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2019 SummerSlam Preview (every SummerSlam match ranked)

Wednesday, August 7, 2019

The G1 Climax is wrapping up; AEW starts in October, NXT has the third Cole/Gargano match.

Oh yeah - SummerSlam; I didn't see you there.  Here's the preview.


Universal Title: Brock Lesnar v. Seth Rollins
-When last we left, at WM35, Rollins was taking the Universal Title from Lesnar, in an entirely forgettable match. Lesnar won the MITB briefcase in May, then cashed in to regain the belt in July.  So, we're doing the whole Mania thing again - Brock beats on Rollins, how can Rollins ever overcome this Beast?  And either he will or he won't but given that we did just see this same thing happen at Wrestlemania it's hard to muster a ton of interest.  Rollins has spent the past few months playing the role of WWE corporate shill on twitter, embarrassingly claiming that revenue=quality, which means he's going to be super surprised when  the Avengers movie doesn't sweep the Academy Awards. 

Update - 4 stars, terrific match, Rollins takes the belt, 14th best match in SummerSlam history

WWE Title: Kofi Kingston v. Randy Orton
-When last we left, at WM35, Kofi was taking the lineal WWF Title (positioned as the secondary belt in the promotion) from Daniel Bryan; he's subsequently kept the belt in a series of matches exposing his limitations as a singles worker.  This won't help; Orton's phoned in most of his work for years and there's just no reason to look forward to this one.  The storyline is thin - Orton apparently held Kingston back a decade ago, keeping him from his rightful place at the top of the card (Kingston as guy held down by the machine is inexact casting) it would be weird if they moved the belt to Orton in 2019.  

Double count out, it was fine.  

US Title: AJ Styles v. Ricochet
-If they want it to be the match of the night, it will be the match of the night.  When last we left, at WM35, it was Samoa Joe holding the belt for which the recently departed Harley Race was the inaugural champion. He dropped to Rey Mysterio in May - Joe regained in June - Ricochet took three weeks later - and then AJ, who is now leading a heel faction with his old New Japan running buddies Anderson/Gallows, took in July.  This is the only match on the card that could, in the very best case scenario, compete with the workrate matches on every other show throughout the weekend. 

3 1/4 - it was fine, they had a WWE match, AJ keeps

RAW Women's Title: Becky Lynch v. Natalya Neidhart
-When last we left, at WM35, Becky was taking both women's title belts, the RAW belt from Ronda Rousey in a main event that (shhh...wasn't as good as they needed it to be). Like the rest of the promotion, Lynch has gone cold and she's going to face an interesting crowd reaction Sunday facing Nattie Neidhart in Toronto.  Lynch keeps the belt in an okay match.

3 stars, Becky kept in a match a little better than okay

Smackdown Women's Title: Bayley v. Ember Moon
-When last we left, at WM35, Becky Lynch, as mentioned, was taking both women's title belts, the Smackdown belt from Charlotte in that same main event. Charlotte regained in May - but then immediately dropped to Bayley, who held the MITB briefcase. There's not really much of a program here, Moon is a perfectly reasonable challenger and this should be a perfectly reasonable match.

Bayley kept and this was not very good

Cruiserweight Title: Drew Gulak v. Oney Lorcan
-I assume the 205 Live Title will be on the pre-show; these guys are good workers and this should be a good match and they are not close to the kinds of workers who aren't being used on this card.  

And it was on the pre-show and just okay

Kevin Owens v. Shane McMahon
-You know how sometimes the worst thing that can happen for a basketball player who loves to shoot but shouldn't is he hits the first couple of buckets - because then he spends the rest of the game chasing that?  That's how I feel about that Shane/Angle match from 20 years ago.  Here, Owens has to leave town if he loses, so he won't.  

Owens wins a reasonable enough garbage match.

Goldberg v. Dolph Ziggler
-Squash

Squash

The Fiend v. Finn Balor
-Bray Wyatt has a spooky new gimmick and this is going to be a squash.

Squash

Charlotte Flair v. Trish Stratus
-Trish returns to put Charlotte over in Toronto.

