WWE SummerSlam outcomes: Rollins tops Lesnar for Common title
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SummerSlam represents a mile marker on the midway level of WWE’s annual calendar of occasions. Most of what has occurred since WrestleMania usually culminates on the showcase occasion and influences a lot of what carries the WWE by way of the top of the yr and the beginning of the highway to WrestleMania in January.
After 4 years in Brooklyn, New York, SummerSlam moved to Toronto. Sunday’s present at Scotiabank Area was headlined by Brock Lesnar for the sixth straight yr; this time round, he ran again his WrestleMania match towards Seth Rollins with the Common championship on the road.
Tim Fiorvanti and Matt Wilansky recapped the motion actual time, with Sean Coyle providing rankings for every match on a scale from Zero-5.
(c) denotes champion
Common championship: Seth Rollins def. Brock Lesnar (c)
Since his return to the WWE in 2012, Brock Lesnar has had a behavior of creating brief matches rely — most notably in memorable WrestleMania clashes towards Seth Rollins and Goldberg. However his tendency to carry shock and awe can overshadow that he’s able to extra in the fitting state of affairs. The WrestleMania 35 rematch between Lesnar and Rollins at SummerSlam 2019 will go down as probably the greatest matches of Lesnar’s profession, a testomony to each males and the work they will do collectively within the ring.
This was full throttle from begin to end with no breaks in between. What a exhibiting by each Rollins and Lesnar. That was one heck of a principal occasion.
Storytelling: 1.00
In-ring execution: 1.00
Match psychology: Zero.75
Timing: 1.00
Innovation: Zero.75
All the pieces in regards to the buildup to this match pointed to Lesnar making fast work of Rollins and reclaiming his unimpeachable throne atop WWE. The assaults over weeks of Monday Night time Uncooked appearances left Rollins with compromised ribs, and Lesnar has a historical past of reducing down WWE’s high heroes, particularly after they’re already in unhealthy form.
As Rollins winced earlier than the bell ever rang, sporting a taped-up midsection, it had all of the makings of a battered hero going out on his sword. That is an enormous a part of the rationale why every thing that adopted was so efficient.
Lesnar went to assault Rollins’ ribs initially, however Rollins hit a kick to the jaw, flipped out of a German suplex and hit a stomp. But it surely solely earned him a two-count. Lesnar slid to the surface within the aftermath, and Rollins lined Lesnar up for a operating knee. Lesnar caught a superkick try after that, however Rollins flipped out of a German suplex as soon as once more.
As Rollins hit two superkicks and lined up one other stomp, the match began to tackle the sensation of Rollins’ prompt win at WrestleMania, however then the tide turned once more. Brock nailed an F-5, however staggered again surprised as each males recovered. Lesnar appeared to seize the benefit but once more as he lifted Rollins up by the tape on Rollins’ ribs and swung him round utilizing solely the tape as leverage.
A flurry of suplexes inside and outdoors of the ring introduced again shades of Lesnar’s thorough destruction of John Cena at SummerSlam 2014, however then, as Lesnar appeared for an F-5 to ship Rollins into the ring put up ribs-first, Rollins slipped out and smashed Lesnar’s head into the put up, twice.
Every transfer had a counter. Rollins hit a springboard knee, however then went to the properly one too many instances and felt the brunt of but extra suplexes. Lesnar eliminated his gloves to pummel Rollins, and even locked in a bear hug, however then he tried that too many instances and crashed and burned on a operating shoulder deal with. Simply as Rollins obtained the sting again with a pair of suicide dives, a 3rd allowed Lesnar to the possibility to catch Rollins out of midair and ship him back-first into the ring put up.
Rollins appeared to place the final of his vitality into an trade on the surface, and a superkick put Lesnar onto the German commentary desk. Rollins climbed to the highest of the ring put up and hit a flying frog splash from there, by way of Lesnar and the desk. He adopted it up with a second frog splash and a second stomp to Lesnar, however but once more, it solely scored a two-count.
When Rollins lined up a 3rd stomp, he was caught on Lesnar’s shoulders in an F-5 place and there was yet one more second during which it appeared Lesnar had the match locked up. However once more, Rollins wriggled his approach out, nailed a superkick and adopted it up with a 3rd stomp, which was sufficient to attain the pinfall victory.
