Sincerely: WWE.com
“You’ll never see it again,” WWE promised Sunday’s SummerSlam pay-per-view.
But “what was it?”
Maybe a major title change in one of the six championship bouts on the stacked match card? Perhaps it was a shocking conclusion to the growing psychological battle between Braun Strowman and “The Fend” Bray Wyatt? Could it be an appearance by chaotic vengeance?
The biggest party of the summer, the biggest party of the summer, questioned the proceedings of the night due to the threat of rain.
What was the answer and how could it affect the WWE Universe going forward?
Find out the Sunday extra with this recap.
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The match cards for the 33rd annual SummerSlam are as follows:
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WWE Championship: Drew McIntire vs. Randy Orton
- Universal Championship: Bron Strowman vs. “The Find” Bray Wyatt
- Raw Women’s Championship: Asuka vs Sasha Banks
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SmackDown Women’s Championship: Asuka vs Bailey
- United States Championship: Apollo Crew vs MVP
- Raw Tag Team Championship: The Street Profits vs. Andrade and Angel Garza
- Street Fight: Dominic Mysterio vs Sath Rollins
- No Disqualification, Laser Leaves WWE Match: Mandy Rose vs Sonya Devil
Asuka has performed some exceptional in-ring chemistry with both Belle and Sasha Banks. If those matches are allowed to happen, and those in power can resist to overbook them as they did last month at The Horror Show Extreme Rules, don’t be surprised if this year’s event Is defined by two competitions.
The action stops at 7 pm on the WWE Network and traditional pay-per-view outlets.
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Sincerely: WWE.com
The night’s in-ring festival kickoff began on the show, with longtime on-screen personality Renee Young dubbing her the “Final Storm” with the United States Championship defense by Apollo Cruz against MVP. The competition, the culmination of a two-month feud, was the crew’s chance to prove the mouthpiece of The Heart Business that it made the right choice by going it alone.
The MVP was slightly controlled before the match on the AVN floor. A theatricality returned to the crew near the count-out.
Moments later, the MVP attempted for the playmaker but the crew escaped and delivered a toss powerbomb for a successful title defense.
After the match, Shelton Benjamin and Bobby Lashley hit the ring, but the crew won a match, retaining the title.
result
Crew defeated MVP
Grade
C
Analysis
It was not as good as their first match a few weeks back on Raw.
Neither man ever really hit their grooves, nor was there much in the way of the story. Winning the crew was never really in doubt.
Despite being relatively high-profile on Monday night, the match being demoted at the kickoff show is definitely hurting its overall impact.
Hopefully, both Crew and The Hurt Business can resume their runs on Raw tomorrow as it seemed to have come a step down from what they had done just weeks before the show.
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Sincerely: WWE.com
After some extraordinary promos after having Summer’s biggest party, Asuka made her way into the squad circle for a SmackDown Women’s Championship match against Belle, the opening contest of the night.
The Empress of Tomorrow made a hot start against The Role Model, looking for a submission and, when it did not work, targeted both the lower extremities and the right hand. A DDT continues the challenger’s initial attack by steps and on the arena floor.
A springboard stunner from Belle allowed him to turn the tide in his favor and heard the score fall before the competition fell. The champion landed Asuka with a belle-to-belly, but the challenger hit his shoulder on two, much to the heel lamp and mistrust.
Asuka made a comeback, moving the pace and building momentum. He delivered a running hip attack but Belle kicked out on two. The fight moves to the ring apron, where Belle puts Asuka’s knee into the middle frame and sets out to target the now injured joint.
Asuka fought back with a codebreaker for another two-count. Belle responded, holding her opponent mid-flight and applying a nober. Asuka made it with the ropes.
Moments later, Belle rolled over a momentary distraction by Sasha Banks and rolled Asuka to victory.
After the match, Banks immediately grabbed Asuka and slammed her onto the mat and joined Belle. All in the name of gaining a competitive edge over The Empress ahead of her Raw Women’s Championship defense later in the broadcast.
result
Belle defeated Asuka
Grade
B +
Analysis
This was another strong entry in the long line of the match between Asuka and The Golden Role Models.
Asuka and Belle have superb chemistry dating all the way to their days at NXT, and it is shown here. There were one or two spots that were clear, but the contestants cut a frenetic pace and jammed their time with a ton of spots.
In order to attack Banks and harm Asuka, that’s exactly what they needed to tell after the match and set chapter two of the event later in the night.
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