3 1/4 stars, Charlotte did go over, second best match of the night, best women's match in SummerSlam history.

So - it's a missable show; AJ/Ricochet is a great matchup and we'll see what the actual match looks like; Brock/Rollins could be a good, short, explosive match or a drizzle.  It's unlikely anything else climbs across the 3 1/2 star mark.  But the G1 Climax...and NXT Takeover...and don't forget about AEW, starting on TNT in October, that's the stuff.  For purposes of the beloved Counterfactual hopefully they'll toss a couple of yet to be announced matches my way on this show.  

Here's every Summer Slam match (I think, I might have missed some) ratings are mine, times are approximate.


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.       2017 Universal: Brock Lesnar d. Samoa Joe/Roman Reigns/Braun Strowman 21 min 4 1/4
8.       1991 IC: Bret Hart d. Mr. Perfect 18 min 4 ¼
9.       2009 WWE Title TLC: CM Punk d. Jeff Hardy 21:30 4 ¼
10.       2013 WWE Title Daniel Bryan d. John Cena 27 min 4 1/4
11.     2011 World Title No Holds Barred: Christian d. Randy Orton 23:30 4 ¼

12.       1996 WWF Title: Shawn Michaels d. Vader 22 min 4
13.       2002 Nonsanctioned: Shawn Michaels d. HHH 27:30 4
14.       2016 Universal: Finn Balor d. Seth Rollins 19 min 4
15.       2000 2/3 Falls Chris Benoit d. Chris Jericho 13 min 4
16.       2008 HIAC: Undertaker d. Edge 26 min 4
17.       2018 Miz d. Daniel Bryan 23:30 4
18.       2011 WWF Title: CM Punk d. John Cena 24 min 4
19        2014 WWF Title: Brock Lesnar d. John Cena 16:30 4
20.       1989 Brainbusters d. Hart Foundation 16 min 4
21.       2018 WWE Title: Samoa Joe d. AJ Styles (DQ) 23 min 4
   
22.   2004: World: Randy Orton d. Chris Benoit 20 min 3 ¾
23.   1998 IC Ladder: HHH d. Rock 26 min 3 ¾
24.   2017 RAW Tags: Rollins/Ambrose d. Sheamus/Cesaro 19 min 3 3/4
25.   2001 WWF Title: Kurt Angle d. Steve Austin 22:30 3 ¾
26.   2003 WWF Title Kurt Angle d. Brock Lesnar 21 min 3 ¾
27.  2015 WWF Title: Seth Rollins d. John Cena 19 min 3 3/4
28.  2015 Kevin Owens d. Cesaro 14:30 min 3 3/4
29.   2012 Brock Lesnar d. HHH 18:30 3 ¾
30.   1999 WWF Title: Mankind d. Steve Austin/HHH 16:30 3 ¾
31.   2010 Team WWE d. Team Nexus 35:30 3 ¾
32.   1989 Rick Martel/Rougeaus d. Rockers/Tito Santana 15 min 3 ¾

33.   2004 Kurt Angle d. Eddie Guerrero 3 ½
34.   2001 Hardcore Ladder: RVD d. Jeff Hardy 16:30 3 ½
35.   2002 IC: RVD d. Chris Benoit 16:30 3 ½
36. 2016 Brock Lesnar d. Randy Orton 11min 3 1/2
37. 2017 US: AJ Styles d. Kevin Owens 16 min 3 1/2
38.   2018 IC: Seth Rollins d. Dolph Ziggler 22 min  3 1/2
39.   1997 IC: Steve Austin d. Owen Hart 16 min 3 ½
40.   1998 Lion’s Den: Ken Shamrock d. Owen Hart 9 min 3 ½
41.   2012 Chris Jericho d. Dolph Ziggler 13 min 3 ½
42.   2009 IC: Rey Mysterio d. Dolph Ziggler 12:30 min 3 ½
43.   1997 WWF Title: Bret Hart d. Undertaker 28 min 3 ½
44.  2015 Undertaker d. Brock Lesnar 17 min 3 1/2
45.   1990 Tags: Hart Foundation d. Demolition 15:30 3 ½
46.   1992 Ultimate Warrior d. Randy Savage 26 min 3 ½
47.   1997 Cage: Mankind d. HHH 16 min 3 ½
48.  2013 World: Alberto del Rio d. Christian 12:30 3 1/2
49.   2003 Eddie Guerrero d. Chris Benoit/Tajiri/Rhyno 10:30 3 ½
50.   2009 DX d. Cody Rhodes/Ted Dibiase, Jr. 20 min 3 ½
51.   1993 Tatanka/Smoking Gunns d. Bam Bam Bigelow/Headshrinkers 11 min 3 ½
52.   1988 British Bulldogs draw Rougeaus 20 min. 3 ½
53.   1996 Boiler Room Brawl Mankind d. Undertaker 27 min 3 ½

