I do this for each of the big four WWE events annually and have for the past couple of decades, long predating this space. But now I write words here and they can't just be about baseball. Sunday is the 30th Summer Slam, I'm an old, I've seen every major WWF/E PPV on or around the date of its initial airing. Here are my thoughts about the upcoming show and my rankings of every match in SummerSlam history.
WWE Universal Title: Brock Lesnar (c) vs. Roman Reigns vs. Samoa Joe vs. Braun Strowman
-This is the RAW belt, launched a year ago after they split the roster in half again. Brock took it from Goldberg in an overly praised Mania match and doesn't need to be pinned to lose it here, as this match is one fall. The stip is that both Lesnar and Heyman will leave (perhaps to go to UFC is the unstated element) if Brock loses. Theoretically, Lesnar and Reigns are the babyfaces, but all four guys are really on the same corner as badass, hardhitting tweeners. Lesnar's already successfully defended the belt against Joe, Reigns and Strowman have been in a lengthy program involving each getting shoved into an ambulance. They've done a good job at keeping each credible while having a good amount of interaction given how similar the positioning of each man is.
Joe has been the best worker of the 4, but this is late period Joe, the guy who wrestled Kenta Kobashi ain't walking through that door, and he largely relies on presence to get by. Lesnar had tremendous matches in the first portion of his return to wrestling, but his motivation level can come into question in any given match. Reigns is the guy they like, the guy they've been trying to ascend to the top of superhero mountain for a couple of years now, and he's good (better than Cena was at the same point in their careers and not by a little bit) but given the amount of talent at their disposal, would not be my first, or twenty-first, choice as standardbearer. Others like Strowman more than do I, he's super limited, sort of standard WWE big guy issue, but he's good at it.
It's been a good build and will be a good match. I'd guess Lesnar wins 'cause he ain't leaving, but I'm rooting for Joe.
(4 1/4, it was Lesnar in a top 10 all time SummerSlam match)
WWE Title: Jinder Mahal v. Shinsuke Nakamura
-This is the lineal belt, Jinder's recognized as the 132nd WWE Champion; I'm tempted to say he's the worst, which might be uncharitable, but he's in the discussion. He took the belt from Orton (who needs to jump to WCW in a different timeline) back in May. Nakamura's one of the best wrestlers in the world, certainly top 20, although that's not really evident in his time in WWE (the WWE style, deliberate, largely light, high emphasis on posing) serves to aid in the recovery of Nakamura's body from the pounding taken in New Japan, but since coming from NXT to the main roster, hasn't led to any memorable matches).
I'm not optimistic either about the quality of the match or the outcome, this looks like Jinder's keeping the belt and Nakamura's moving down the card (although maybe to a program with Styles, which is ideal).
(Yeah, this was not good and not a good result)
US Title: AJ Styles v. Kevin Owens
-The IC belt is on RAW (Miz has it and it isn't being contested on the show) this is the Smackdown equivalent, Styles and Owens have traded it back and forth all summer, this run from AJ is about 3 weeks in. The wrinkle here is that Shane McMahon (he and Danielson are the figurehead leaders of Smackdown) is the special guest referee, with teases in the build that he will become physical with either guy. I hate this build, I hate Shane McMahon (I mean, he's probably a perfectly reasonable guy and not Donald Trump Jr, but my tolerance for wrestling angles involving the McMahons ended early in the Vince/Austin program and I mean early in it) and so this match, despite being between an elite worker in Styles and a very good worker in Owens has go away heat for me.
The match quality has been a little disappointing between these two, there's a 4 star match in here somewhere, hopefully we see it Sunday. I'd anticipate AJ keeps and they set up an Owens/Shane thing to culminate at Mania (with Shane going over).
( 3 1/2 stars, as expected in quality and result)
WWE Tag Titles: Cesaro/Sheamus v. Rollins/Ambrose
-This is the RAW tag title, the tag belts on Smackdown are held by New Day, neither is the lineal WWF tag title which no longer exists, and if that sounds like a sound decision, consider applying for a job in WWE creative. Sheamus and Cesaro regained the belts in June against the Hardys, who returned unannounced at Mania, and are the supporting players here for the real story, which is the reunion of Rollins/Ambrose, 2/3 of the The Shield, which was a dominant tag act until Rollins turned on the group. They've done an excellent job and teasing out this reunion, giving real weight to Rollins's betrayal as opposed to just throwing the two men together out of expedience. Everyone here is good (Sheamus) to great (Cesaro) in the ring, and when adding that to the storyline juice of reuniting Rollins/Ambrose, I'm optimistic about the match quality. I assume the babyfaces take the belts.
