Saturday, August 21, 2021

SummerSlam Recap and Results

            WWE recently declared an announcer's contest on Tik Tok. Raine Cruz, the winner, introduced the participants for the kick off match. Big E will meet in the center of the ring against Baron Corbin. Last week on SmackDown, Corbin stole E's Money in the Bank contract. Ettore is intense from the bell. Then, he goes for a splash on the apron and misses. This turned things in Corbin's favor. He even tries to escape with the briefcase, but Big E stops him. Mr. Money in the Bank hits the Big Ending and is, once again, in possession of the briefcase. The downward spiral of Corbin continues.   
        
            The first match of the evening is a Raw tag team championship match. AJ Styles and Omos will defend their gold against the recently re-united RK-Bro. With 51,326 members of the WWE Universe watching, the odd couple teaming of Riddle and Orton frustrate the champs. After Omos does some damage to Riddle, he tags Styles in to take control. The Original Bro catches a glimpse of daylight and tags in the viper. Just when he is about to execute the RKO, Omos saves his partner. After some chaos, the action moves back in to the ring and Randy hits the RKO on Styles to become one half of the tag team champs.
        
            Up next is a match I really don't care about. Alexa Bliss squares off against Eva Marie. Eva physically has Piper Niven in her corner while Alexa has her doll Lilly in her corner. I have missed a lot of this storyline because it hasn't replayed on Hulu. One of the few times I am grateful that I am a streamer without live tv. Bliss snaps when Eva repeatedly slaps her doll. Within 10 minutes, Alexa picks up the win over Eva. So happy that this match was over quickly. The highlight was what happened afterwards. Piper gets on the mic and announces the loser of the match. She then puts on Eva Marie's robe and struts out of the stadium. 

            Another Raw championship match is up next and I'm totally invested in this one. I love both Sheamus and Damien Priest, but I am rooting for Priest all the way. The fella's had a great run and has done the belt proud but it is time for someone new to wear the gold. Nothing spectacular to start the match. Then, Priest flies over the top rope to take out the champ. It looked as if he also hurt himself in the lower back/hip area. Because of Damien's history of back problems, I'm convinced that he is trying to hide the pain. Back in the ring, Sheamus smartly focuses on the lower back of his opponent. This puts Priest into survival mode. He would have enough left in the tank to win this physically brutal contest and become the new United States Champion. 

 


            A second tag team championship is set and it's between the Mysterios and the Usos. Rey and Dom start the match looking to end things quickly. However, Jey would get control over Dominik and keep the young superstar separated from his dad and tag partner. A tag is eventually made by both teams and now it is Jimmy and Rey in action. Rey hits his signature 619 and then goes for a frog splash but comes into contact with Jimmy's knees. A tag to his twin and Jey flies off the top rope, pins Rey and retains the SmackDown tag championship belts along with his brother.
    
            Rick Boogs is in the ring and he is obnoxiously entertaining, although Pat McAfee is giving him a run for his money. Pat is once again jamming out to the entrance of King Nakamura. I was a little confused because the Shinsuke wasn't scheduled on the card tonight. Apparently, it was a filler moment while we prepare for a WrestleMania 37 rematch between the SmackDown champ Bianca Belair and the former title holder, Sasha Banks. 
        
            Back to her traditional high ponytail, Bianca makes her way to the ring looking like she is dressed in WWE pajamas. I was all set to see her go against Sasha, but then the ring announcer makes it known that Banks is unable to compete. Therefore, Belair will be defending her title against Carmella. WTF??? This is not even a contest. The Women's SmackDown champ gets on the mic and declares that she will take out her frustration out on Carmella. Then it happens and I swear I got goosebumps. BECKY LYNCH IS BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The roof not only came off of Allegiant Stadium but also off the homes of fans worldwide.

            Becky immediately disposes of Carmella. She then challenges Bianca to a championship match. Challenge is accepted and in 26 seconds flat, Lynch is wearing gold again. That is how you make a return after 16 months. Welcome back champ!!! 



            From one great match to another, it is now time for Jinder Mahal to face Drew McIntyre. Drew wastes no time. He takes it to Jinder with full force. With a kick to the temple, Mahal turns things around. Back and forth it goes until the Scottish Warrior plants a Claymore to the jaw of the modern day maharaja and wins the match.

            I didn't pick a winner for the Women's Raw Championship match. I can see many plausible outcomes in this triple threat competition. In the end, the queen's winning streak would continue as she taps out Nikki Cross to become the new title holder.

            Seven years in the making, Seth Rollins will try to pick up a W over the Rated R Superstar, Edge. I have said in the past that you can sometimes predict who will win a pay-per-view match by the gear they wear to the ring. Seth looks like he is the leader of the local marching band. Edge, on the other hand, went back in time and brought back the flavor of the Brood with his entrance which he then punctuated with his traditional entrance music. 

            When the match begins, Rollins keeps his promise and repeatedly goes after the surgically repaired neck of the hall of famer. Edge gets in a couple of good shots including Edge a neck breaker off the top rope. Edge is rolling and Seth is reeling. Shortly after becoming a victim of the Edge-ecution,  Rollins goes for the stomp but Edge counters with the move made famous by his wife - the Glam Slam. Soon after, Edge sends the face of Seth into the LED apron causing it to black out. Did I just see a harbinger? Yep. With a cross face sleeper, Edge picks up the win.

            We go from quite a high to quite the low. The Miz and John Morrison are in the ring saying "moist" one too many times. They attempt to introduce the Drip Stick 2000. However, it would be a slick haired Xavier Woods debuting a 5 gallon water back pack equipped with a powerful nerf gun. It was a rewarding scene to see Mike and John get "moistly" assaulted.

            One of the main event bouts is up next. The hall of famer Bill Goldberg will be squaring up against the men's Raw champion Bobby Lashley for the title. I love Goldberg but I know that he is not an iron man so I am expecting a quick decision. Both men are pacing like lions in the squared circle. The bell rings and a 54 year old Goldberg is in control. A younger Lashley fights back and unleashes fury on the veteran. MVP interferes and assaults Goldberg with a cane shot to the back of the knee. The Almighty creates multiple painful thuds when he slams Bill into the ring post. Back in the ring, Goldberg is unable to stand which forces the ref to call the match in favor of Lashley. The champ continues the assault with a steel chair. A 15 year old Gage Goldberg comes to the aid of his father. This results in the teenager finding himself, momentarily, in the the Hurt Lock and a protective daddy Goldberg vowing to seek revenge. 

            The final event of the evening is for the SmackDown Universal Championship. Roman Reigns has been champ since August 30, 2020 when he defeated both The Fiend and Braun Strowman at Payback. I am fully expecting him to retain. For the first time in over 500 days, Cena is back in the ring. He tries multiple times to steal a win but the Head of the Table showcases just why he is the title holder. With dominance personified, and a spear, Roman retains. But that is not how the night would end.

            BROCK IS BACK!!! Poor Paul Heyman is cowering in the corner of the ring like he's just seen a ghost. Reigns better cherish his final days with his belt because it will be going bye-bye real soon. The Beast is Back!






            Thank you WWE for over 5 hours of action and jaw dropping surprises. Now, you have just one more thing to get right........

#BringBackBraun  


            

             
            
            
             

No comments:

Post a Comment

Open Letter to Jeff Hardy

               Endings are better than beginnings.               I grew up in a very dysfunctional household. My father is a gambler and my ...