There are inquiries to be requested, by way of timing and using the Cash within the Financial institution briefcase, however these should not questions for at present. For now, every thing that led as much as this match made it every thing it in the end turned out to be — professional wrestling, at its finest.
“The Fiend” Bray Wyatt def. Finn Balor
The Fiend’s memorable debut at SummerSlam included a mesmerizing entrance and a win over Finn Balor with the mandible claw. @WWE
This was not a “Firefly Enjoyable Home section.” This wasn’t a sneak assault on a helpless soul standing in the midst of the ring. This was the official return of Bray Wyatt.
A close to not possible match to charge as this was an expertise greater than an precise match. Whereas the match score is not exceedingly excessive, the match expertise was flawless.
Storytelling: Zero.75
In-ring execution: Zero.50
Match psychology: Zero.75
Timing: Zero.50
Innovation: Zero.50
For the primary time in 2019, Wyatt stepped into a hoop with a brand new and equally disturbing persona. He’s enjoyable, creepy — possibly even somewhat vile.
The thrill was unmistakable, and for Finn Balor, who is aware of demonic in addition to anybody, he needed to endure the pomp and circumstance. Even earlier than the match started, one thing stated this wasn’t going to be his day, as Balor got here to the ring wearing an unassuming white jacket and stood nonetheless ready for his foe.
That is when the lights went darkish and Wyatt methodically walked to the ring donning a terrifying masks with darkish, gothic music blaring all through the stadium. Extra disconcerting, Wyatt, à la Mankind, by no means misplaced his masks when the bell rang. That alone appeared to spook Balor.
Wyatt was ruthless. He made Balor appear like enhancement expertise, which mercifully ended when Wyatt incapacitated Balor with a Mandible Claw.
Moments later, the lights went darkish, with Wyatt beneath the highlight. After they went on, he was gone and Balor was proven stumbling to his toes. After the lengthy wait, the payoff was price it. Wyatt is neither a technician neither is he an aerial artist. However he’s terrifying.
However extra so, he’s refreshing. And one thing suggests he will not be dropping anytime quickly. Perhaps not till he has championship gold wrapped round his waist.
WWE championship: Kofi Kingston (c) vs. Randy Orton ends in double count-out
Kofi Kingston delivered a postmatch beating to Randy Orton after “The Viper” taunted Kingston’s household outdoors the ring, which resulted in a double-count out. @WWE
Ultimately yr’s SummerSlam, AJ Kinds misplaced to Samoa Joe by disqualification however retained his WWE championship, extending their rivalry. It was a frequent tactic throughout Kinds’ title reign, with rivalries towards Joe and Shinsuke Nakamura dropping loads of their luster. With these selections, Kinds’ credibility as champion suffered.
Sure, the end was completely atrocious, however the match was superb. Kingston and Orton informed a great story within the ring tonight and it seems extra is on the horizon.
Storytelling: 1.00
In-ring execution: Zero.75
Match psychology: Zero.75
Timing: Zero.50
Innovation: Zero.50
It took the title a while to recuperate, however the previous few months of Kofi Kingston’s reign as champion has infused worth again into the belt — till, for the second straight yr, the largest present of the yr featured a WWE championship match that ended with an unclear, indecisive end that left followers annoyed.
Kingston has had some of the easy, fulfilling world title reigns in current WWE historical past since profitable at WrestleMania. He has been a good-guy champion who has risen to the event at each alternative. The most important problem to that run, Randy Orton, was as plausible a menace as any to Kingston’s feel-good story.
All the pieces from the buildup to this match by way of a stunningly efficient video bundle hyping the match made it really feel like an enormous deal. A match that was a decade within the making marked a line within the sand — both Kingston would put the demons of his previous away or Orton would rise as soon as once more together with his 14th world title reign.
From begin to finish, Orton purposefully stoked Kingston’s feelings. It was sluggish, ugly, bodily and methodical, staggered by flurries of high-flying offense that Kingston was sometimes capable of combine in, like a twister DDT.
It appeared issues had been heading towards a flash Orton victory. An RKO try missed, Kingston tried a backslide, then missed a bother in paradise and in the end ran to the highest rope the place Orton would catch him for an RKO.
Each males had been down and motion spilled to the surface when Orton went again to emotionally manipulating the scenario by interacting with Kingston’s household at ringside. The chaos led to a double count-out and a flurry of boos from the group. Kingston obtained some offense in on Orton within the aftermath, utilizing a kendo stick and hitting a bother in paradise within the ring, however it was largely for naught.