54.   2005 Ladder: Rey Mysterio d. Eddie Guerrero 20:30 3 ¼
55. 2014 Bray Wyatt d. Chris Jericho 13 min 3 1/4
56.   2002: Edge d. Eddy Guerrero 12 min 3 ¼
57.   2011 Wade Barrett d. Daniel Bryan 11:30 3 ¼
58.   1995 Hakushi d. 123 Kid 9 min 3 ¼
59.  2015 Roman Reigns/Dean Ambrose d. Bray Wyatt/Luke Harper 11 min 3 1/4
60.   1999 Test d. Shane McMahon 12 min 3 ¼
61.   1998 Hair: 123 Kid d. Jeff Jarrett 11 min 3 ¼
62.   1998 WWF Title: Steve Austin d. Undertaker 21 min 3 ¼
63.   2000 WWF Title: Rock d. Kurt Angle/HHH 20 min 3 ¼
64.   2006 WWF Title Edge d. John Cena 15:30 3 ¼
65.   2018 Smackdown Tags: New Day d. Bludgeon Brothers (DQ) 9:30 3 1/4
66.   2010 RAW Title: Randy Orton d. Sheamus 19 min 3 ¼
67.  2015 Sheamus d. Randy Orton 12 min 3 1/4
68.   1993 Tags: Steiners d. Heavenly Bodies 9:30 3 ¼
69.   1989 IC Title: Ultimate Warrior d. Rick Rude 16 min 3 ¼

70.   2002 Kurt Angle d. Rey Mysterio 9 min 3
71.   2001 IC: Edge d. Lance Storm 11 min 3
72.   2001 Jr: XPac d. Tajiri 7 min 3
73. 2014 Seth Rollins d. Dean Ambrose 11 min 3
74. 2016 WWF Title: Dean Ambrose d. Dolph Ziggler 15 min 3
75.   2006 I Quit: Ric Flair d. Mick Foley 13 min 3
76.   2001 WCW Title: Rock d. Booker T 15 min 3
77.   2005 WWF Title John Cena d. Chris Jericho 15 min 3
78.   1988 Tags: Demolition d. Hart Foundation 10 min 3
79.   1994 IC: Razor Ramon d. Diesel 15 min 3
80.   2002 WWF Title: Brock Lesnar d. Rock 16:30 3
81    2018 US Title: Shinsuke Nakamura d. Jeff Hardy  10:30  3
82.   2004 Dudleys d. Rey Mysterio/Paul London/Billy Kidman 8 min 3
83.   2011 Rey Mysterio/John Morrison/Kofi Kingston d. Miz/R Truth/Alberto del Rio 9:30 3
84.   1993 Bret Hart d. Doink 10 min 3
85.   2007 Rey Mysterio d. Chavo Guerrero 12 min 3
86.   2008 MVP d. Jeff Hardy 10 min 3
87.   1996 Owen Hart d. Savio Vega 13:30 3
88.   2008 World CM Punk d. JBL 11 min 3
89.   2012 World: Sheamus d. Alberto del Rio 11:30 3
90.   1995 Bret Hart d. Isaac Yankem 16 min 3
91.   2012 IC: Miz d. Rey Mysterio 9 min 3
92.  2016 Owens/Jericho d. Cass/Enzo 12 min 3
93.   1992 Shawn Michaels draw Rick Martel 8 min 3
94.   1991 Virgil d. Ted DiBiase 13 min 3
95.   2007 WWF: John Cena d. Randy Orton 21 min 3
96.   2014 Roman Reigns d. Randy Orton 16:30 3
97.   2008 Batista d. John Cena 13:30 3
98.   2003 Elimination Chamber 19 min 3
99.   1999 Tag Team Gauntlet 16:30 3