( 3 3/4 stars, they did and it was right to be optimistic)
So, that's a reasonable top of the card. 3 of the 4 will be good and Nakamura's in he other one, the show's worth watching on that merit. Here come the singles midcard matches in my order of interest.
Finn Balor vs. Bray Wyatt
Randy Orton vs. Rusev
John Cena vs. Baron Corbin
Big Show vs. Big Cass
-Balor is one of the best wrestlers in the world, this entire program has really just been prelude for Balor's Demon King entrance here at Summer Slam (WWE has...devolved seems overly critical...but certainly grown to rely, as one would on a crutch, on entrances). Balor wins; the match is fine.
-Rusev has nothing going; Orton, as previously mentioned, is beyond stale in this territory, a Rusev win to continue the program would make sense.
-Corbin lost his briefcase match this week, so they might (should) just put the bullet in thoughts of his being an upper card wrestler by having Cena beat him fairly easily. I'd assume this isn't that, that instead it's Corbin's big win and he remains in high profile 2 1/2 star matches a few more months.
-The big guy match is the extension of the Cass heel turn on his partner Enzo (he'll be suspended in a cage above the ring). At some point, what makes sense is Enzo to also turn and manage Cass ('cause the bell to bell part is where Enzo falls apart) I'll say Cass goes over in a short and pretty bad match.
The middle is not great; if Balor were in the Jinder spot, we'd have a real chance at an all time great Summer Slam match such as you'll see ranked below, and while I don't hate Bray, this is unlikely to be that type of match. Nothing else here is likely to be good.
(Quality for all was expected, Orton won a squash, Cena easily, Cass/Show was awful and not that short and Balor won and the match was okay)
Here are the women's matches.
RAW Women: Alexa Bliss (c) vs. Sasha Banks
Smackdown Women: Naomi (c) vs. Natalya
The next 3 1/4 star match by either of the women's champions will be their first, so expectations here should be low.
(Neither of these matches hit 2 1/4, much less 3 1/4)
Three pre-show matches.
Juniors: Akira Tozawa (c) vs. Neville
Smackdown Tags: The New Day vs. The Usos
Hardys/Jason Jordan vs. Miz/Miztourage
None are likely to get a ton of time, Neville/Tozawa, if allowed to actually turn it loose, would be the best match on the card. That won't happen here.
(New Day/Usos was a 4 star match, there were also 3 four star matches on NXT the night before)
So, it's 6 hours of wrestling, the main event may be a 4 star match and there's some value in the other big title matches as well.
Here's every match in SummerSlam history.
1. 1994 WWF Title Cage: Bret Hart d. Owen Hart 32 min 4 ¾
2. 1992 IC Davey Boy Smith d. Bret Hart 25 min 4 ¾
3. 2000 Tags: TLC: Edge/Christian d. Hardys d. Dudleys 15 min 4 ½
4. 1995 IC Ladder: Shawn Michaels d. Razor Ramon 25min 4 ½
5. 2013 No DQ: Brock Lesnar d. CM Punk 25min 4 1/4
6. 2016 AJ Styles d. John Cena 23 min 4 1/4