Typically a rivalry being prolonged by synthetic means can work to construct up the stress shifting ahead, and that may nonetheless be the case. However one of many largest reveals of the yr would not really feel like the fitting place for a second like that.
Charlotte Aptitude def. Trish Stratus
The determine eight of Charlotte Aptitude, left, proved an excessive amount of for Trish Stratus. @WWE
A battle of generations has been one of many themes of this SummerSlam. Earlier within the night time, Corridor of Famer Goldberg got here up victorious. Would Trish Standing observe swimsuit?
In contrast to Goldberg-Dolph Ziggler, the showdown between Stratus and Charlotte Aptitude, whereas with out a lot construct, had nice intrigue. Standing and Aptitude are probably the most completed performers of their generations — and arguably of any technology.
This was a well-designed match. Charlotte performed the antagonizing heel completely, and a possible Standing comeback was constructed properly. This has been the perfect match of the night time thus far.
Storytelling: 1.00
In-ring execution: Zero.75
Match psychology: Zero.75
Timing: Zero.75
Innovation: Zero.50
The vitality was unmistakable early. The group sang the Canadian nationwide anthem because the Toronto-born Standing took it to her youthful opponent. At no level did this battle really feel like a lopsided affair. At instances in was downright nasty. Aptitude tossed Stratus round like a rag doll, then proceeded to slam her head into the mat. Whereas doing so, Aptitude wasn’t afraid to taunt her foe.
Stratus remained resolute in her assault, however she was slowed considerably after Charlotte superkicked her onto the surface of the ring, the place Stratus landed onerous on her tailbone.
At one level, each ladies discovered their approach onto the highest rope, which ended with an excellent hurricanrana by Stratus that almost gave her the win. Moments later, she would lock in a determine 4, then a determine eight, Aptitude’s finisher.
The group was loving it. Stratus was flying. She struck Charlotte with a Stratusfaction, however it would not be sufficient. Aptitude in the end locked in a determine eight of her personal and Stratus would faucet out.
Charlotte was victorious, however Stratus was spectacular, maybe extra so than anybody would have guessed. She confirmed she nonetheless has sport, former period shouldn’t be a bygone period. Stratus, even in defeat, waved to adoring residence crowd who greater than appreciated her effort.
Kevin Owens def. Shane McMahon
As an alternative of risking disqualification — and his job — Kevin Owens, proper, gave the chair to the referee, then delivered a low blow adopted by a Stunner to defeat Shane McMahon. @WWE
Prefer it or not, Shane McMahon has develop into probably the greatest heels in WWE. In doing so, his rhetoric has allowed Kevin Owens to brilliantly tackle the anti-authority position.
This was enjoyable. It wasn’t your traditional wrestling match by any stretch of the creativeness, however it was chaotic at instances and the group was into it. Entertaining stuff.
Storytelling: Zero.75
In-ring execution: Zero.50
Match psychology: Zero.75
Timing: Zero.75
Innovation: Zero.25
From an in-ring perspective, these two are extraordinarily acquainted with one another, particularly after an unforgettable practically 40-minute Hell in a Cell match in 2017. Owens walked out victorious in that match, and he would want to do the identical Sunday night time for the sake of his profession, because the stipulation said that if Owens misplaced, he would give up WWE.
Previous to the match starting, McMahon introduced that his buddy Elias could be a particular visitor enforcer for the match. Because the bout progressed, Owens caught McMahon with a pop-up powerbomb, however Elias distracted the referee whereas Owens had him pinned to avoid wasting McMahon. Elias even tossed a metal chair into the ring in hopes that Owens would use it and get disqualified. Time and time once more, Owens did not chew on Elias’ efforts.
Because the match continued to construct, Owens related with a consecutive top-rope senton bomb/frog splash mixture. As Owens tried a pinfall, Elias pulled the referee out of the ring. Owens lunged at Elias and hit each Elias and the referee. With the official down, Owens proceeded to batter Elias with metal chair photographs, successfully eliminating him from the match.
The end got here when Owens faked a chair shot try on McMahon, and because the official disposed of the chair, Owens hit McMahon with a low blow, then a stunner for the pinfall victory.
This rivalry appears removed from over.