100.   1997 Davey Boy Smith d. Ken Shamrock 7:30
101.   1999 Lion’s Den: Ken Shamrock d. Steve Blackman 9 min
102.   2000 Hardcore: Shane McMahon d. Steve Blackman 10 min
103.   2007 ECW: John Morrison d. CM Punk 7 min
104.  2014 IC: Dolph Ziggler d. Miz 8 min
105.     2016 Women: Charlotte d. Sasha 14 min
106.   2005 Randy Orton d. Undertaker 17 min
107.   2004 IC: Edge d. Chris Jericho/Batista 8:30 min
108.   2001 Chris Jericho d. Rhyno 12:30
109.   1994 Women: Alundra Blayze d. Bull Nakano 8 min
110.   1999 IC/Euro: Jeff Jarrett d. DLo Brown 7:30
111.   1993 Razor Ramon d. Ted DiBiase 7:30
112.   1996 Goldust d. Marc Mero 11 min
113.   1998 Euro: DLo Brown d. Val Venis 15:30
114.   2005 Edge d. Matt Hardy 5 min
115.   2018 Universal Title: Roman Reigns d. Brock Lesnar 6:30
116.   2012 WWF Title: CM Punk d. John Cena/Big Show 14:30
117.   2006 Chavo Guerrero d. Rey Mysterio 11 min
118.   2012 Daniel Bryan d. Kane 8 min
119.   2017 Finn Balor d. Bray Wyatt 10:30
120.   2015 Tags: New Day d.. Prime Time Players/Los Matadores/Lucha Dragons 10 min
121.  2014 Rusev d. Jack Swagger 9 min
122.   2002: Ric Flair d. Chris Jericho 10:30
123.   2004 HHH d. Eugene 14 min
124.   2010: Smackdown Title: Kane d. Rey Mysterio 12:30
125.   2003: Kane d. RVD 12:30

126.   2005 Kurt Angle d. Eugene 5 min
127.   2007 IC: Umaga d. Carlito/Ken Kennedy 7:30
128.   1989 Hulk Hogan/Brutus Beefcake d. Randy Savage/Zeus 15 min
129.   1988 Hulk Hogan/Randy Savage d. Ted DiBiase/Andre the Giant 14:30 min
130.   1990 Power&Glory d. Rockers 6 min
125.   2018 RAW Women's Title: Ronda Rousey d. Alexa Bliss 4:30 
131.    2011 Mark Henry d. Sheamus 9:30
132.    2007 Kane d. Fit Finlay 9 min
133.    1999 Hardcore: Al Snow d. Boss Man 7:30
134.     1999 Rock d. Billy Gunn 10 min
135.    2018 Smackdown Women's Title: Charlotte Flair d. Becky Lynch/Carmella 14:30
136.    1993 WWF Title: Lex Luger d. Yokozuna 18 min
137.    1991 Ricky Steamboat/Davey Boy Smith/Kerry von Erich d. Warlord/Power&Glory 10:30                                                                                                                                            
138.     2005 Hulk Hogan d. Shawn Michaels 21:30
139.                        1993 Shawn Michaels d. Mr. Perfect 11:30
140.                        2009 Tags: Chris Jericho/Big Show d. Cryme Tyme 9:30
141.                        2012 Tags: R-Truth/Kofi Kingston d. PTP 7 min
142.                        2009 WWF Title Randy Orton d. John Cena 21 min
143.            2013 Cody Rhodes d. Damien Sandow 6:30
144                               2017 WWF Title: Jinder Mahal d. Shinsuke Nakamura 11:30
145.                        2008 WWF Title HHH d. Khali 9:30
146.                        2007 Booker T d. HHH 8 min
147.                        2006 DX d. Vince McMahon/Shane McMahon 13 min
148.                        2006 World Batista d. Booker 10:30
149.                        2004 JBL d. Undertaker 17:30 min
150.                        2005 World: Batista d. JBL 9 min