7. 1991 IC: Bret Hart d. Mr. Perfect 18 min 4 ¼
8. 2009 WWE Title TLC: CM Punk d. Jeff Hardy 21:30 4 ¼
9. 2013 WWE Title Daniel Bryan d. John Cena 27 min 4 1/4
10. 2011 World Title No Holds Barred: Christian d. Randy Orton 23:30 4 ¼
11. 1996 WWF Title: Shawn Michaels d. Vader 22 min 4
12. 2002 Nonsanctioned: Shawn Michaels d. HHH 27:30 4
13. 2016 Universal: Finn Balor d. Seth Rollins 19 min 4
14. 2000 2/3 Falls Chris Benoit d. Chris Jericho 13 min 4
15. 2008 HIAC: Undertaker d. Edge 26 min 4
16. 2011 WWF Title: CM Punk d. John Cena 24 min 4
17 2014 WWF Title: Brock Lesnar d. John Cena 16:30 4
18. 1989 Brainbusters d. Hart Foundation 16 min 4
19. 2004: World: Randy Orton d. Chris Benoit 20 min 3 ¾
20. 1998 IC Ladder: HHH d. Rock 26 min 3 ¾
21. 2001 WWF Title: Kurt Angle d. Steve Austin 22:30 3 ¾
22. 2003 WWF Title Kurt Angle d. Brock Lesnar 21 min 3 ¾
23. 2015 WWF Title: Seth Rollins d. John Cena 19 min 3 3/4
24. 2015 Kevin Owens d. Cesaro 14:30 min 3 3/4
25. 2012 Brock Lesnar d. HHH 18:30 3 ¾
26. 1999 WWF Title: Mankind d. Steve Austin/HHH 16:30 3 ¾
27. 2010 Team WWE d. Team Nexus 35:30 3 ¾
28. 1989 Rick Martel/Rougeaus d. Rockers/Tito Santana 15 min 3 ¾
29. 2004 Kurt Angle d. Eddie Guerrero 3 ½
30. 2001 Hardcore Ladder: RVD d. Jeff Hardy 16:30 3 ½
31. 2002 IC: RVD d. Chris Benoit 16:30 3 ½
32. 2016 Brock Lesnar d. Randy Orton 11min 3 1/2
33. 1997 IC: Steve Austin d. Owen Hart 16 min 3 ½
34. 1998 Lion’s Den: Ken Shamrock d. Owen Hart 9 min 3 ½
35. 2012 Chris Jericho d. Dolph Ziggler 13 min 3 ½
36. 2009 IC: Rey Mysterio d. Dolph Ziggler 12:30 min 3 ½
37. 1997 WWF Title: Bret Hart d. Undertaker 28 min 3 ½
38. 2015 Undertaker d. Brock Lesnar 17 min 3 1/2
39. 1990 Tags: Hart Foundation d. Demolition 15:30 3 ½
40. 1992 Ultimate Warrior d. Randy Savage 26 min 3 ½
41. 1997 Cage: Mankind d. HHH 16 min 3 ½
42. 2013 World: Alberto del Rio d. Christian 12:30 3 1/2
43. 2003 Eddie Guerrero d. Chris Benoit/Tajiri/Rhyno 10:30 3 ½
44. 2009 DX d. Cody Rhodes/Ted Dibiase, Jr. 20 min 3 ½
45. 1993 Tatanka/Smoking Gunns d. Bam Bam Bigelow/Headshrinkers 11 min 3 ½
46. 1988 British Bulldogs draw Rougeaus 20 min. 3 ½
47. 1996 Boiler Room Brawl Mankind d. Undertaker 27 min 3 ½
48. 2005 Ladder: Rey Mysterio d. Eddie Guerrero 20:30 3 ¼
49. 2014 Bray Wyatt d. Chris Jericho 13 min 3 1/4
50. 2002: Edge d. Eddy Guerrero 12 min 3 ¼
51. 2011 Wade Barrett d. Daniel Bryan 11:30 3 ¼
52. 1995 Hakushi d. 123 Kid 9 min 3 ¼
53. 2015 Roman Reigns/Dean Ambrose d. Bray Wyatt/Luke Harper 11 min 3 1/4
54. 1999 Test d. Shane McMahon 12 min 3 ¼
55. 1998 Hair: 123 Kid d. Jeff Jarrett 11 min 3 ¼
56. 1998 WWF Title: Steve Austin d. Undertaker 21 min 3 ¼
57. 2000 WWF Title: Rock d. Kurt Angle/HHH 20 min 3 ¼
58. 2006 WWF Title Edge d. John Cena 15:30 3 ¼
59. 2010 RAW Title: Randy Orton d. Sheamus 19 min 3 ¼
60. 2015 Sheamus d. Randy Orton 12 min 3 1/4
61. 1993 Tags: Steiners d. Heavenly Bodies 9:30 3 ¼
62. 1989 IC Title: Ultimate Warrior d. Rick Rude 16 min 3 ¼
63. 2002 Kurt Angle d. Rey Mysterio 9 min 3
64. 2001 IC: Edge d. Lance Storm 11 min 3