SmackDown ladies’s championship: Bayley (c) def. Ember Moon
Bayley retained the SmackDown ladies’s title, hitting her Bayley-to-Stomach suplex from the highest rope to defeat Ember Moon. @WWE
Maybe greater than anybody on the SummerSlam card, Ember Moon was deserving of a second within the highlight.
Bayley and Ember Moon labored onerous on this match, however it by no means actually clicked. The in-ring chemistry wasn’t there regardless of their particular person expertise.
Storytelling: Zero.25
In-ring execution: Zero.50
Match psychology: Zero.25
Timing: Zero.50
Innovation: Zero.50
True, Moon did not precisely earn her approach to this second. Bayley handpicked her a couple of weeks in the past, however the challenger’s general physique of labor put her within the class of stars who deserve an opportunity.
Charismatic and athletic, Moon wasted little time taking it to the champ, touchdown an aerial forearm smash. However Bayley was tenacious, putting Moon with a deviating knee after which a top-rope suplex.
Though neither girl was capable of solidify an extended sequence of offense, the size of the match gave us an opportunity to see how well-versed Moon is in all sides of her commerce. Her energy strikes and creativity particularly had been spectacular, and at no level did the match decelerate.
In the end, Bayley caught Moon on the highest rope and landed a devastating Bayley-to-Stomach for the three-count.
United States championship: AJ Kinds (c) def. Ricochet
After outdoors interference from Luke Gallows, left, and Karl Anderson, proper, AJ Kinds hit the Kinds Conflict to defeat Ricochet and retain the U.S. championship. @WWE
It is uncommon within the fashionable period of WWE to see a rivalry that might keep it up for months at a time with out beginning to really feel somewhat stale, however AJ Kinds and Ricochet have been the exception to that rule.
Whereas the match did not fairly shift into that subsequent gear, there was nonetheless loads to love — Kinds’ sport plan in concentrating on Ricochet’s leg and the extremely athletic remaining transition into the Kinds Conflict.
Storytelling: Zero.50
In-ring execution: Zero.50
Match psychology: 1.00
Timing: Zero.50
Innovation: Zero.50
In a match that felt considerably totally different from their earlier clashes, and but nonetheless not on the peak of what every man may carry to the desk, Kinds efficiently defended the US championship in a match that also left everybody hungry for extra between him and Ricochet.
Ricochet, sporting a Nightwing-inspired full physique swimsuit, surprised the group within the early moments of the match through the use of Gallows and Anderson like a footbridge, operating alongside their shoulders to nail Kinds with a operating head scissors on the surface.
However for many of the match, Kinds was centered on slowing Ricochet by going after his knee, repeatedly. From kicks to utilizing the ropes to sweeping Ricochet’s base out from beneath him, Kinds confirmed a degree of brutality we hadn’t seen from him in fairly a while. And at the same time as he offered the harm with all the enthusiasm he may muster, the chance allowed Ricochet to indicate off a sequence of artistic options, going as far as to make use of just one leg on a springboard clothesline.
The tempo was slower than many may need anticipated coming into the night time, however the crowd obtained locked again in throughout the remaining third of the match. Ricochet countered a calf crusher with a Brock Lesnar-inspired head-slam, adopted by an anaconda vice that triggered a few “CM Punk” chants from the Toronto crowd.
A lot of the match was saved to Kinds and Ricochet, however within the closing moments, Ricochet needed to struggle off Gallows and Anderson as he posted up on the highest rope. Then, in what was far and away probably the most staggering second of the match, Ricochet tried what appeared like a Phoenix Splash, just for Kinds to catch him within the good place to nail a Kinds Conflict for the win.
These two appear to have much more to say on this story, with Ricochet absorbing a postmatch assault for good measure, and it looks like a no brainer to allow them to preserve telling it.
Goldberg def. Dolph Ziggler
Goldberg decimated Dolph Ziggler with spears each throughout and after their match. WWE
Properly, not a lot to say right here. The match was brief, as anticipated, however hey, we obtained to witness Ziggler promote Goldberg’s spear to perfection. That was cool.
Storytelling: Zero.25
In-ring execution: Zero.25
Match psychology: Zero.25
Timing: Zero.00
Innovation: Zero.00
Two superkicks from Ziggler had been adopted by a spear, jackhammer and pin from Goldberg.