151.                        2002 Un-Americans d. Goldust/Booker T 9:30
152.                        1999 Tags: Undertaker/Big Show d. XPac/Kane 12 min
153.                        2001 Tags: Undertaker/Kane d. DDP/Kanyon 10 min
154.                        2006 ECW Title: Big Show d. Sabu 8:30
155.                        2009 MVP d. Jack Swagger 6 min
156.            2015 IC: Ryback d. Miz/Show 5:30 min
157.                        1995 Barry Horowitz d. Skip 11:30
158.                        1991 Big Boss Man d. Jacques Rougeau 9:30
159.                        2001 Dudleys/Test d. APA/Spike Dudley 7 min
160.            2013 Ring of Fire: Bray Wyatt d. Kane 7:30
161.                        1997 LOD d. Godwinns 10 min
162.                        1988 Powers of Pain d. Bolsheviks 5:30
163.                        1994 Bam Bam Bigelow/IRS d. Headshrinkers 7 min
164.                        1993 Jerry Lawler d. Bret Hart 6:30
165.                        2004 Kane d. Matt Hardy 6 min
166.                        1996 Smoking Gunns d. Bodydonnas d. New Rockers d. Godwinns 12 min
167.            2015 Neville/Stephen Amell d. Stardust/Wade Barrett 7:30 min
168.            2014 Women: Paige d. AJ Lee 5 min
169             2017 Smackdown Women: Natty d. Naomi 11 min
170.                   2017 RAW Women: Sasha Banks d. Alexa Bliss 13:30
171.                        1989 Ted DiBiase d. Jimmy Snuka 6:30
172.                        1990 IC: Kerry von Erich d. Mr. Perfect 5 min
173.                        1993 IRS d. 123 Kid 6 min
175.                        1990 Hulk Hogan d. Earthquake 13 min
176.                        1990 WWF Title Cage Match: Ultimate Warrior d. Rick Rude 10 min
177.                               2017 John Cena d. Baron Corbin 10 min
178.                        1991 Tags: Street Fight: LOD d. Nasty Boys 6:30
179.                        1991 Hulk Hogan/Ultimate Warrior d. Sgt. Slaughter/Mustafa/Adnan 12:30
180.                        1995 HHH d. Sparky Plugg 7 min
181.                        2010 IC Dolph Ziggler no contest Kofi Kingston  7 min
182.            2015 Dolph Ziggler no contest Rusev 11 min
183.                        1997 Boriquas d. DOA 9 min
184.                        2003 Tags: LaResistance d. Dudley Boys 8 min
185.                        1998 Tags: New Age Outlaws d. Mankind 5 min
186.                        2000 IC: Eddy Guerrero/Chyna d. Val Venis/Trish Stratus 7 min
187.                        2011 Women: Kelly Kelly d. Beth Phoenix 6:30
188.                        2000 XPac d. Road Dogg 4:30
189.         2016 IC: Miz d. Apollo Crews 5:30
190.                        2004 John Cena d. Booker T 6 min
191.                        2003 Undertaker d. A-Train 9 min
192.                        2002 Undertaker d. Test 8 min
193.                   2014 Stephanie McMahon d. Brie Bella 10 min
194.                        2010 Big Show d. CM Punk/Luke Gallows/Joey Mercury 6:30
195.                   2015 Team PCB d. Team Bella d. Team BAD 15 min
196.                        1989 Mr. Perfect d. Red Rooster 3:30
197.            2013 Dolph Ziggler/Kaitlyn d. Big E Langston/AJ Lee
198.                        1988 Big Boss Man d. Koko B. Ware 6 min
199.                        1990 Jake Roberts d. Bad News Brown 4:30
200.                        1990 Warlord d. Tito Santana 5:30

