WWE Summer Slam 2017-BenchCasters PPV RecapBy Brian Pezon
August 21st, 2017
Brian Pezon is an Editor at BenchCasters. To Find more from Brian, follow him on Twitter @BrianPezon or go to http://www.benchcaster.com
SummerSlam took place on August 20, 2017 in Brooklyn New York. This blockbuster event consisted of 13 matches in all. 3 of these matches took place on a 2 hour pre show. There were some historic things that took place on this night including 8 titles being put on the line in their respected bouts. Let’s take a look at the pre show matches.
Miz-tourage defeated Hardyz & Jason Jordan
This match was speculated to be added to the card the week leading up to SummerSlam. It was added the morning of SummerSlam and not much was really thought of this match. I’m not sure if they wanted Miz and Jason Jordan to just be showcased, or if they just didn’t want to try to fill two hours of air time with only 2 matches. Any ways snooze-fest of a match and Miz and his minions win. Match Rating 1.5/5
Neville defeated Akira Tozawa ©
Akira Tozawa had a deep submission in and then hit Neville with a shining wizard and got a close 2 count. Unfortunately for Tozawa that’s as close as he would come to retaining his belt. Neville hits the Red Arrow and wins the cruiserweight title back. King of the Cruiserweights back upon his throne. Match Rating 2.75/5
The Usos defeat The New Day ©
True tag teams in this match with great teamwork and tandem offense. Good back and forth action throughout the match, there wasn’t really any point I felt was a bore. You can see the in-rng chemistry between the New Day and The Uso’s, but we need to see these two teams face other true tag teams. Suspense got the crowd going with a series of fun and exciting moves. This chain of moves ended up with The Uso’s in the position to get the pinfall victory. The Uso’s are your new Smackdown Tag Team Champions. Match Ratings 3.75/5
A video promo has many WWE superstars that aren’t included in SummerSlam and ends with HBK, Shawn Michaels come out dressed as Colonel Sanders of KFC.
Pre Show Rating 3/ 5
SummerSlam itself started the same way as the pre show did. Match 1 of SummerSlam was a let down and you can tell the difference in booking between the main roster and NXT. Without going too far into my disgust for matches like this let’s go ahead and look at the entire SummerSlam card. Here is all 10 Summerslam matches:
John Cena defeated Baron Corbin
Kick off match of the main card has Baron Corbin look to take out some of his frustration of losing his money in the bank briefcase on Tuesday’s episode of SmackDown. Match didnt wow many people but gave John Cena a victory on SummerSlam and showed off some of Baron Corbin’s Strength. Match Rating 2.5/5
Natalya defeated Naomi ©
Having Natalya challenge for the Smackdown women’s championship makes a lot more sense than Lana. Natalya has put in years to get this opportunity. Both women are polished in ring talents and they put on a nice match with both women having their momentum swings. Natalya’s second sharpshooter gives her, her second women’s championship. A well deserved feat that I would have like to see when she was still the leader of the welcoming committee. Match Rating 2.5/5
Big Cass defeated Big Show
Big show comes out the gate looking strong. Enzo Amore was dancing around and talking crap in the shark cage as Big Show had the momentum. Big Shows hand hampers his performance and doesn’t allow him to do all he wants and ends up giving Big Cass the opening he needed. Enzo Amore escapes the shark cage as he tries to give Big Show a breather. Enzo Amore gets down from the cage and gets a big Boot and goes down quicker than a referee. Big Cass gives Big Show a Big boot and then the Empire Elbow and gets the pinfall.
Match Rating 3/ 5
Randy Orton defeated. Rusev
Rusev attacks Orton before the match while Orton is making his entrance. Randy Orton tells referee he can go and the referee rings the bell. Rusev rushes Orton, Orton hits him with an RKO out of nowhere and 1-2-3 it’s over. Match Rating 1/ 5
Sasha Banks defeated Alexa Bliss ©
Sasha Banks took a lot of punishment to her shoulder/arm just like her friend who she replaced to be in this match Bayley. After exchanges of momentum back and forth Sasha banks hooked in the Bank Statement twice and ended Alexa Bliss’s title reign.Sasha Banks is your new Raw Women’s Champion. Match Rating 3/ 5
Finn Balor defeated Bray Wyatt
Finn Balor came out as the Demon King as many expected. Giving him the best entrance of the night. Last time we got to see the Demon King was at last year’s SummerSlam. Balor has a strong match and really owns Bray Wyatt for most of the match. With only a few offensive flurries against Balor, Wyatt’s intimidation tactics do not work and Wyatt fails to ever get the momentum really in his favor. The Demon King Finn Balor picks up the victory winning his second SummerSlam match. Match Rating 3.75/5
Seth Rollins & Dean Ambrose defeat Cesaro & Sheamus ©
Former Shield members reunite to take on the Raw tag team champions. Rollins and Ambrose chemistry is still evident and they work well together in the match. Finish of the match see’s Cesaro and Sheamus colliding and ending up costing them the upper hand and two super kicks and a dirty deeds leads us to see Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose pick up the victory. Rollins and Ambrose are your new Raw Tag Team Champions. Match Rating 3.25/5
AJ Styles © defeats Kevin Owens
All the makings of the type of match that has possibility to steal the show. As advertised it did just that, having Shane McMahon as special guest referee was a nice touch and really added a nice element to the match. Both styles and Owens had run ins with shane as the re, even with this being the case Shane-O-Mac called it right down the middle to the best of his ability. Close calls, reversal, innovative offense this match had all we were expecting. AJ Styles hit a couple of Styles Clash’s to retain the U.S. title. First successful title defense of the night. Match Rating 4.25/5
Jinder Mahal © defeated Shinsuke Nakamura
In yet another disappointing title defense jinder Mahal wins. The Singh brothers interfere setting up Mahal for the win. Mahal has not won a single match with the title on the line clean yet, The Singh Brothers and the Great Khali have all been a key contributor in his victories. A dud of a Co-Main event, not much for the fans to get hype about here. No close pin falls, no chain of innovated moves or reversals. A distraction leads to a Khallas and a 1-2-3. Jinder Mahal is still you WWE Champion. Match Rating 2/ 5
Fatal 4way for the Universal Title
Brock Lesnar © defeated Roman Reigns
Braun Strowman looks unstopable and dominates early. Brock Lesnar is taken out by Strowman by putting him through two announcer’s tables and a third one flipped over on him. Brock is carted out into the back. Reigns, Samoa Joe, and Strowman continue the match and there is chaos inside and outside of the ring. Brock Lesnar comes storming back down to the ring with a pleading Paul Heyman behind him not to return. Brock Lesnar hits an F-5 Samoa Joe who had a Coquina Cluth locked in. Roman Reigns Spears Braun Strowman. Then Reigns rushes at Lesnar as if he was going to Superman Punch him and also got an F-5. Lesnar covers Reigns for the pinfall victory. Brock Lesnar is still your WWE Universal Champion. Match Rating 4.25/5
Overall SummerSlam Rating ⅗
With a lot of Championship belts changing hands, it is sure to see new story lines as Raw happens on Monday. Stay tune and catch the Raw recap here, only at BenchCaster.com
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