65. 2001 Jr: XPac d. Tajiri 7 min 3
66. 2014 Seth Rollins d. Dean Ambrose 11 min 3
67. 2016 WWF Title: Dean Ambrose d. Dolph Ziggler 15 min 3
68. 2006 I Quit: Ric Flair d. Mick Foley 13 min 3
69. 2001 WCW Title: Rock d. Booker T 15 min 3
70. 2005 WWF Title John Cena d. Chris Jericho 15 min 3
71. 1988 Tags: Demolition d. Hart Foundation 10 min 3
72. 1994 IC: Razor Ramon d. Diesel 15 min 3
73. 2002 WWF Title: Brock Lesnar d. Rock 16:30 3
74. 2004 Dudleys d. Rey Mysterio/Paul London/Billy Kidman 8 min 3
75. 2011 Rey Mysterio/John Morrison/Kofi Kingston d. Miz/R Truth/Alberto del Rio 9:30 3
76. 1993 Bret Hart d. Doink 10 min 3
77. 2007 Rey Mysterio d. Chavo Guerrero 12 min 3
78. 2008 MVP d. Jeff Hardy 10 min 3
79. 1996 Owen Hart d. Savio Vega 13:30 3
80. 2008 World CM Punk d. JBL 11 min 3
81. 2012 World: Sheamus d. Alberto del Rio 11:30 3
82. 1995 Bret Hart d. Isaac Yankem 16 min 3
83. 2012 IC: Miz d. Rey Mysterio 9 min 3
84 2016 Owens/Jericho d. Cass/Enzo 12 min 3
85. 1992 Shawn Michaels draw Rick Martel 8 min 3
86. 1991 Virgil d. Ted DiBiase 13 min 3
87. 2007 WWF: John Cena d. Randy Orton 21 min 3
88. 2014 Roman Reigns d. Randy Orton 16:30 3
89. 2008 Batista d. John Cena 13:30 3
90. 2003 Elimination Chamber 19 min 3
91. 1999 Tag Team Gauntlet 16:30 3
92. 1997 Davey Boy Smith d. Ken Shamrock 7:30
93. 1999 Lion’s Den: Ken Shamrock d. Steve Blackman 9 min
94. 2000 Hardcore: Shane McMahon d. Steve Blackman 10 min
95. 2007 ECW: John Morrison d. CM Punk 7 min
96. 2014 IC: Dolph Ziggler d. Miz 8 min
97. 2016 Women: Charlotte d. Sasha 14 min
98. 2005 Randy Orton d. Undertaker 17 min
99. 2004 IC: Edge d. Chris Jericho/Batista 8:30 min
100. 2001 Chris Jericho d. Rhyno 12:30
101. 1994 Women: Alundra Blayze d. Bull Nakano 8 min
102. 1999 IC/Euro: Jeff Jarrett d. DLo Brown 7:30
103. 1993 Razor Ramon d. Ted DiBiase 7:30
104. 1996 Goldust d. Marc Mero 11 min
105. 1998 Euro: DLo Brown d. Val Venis 15:30
106. 2005 Edge d. Matt Hardy 5 min
107. 2012 WWF Title: CM Punk d. John Cena/Big Show 14:30
108. 2006 Chavo Guerrero d. Rey Mysterio 11 min
109. 2012 Daniel Bryan d. Kane 8 min
110. 2015 Tags: New Day d.. Prime Time Players/Los Matadores/Lucha Dragons 10 min
111. 2014 Rusev d. Jack Swagger 9 min
112. 2002: Ric Flair d. Chris Jericho 10:30
113. 2004 HHH d. Eugene 14 min
114. 2010: Smackdown Title: Kane d. Rey Mysterio 12:30
115. 2003: Kane d. RVD 12:30
116. 2005 Kurt Angle d. Eugene 5 min
117. 2007 IC: Umaga d. Carlito/Ken Kennedy 7:30
118. 1989 Hulk Hogan/Brutus Beefcake d. Randy Savage/Zeus 15 min
119. 1988 Hulk Hogan/Randy Savage d. Ted DiBiase/Andre the Giant 14:30 min
120. 1990 Power&Glory d. Rockers 6 min
121. 2011 Mark Henry d. Sheamus 9:30
122. 2007 Kane d. Fit Finlay 9 min
123. 1999 Hardcore: Al Snow d. Boss Man 7:30
124. 1999 Rock d. Billy Gunn 10 min
125. 1993 WWF Title: Lex Luger d. Yokozuna 18 min
126. 1991 Ricky Steamboat/Davey Boy Smith/Kerry von Erich d. Warlord/Power&Glory 10:30
127. 2005 Hulk Hogan d. Shawn Michaels 21:30
128. 1993 Shawn Michaels d. Mr. Perfect 11:30