201.                        1993 Ludwig Borga d. Marty Janetty 5 min
202.                        1996 Sid d. Davey Boy Smith 6 min
203                        2000 Jerry Lawler d. Tazz 4:30
204.                        2000 RTC d. Rikishi/Too Cool 5 min
205.                        1992 Tags: Natural Disasters d. Beverly Brothers 10:30
206.                        1992 LOD d. Money Inc  15 min
207.                        1991 IRS d. Greg Valentine 4 min
208.                        2018 Braun Strowman d. Kevin Owens 2 min
209.                        2018 Finn Balor d. Baron Corbin 90 sec
210.                        1990 Randy Savage d. Dusty Rhodes 2 min
211           2016 US; Rusev NC. Roman Reigns 0 sec.
212.                        2005 US: Chris Benoit d. Orlando Jordan 30 sec
213.                        1988 IC Title: Ultimate Warrior d. Honky Tonk Man :30
214.                        2009 ECW Christian d. William Regal :30
215.                        2017 Randy Orton d. Rusev :30
216.                        2011 WWF Title: Alberto del Rio d. CM Punk :30
217.                        2008 ECW Matt Hardy d. Mark Henry :30
218.            2013 WWF Title: Randy Orton d. Daniel Bryan :30
219.                        1992 Undertaker d. Kamala 3:30
220.                        1990 Hacksaw Duggan/Nikolai Volkoff d. Orient Express 3:30
221.                        1995 Smoking Gunns d. Blu Brothers 6 min
222.                        1992 Crush d. Repo Man 5:30
223.                        1988 Dino Bravo d. Don Muraco 5:30
224.                        1989 Hacksaw Duggan/Demolition d. Andre the Giant/Boss Man/Akeem 7:30
225.                        1998 Edge/Sable d. Marc Mero/Jacqueline 8:30
226.                        2003 Shane McMahon d. Eric Bischoff 10:30
227.                        2006 Hulk Hogan d. Randy Orton 11 min
228.                        1989 Greg Valentine d. Hercules 3 min
229.                        1988 Rick Rude d. JYD 6:30
230.                        1992 Nailz d. Virgil 4 min
231.                        1997 Goldust d. Brian Pillman 7 min
232.                        1994 Tatanka d. Lex Luger 6 min
233.                        2009 Kane d. Khali 6 min
234.                        1988 Bad News Brown d. Ken Patera 6:30
235.                        1991 Natural Disasters d. Bushwackers 6:30
236.                        1998 Oddities d. Kaientai 10 min
237.          2016: Tags: Anderson/Gallows d. New Day (DQ) 9 min
238.                        2008 IC/Women Santino/Beth Phoenix d. Kofi Kingston/Mickie James 5:30
239.                        2000 Undertaker no contest Kane 6 min
240.          2016 Natalya/Nikki/Alexa d. Naomi/Carmella/Becky 11 min
241.                        1993 Undertaker d. Giant Gonzalez 8 min
242.                        1994 Jeff Jarrett d. Mabel 6 min
243.                        1989 Dusty Rhodes d. Honky Tonk Man 9:30
244.                        1988 Jake Roberts d. Hercules 10 min
245.                        1994 Undertaker d. Undertaker 9 min
246.                        1995 WWF Title: Diesel d. Mabel 9 min
247.                         2017 Cass d. Show 10:30
248.            2013 Natalya d. Brie Bella 4 min
249.                        1995 Women: Bertha Faye d. Alundra Blayze 5 min
250.                        1999 Women: Ivory d. Tori 4 min
251.                        2000 Women: Kat d. Terri 3 min
252.                        2010 Women: Melina d. Alicia Fox 5:30
263.                        2007 World: Batista d. Khali 7 min
264.                        1996 Jerry Lawler d. Jake Roberts 4 min
265.                        1995 Undertaker d. Kamala 16:30
266.                        1990 Sherri d. Sapphire (forfeit)
267.                        2007 Diva Battle Royal 7 min
268.                        2004 Diva Dodge Ball 3 min


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