving the impression it would be a short match but they ended up going 23 minutes. They did everthiung in their arsenal and the match ended up with super crowd reactions. Styles had a busted mouth. This blew away everything up to this point on the show.
All kinds of near falls, climaxing when Cena used an Attitude Adjustment off the middle rope, but Styles kicked out. Cena sat in the corner and acted shocked that Styles had kicked out of move after move...although Cena kicked out of the Styles clash and the forearm. Cena went for the Styles clash again but Styles turned it into the Styles Clash a second time, hitting the phenomenal forearm a second time for the pin.
Cena took off his armband and walked off after leaving. This felt like a guy taking time off as he saluted the fans as he left the ring. He's leaving to do the TV show most likely.
All kinds of near falls, climaxing when Cena used an Attitude Adjustment off the middle rope, but Styles kicked out. Cena sat in the corner and acted shocked that Styles had kicked out of move after move...although Cena kicked out of the Styles clash and the forearm. Cena went for the Styles clash again but Styles turned it into the Styles Clash a second time, hitting the phenomenal forearm a second time for the pin.
Cena took off his armband and walked off after leaving. This felt like a guy taking time off as he saluted the fans as he left the ring. He's leaving to do the TV show most likely.
LC: Best match on the card, with the most heat, bar none. The crowd was red hot for this one and really, nothing could follow it. AJ Styles is simply put the best wrestle in the company in my opinion, and he should be the champion pretty soon.
WWE Women's Championship
Sasha Banks (c) vs. Charlotte
Meltzer: Charlotte won the title back when she was caught in the Bank Statement, but Charlotte used her weight advantage to fall on top of Banks for the pin. Both worked really hard, but it appeared Banks may have been hurt early in the match when she was dropped by Charlotte in a bad landing. Banks seemed out of it for a short period and it was klunky.
The match got better and the crowd was more into this than anythig so far. But, this was nothing close to their Raw match. The highlight was Banks doing double knees off the middle rope to the floor, and Charlotte doing a middle rope splash mountain that Banks turned into a huracanrana.
The match got better and the crowd was more into this than anythig so far. But, this was nothing close to their Raw match. The highlight was Banks doing double knees off the middle rope to the floor, and Charlotte doing a middle rope splash mountain that Banks turned into a huracanrana.
LC: My baby Sasha was clearly hurt and devastated that she was having to drop the title. The match never got to the next level, though the ending was hot. I really didn't think it was the time to beat her, but if she's hurt and will be out, I gte it. But I don't like it.
WWE United States Championship
Rusev (c) (with Lana) vs. Roman Reigns
Meltzer: Rusev jumped him before the match, threw Reigns' shoulder first into the steps and worked it over. They brawled in the timekeeper's area. eigns came back and "injured Rusev's ribs". He was selling big. Reigns wouldn't stop attacking until they got him away and then they announced no match. Reigns came back and gave him a running spear on the ramp, so definitely no match. There was a "We Want Slater" chant.
LC: The crowd actually got into Reigns. You know why? Because Rusev is THE MAN!!!! This guy is the best seller in the business and should be the World Champion. What a performance by such a great Bulgarian!!!
WWE Tag Team Championship
The New Day
(Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods)
vs. Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson
Meltzer: As far as the match went, it was more a showcase for the finish. They did the magic killer on Woods when Stewart jumped in to save the title. Gallows & Anderson teased crotching Stewart on the post for a long time. He went to tuck in his shirt first. Right before he was going to do it, Big E ran in and suplexed Gallows overhead on the floor for the DQ. He also drove Gallows into the barricade and then the New Day and Stewart celebrated.
LC: This was just boring. Big E and Kofi need to wrestle every match, and Xavier just needs to cheer-lead. Jon Stewart sucks.
WWE Intercontinental Championship
The Miz (c) (with Maryse) vs. Apollo Crews
Meltzer: This felt rushed. They were going back and forth, but the ending came when Crews missed a charge as his head hit the post and Miz pinned him after a skull crushing finale. Crews did good athletic stuff but it never got heated. Maryse's outfit was probably the best thing in the match.
LC: Can't lie, I went to concessions and the bathroom. They have no plans for Apollo and he's wasted already.
Enzo Amore and Big Cass
vs. Chris Jericho and Kevin Owens
Meltzer: The match was about what you'd think it was: Enzo selling most of the way and Cass with the hot tag. Owens threw Cass into the post and did the cannonball into the barricade on them. In the ring, Owens did a pop up powerbomb on Enzo into a codebreaker by Jericho with Jericho pinning Enzo. Enzo was off on a few spots. Crowd really liked Owens when he was mocking Enzo. Enzo & Cass got a great reaction for their pre-match promo where they talked about New York, Sinatra, and lyrics from "Empire State of Mind".
LC: Enzo should open every show. And KO deserves to be in the main event.