129. 2009 Tags: Chris Jericho/Big Show d. Cryme Tyme 9:30
130. 2012 Tags: R-Truth/Kofi Kingston d. PTP 7 min
131. 2009 WWF Title Randy Orton d. John Cena 21 min
132. 2013 Cody Rhodes d. Damien Sandow 6:30
133. 2008 WWF Title HHH d. Khali 9:30
134. 2007 Booker T d. HHH 8 min
135. 2006 DX d. Vince McMahon/Shane McMahon 13 min
136. 2006 World Batista d. Booker 10:30
137. 2004 JBL d. Undertaker 17:30 min
138. 2005 World: Batista d. JBL 9 min
139. 2002 Un-Americans d. Goldust/Booker T 9:30
140. 1999 Tags: Undertaker/Big Show d. XPac/Kane 12 min
141. 2001 Tags: Undertaker/Kane d. DDP/Kanyon 10 min
142. 2006 ECW Title: Big Show d. Sabu 8:30
143. 2009 MVP d. Jack Swagger 6 min
144. 2015 IC: Ryback d. Miz/Show 5:30 min
145. 1995 Barry Horowitz d. Skip 11:30
146. 1991 Big Boss Man d. Jacques Rougeau 9:30
147. 2001 Dudleys/Test d. APA/Spike Dudley 7 min
148. 2013 Ring of Fire: Bray Wyatt d. Kane 7:30
149. 1997 LOD d. Godwinns 10 min
150. 1988 Powers of Pain d. Bolsheviks 5:30
151. 1994 Bam Bam Bigelow/IRS d. Headshrinkers 7 min
152. 1993 Jerry Lawler d. Bret Hart 6:30
153. 2004 Kane d. Matt Hardy 6 min
154. 1996 Smoking Gunns d. Bodydonnas d. New Rockers d. Godwinns 12 min
155. 2015 Neville/Stephen Amell d. Stardust/Wade Barrett 7:30 min
156. 2014 Women: Paige d. AJ Lee 5 min
157. 1989 Ted DiBiase d. Jimmy Snuka 6:30
158. 1990 IC: Kerry von Erich d. Mr. Perfect 5 min
159. 1993 IRS d. 123 Kid 6 min
160. 1990 Hulk Hogan d. Earthquake 13 min
161. 1990 WWF Title Cage Match: Ultimate Warrior d. Rick Rude 10 min
162. 1991 Tags: Street Fight: LOD d. Nasty Boys 6:30
163. 1991 Hulk Hogan/Ultimate Warrior d. Sgt. Slaughter/Mustafa/Adnan 12:30
164. 1995 HHH d. Sparky Plugg 7 min
165. 2010 IC Dolph Ziggler no contest Kofi Kingston 7 min
166. 2015 Dolph Ziggler no contest Rusev 11 min
167. 1997 Boriquas d. DOA 9 min
168. 2003 Tags: LaResistance d. Dudley Boys 8 min
169. 1998 Tags: New Age Outlaws d. Mankind 5 min
170. 2000 IC: Eddy Guerrero/Chyna d. Val Venis/Trish Stratus 7 min
171. 2011 Women: Kelly Kelly d. Beth Phoenix 6:30
172. 2000 XPac d. Road Dogg 4:30
173. 2016 IC: Miz d. Apollo Crews 5:30
174. 2004 John Cena d. Booker T 6 min
175. 2003 Undertaker d. A-Train 9 min
176. 2002 Undertaker d. Test 8 min
177. 2014 Stephanie McMahon d. Brie Bella 10 min
178. 2010 Big Show d. CM Punk/Luke Gallows/Joey Mercury 6:30
179 2015 Team PCB d. Team Bella d. Team BAD 15 min
180. 1989 Mr. Perfect d. Red Rooster 3:30
181. 2013 Dolph Ziggler/Kaitlyn d. Big E Langston/AJ Lee
182. 1988 Big Boss Man d. Koko B. Ware 6 min
183. 1990 Jake Roberts d. Bad News Brown 4:30
184. 1990 Warlord d. Tito Santana 5:30
185. 1993 Ludwig Borga d. Marty Janetty 5 min
186. 1996 Sid d. Davey Boy Smith 6 min
187 2000 Jerry Lawler d. Tazz 4:30
188. 2000 RTC d. Rikishi/Too Cool 5 min
189. 1992 Tags: Natural Disasters d. Beverly Brothers 10:30
190. 1992 LOD d. Money Inc 15 min
191. 1991 IRS d. Greg Valentine 4 min
192. 1990 Randy Savage d. Dusty Rhodes 2 min
193 2016 US; Rusev NC. Roman Reigns 0 sec.