Then Ziggler, mendacity within the ring, grabbed a microphone and begged for extra. And Goldberg delivered, twice over.
Uncooked ladies’s championship submission match: Becky Lynch (c) def. Natalya
Becky Lynch compelled Natalya to undergo the Dis-arm-her at SummerSlam. WWE
After months of battle towards Lacey Evans after WrestleMania, the vitality Becky Lynch constructed since SummerSlam 2018 was beginning to wane. Contemporary blood within the Uncooked ladies’s championship image was overdue, and Natalya stepped again into the highlight as the primary one up.
This was a robust option to open the primary card. Lynch and Natalya delivered with some nice psychologically efficient wrestling, precisely the way in which a submission match ought to be structured.
Storytelling: 1.00
In-ring execution: Zero.75
Match psychology: 1.00
Timing: Zero.50
Innovation: Zero.50
Sunday’s submission match was constructed by way of weeks of constructive buildup, however that momentum can solely go thus far if the in-ring motion would not measure up. It may need taken a short while for the Toronto crowd to develop into absolutely invested within the match, however by the point Lynch in the end obtained Natalya to faucet out to the Dis-arm-her in the midst of the ring, everybody was on the sting of their seats.
From the opening bell, each Lynch and Natalya set a transparent narrative, making an attempt out each submission accessible and dealing on inflicting harm to the fitting physique elements to make their signature submissions simpler. The second when this match began to really feel like greater than a throwaway second was when Natalya was capable of lock in a sharpshooter whereas she sat on the highest and Lynch was caught on the center rope — a very artistic maneuver.
They utilized one another’s signature transfer to no avail, however as Natalya was capable of get Lynch into place for one more sharpshooter in the midst of the ring, the Toronto crowd was absolutely invested in her taking the title in her residence nation.
Lynch in the end persevered, however the period of time it took for Natalya to lastly faucet out regardless of the arm being focused all through the match despatched a robust message on the finish.
Uncooked’s ladies’s division has loads of depth, and Natalya may step out of the way in which in the interim. However SummerSlam was a reminder of what she is able to when she’s within the ring with the fitting opponent and has a narrative to sink her tooth into
Kickoff Present
Ladies’s tag staff championship: Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross (c) def. The IIconics
Nikki Cross, left, and Alexa Bliss efficiently defended their ladies’s tag staff titles, defeating The IIconics. @WWE
Sure, the ladies’s tag staff titles had been relegated to the Kickoff Present, however champions Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross, and former champs The IIconics placed on a strong exhibiting. Though it is an odd matchup that includes a foursome of ladies who’re hardly beloved by the followers, the motion was on level.
Not surprisingly, Bliss ended the bout comparatively rapidly with Twisted Bliss, and you’d suppose that is just the start of a future for 2 ladies, who whereas doubtless will not be in-ring buddies perpetually work properly collectively. Equally vital, Bliss stays within the highlight whereas out of any severe singles feuds … for now.
Buddy Murphy def. Apollo Crews by way of disqualification
Erick Rowan put an abrupt finish to the match involving Buddy Murphy and Apollo Crews when he hit the ring and attacked Murphy. WWE
Whereas this match was destined for the Kickoff present, the all-out athleticism and considerably surprising interference on the finish made for an entertaining couple of minutes of motion. Murphy practically received his match towards Crews early with a operating energy bomb, however Crews rapidly modified the trajectory of the match by tossing his opponent excessive rope. Finally, it was Murphy’s time once more, changing a 360-top rope flip on Crews.
However that is when the match got here to an abrupt finish. Rowan stormed the ring, and in retribution for Murphy blaming the heel for practically operating over Roman Reigns every week earlier started to pummel Murphy. Actually this storyline is hardly over, and given the names concerned, Murphy will see loads of highlight shifting ahead.
Drew Gulak used a bodily type to defeat Oney Lorcan and retain the Cruiserweight title. WWE
WWE cruiserweight championship Drew Gulak (c) def. Oney Lorcan
Cruiserweight champion Drew Gulak and Oney Lorcan did not ship your typical Cruiserweight championship match. There have been no flips, no aerial assaults or acrobatics. As an alternative, the combatants handled us to a superb show of mat wrestling and a few hard-hitting strikes. In the long run, Gulak caught Lorcan with the Cyclone Crash and retained his title.