194. 2005 US: Chris Benoit d. Orlando Jordan 30 sec
195. 1988 IC Title: Ultimate Warrior d. Honky Tonk Man :30
196. 2009 ECW Christian d. William Regal :30
197. 2011 WWF Title: Alberto del Rio d. CM Punk :30
198. 2008 ECW Matt Hardy d. Mark Henry :30
199. 2013 WWF Title: Randy Orton d. Daniel Bryan :30
200. 1992 Undertaker d. Kamala 3:30
201. 1990 Hacksaw Duggan/Nikolai Volkoff d. Orient Express 3:30
202. 1995 Smoking Gunns d. Blu Brothers 6 min
203. 1992 Crush d. Repo Man 5:30
204. 1988 Dino Bravo d. Don Muraco 5:30
205. 1989 Hacksaw Duggan/Demolition d. Andre the Giant/Boss Man/Akeem 7:30
206. 1998 Edge/Sable d. Marc Mero/Jacqueline 8:30
207. 2003 Shane McMahon d. Eric Bischoff 10:30
208. 2006 Hulk Hogan d. Randy Orton 11 min
209. 1989 Greg Valentine d. Hercules 3 min
210. 1988 Rick Rude d. JYD 6:30
211. 1992 Nailz d. Virgil 4 min
212. 1997 Goldust d. Brian Pillman 7 min
213. 1994 Tatanka d. Lex Luger 6 min
214. 2009 Kane d. Khali 6 min
215. 1988 Bad News Brown d. Ken Patera 6:30
216. 1991 Natural Disasters d. Bushwackers 6:30
217. 1998 Oddities d. Kaientai 10 min
218. 2016: Tags: Anderson/Gallows d. New Day (DQ) 9 min
219. 2008 IC/Women Santino/Beth Phoenix d. Kofi Kingston/Mickie James 5:30
220. 2000 Undertaker no contest Kane 6 min
221. 2016 Natalya/Nikki/Alexa d. Naomi/Carmella/Becky 11 min
222. 1993 Undertaker d. Giant Gonzalez 8 min
223. 1994 Jeff Jarrett d. Mabel 6 min
224. 1989 Dusty Rhodes d. Honky Tonk Man 9:30
225. 1988 Jake Roberts d. Hercules 10 min
226. 1994 Undertaker d. Undertaker 9 min
227. 1995 WWF Title: Diesel d. Mabel 9 min
228. 2013 Natalya d. Brie Bella 4 min
229. 1995 Women: Bertha Faye d. Alundra Blayze 5 min
230. 1999 Women: Ivory d. Tori 4 min
231. 2000 Women: Kat d. Terri 3 min
232. 2010 Women: Melina d. Alicia Fox 5:30
233. 2007 World: Batista d. Khali 7 min
234. 1996 Jerry Lawler d. Jake Roberts 4 min
235. 1995 Undertaker d. Kamala 16:30
236. 1990 Sherri d. Sapphire (forfeit)
237. 2007 Diva Battle Royal 7 min
238. 2004 Diva Dodge Ball 3 min
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