WWE SummerSlam 2014 Review

Intercontinental Championship

Dolph Ziggler Vs The Miz

After some shameless show-opening shilling of the WWE Network by Hulk Hogan, we kick things off with a match for the #2 belt in the company now; the Intercontinental Championship. At the moment, the mid-card scene of the WWE is a tragic, confusing mess; and no 2 names represent the problems better than The Miz and Dolph Ziggler. These are two former world champions, who both rose to the top via memorable reigns with the midcard belts. Now, they aren't just back where they were - they look like they never left. It's been 5 years since Ziggler challenged Rey Mysterio for this same belt, in the same spot on the same show – and he's barely changed. He's still an impressive athlete with tons of potential, but there's just no depth to his character. Miz is only slightly better in this regard, only he hasn't evolved as an in-ring performer. The match they have here is standard stuff – nothing bad, but lacking in drama or urgency. The story involves Miz protecting his face – but that's something we've seen so many times before, and Miz can't carry the emotions needed for the act to succeed. Ziggler's win just sort of happens – and it doesn't even use the face thing in any way. As a Ziggler supporter, it's hard to be enthusiastic about seeing him back at the head of the kiddie table, even if I prefer him as champion over The Miz.

Rating: 2.5 Stars

Flag

Rusev Vs Jack Swagger

“You do not want to lose this match and watch the colours of... [Realises the American flag and the Russian flag are the same colours]... the flag on the other side be raised above the ring tonight.” - Michael Cole

There's something very disturbing about how easily Jack Swagger's hyper conservative Tea Party character was turned into yet another proud American patriot. The feud between Swagger and Rusev – who's Russian now, rather than Bulgarian – has been ripped straight from the early 90s. It's a thoughtless wrestling template that seems even more crude an insensitive today than it ever did. That said, somehow, the talents involved have sort of made this version work. Right from the start, this match has an intensity I've rarely seen in Swagger's entire career – and it's given the time and the space to actually entertain. Playing a pre-bell injury angle on the monster heel rather than the face was an interesting decision, and then to have the patriot face lose in devastating fashion was another. It wasn't a great match, but it did enough with what it had, and its place in history will really depend on where Rusev's career goes from here. Swagger meanwhile doesn't look like he's going anywhere.

Rating: 2.5 Stars

Lumberjack

Seth Rollins Vs Dean Ambrose

I really should have expected this. When the Lumberjack stipulation was announced for this match, I was disappointed. Ambrose Vs Rollins has been such a great feud, so to see it lead to a match that I can't EVER remember being good seemed like a huge waste of potential. Well I was so wrong. I really should have known that these guys, like they've been doing all year, would redefine what we expect from our upper mid-card. This fight was passionate and intense; filled with memorable imagery and dynamic interplay between the men on the outside and the men in the ring from bell to bell. The stipulation ADDED to the match, which is exactly what any stipulation is supposed to do. The pace, the use of space, the way they created drama – it all combined into something genuinely special. Could it have gone on longer? Absolutely. Do I love the result? Not really – but after an effort like this, I can only hope the feud continues.

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Bray Wyatt Vs Chris Jericho

In complete contrast with Dolph Ziggler, Bray Wyatt has, in only 1 year, grown so much as a performer. It's true that he débuted fully formed, but he's added just enough to his character and to his in-ring style to stay interesting ever since. Feuds with Daniel Bryan, The Shield and John Cena in 2014 have helped him to emerge as one of the most likely stars of the next generation, and Chris Jericho continues that important work. Y2J's career is at a point where he seems perpetually prepared to return for short stints, just to put over younger guys. He's the kind of performer who can work with anyone and make it good, and he does so again here. This match was fun – but something about it didn't click. It never shifted into that upper gear to make it memorable. It feels as if despite the efforts of both men, we're just getting the standard formula. It felt like what you'd see from a rematch on Raw. Maybe with more than 15 minutes we'd have had something better, but for now it looks like the feud is over.

Rating: 3 Stars

Roman Reigns Vs Randy Orton

The first big singles match in the career of Roman Reigns should have been a showcase to prove the doubters wrong. Instead, it's a case study for why he's just not ready, and shouldn't be pushed too far too soon. He's an impressive athlete with a lot of talent – he just doesn't have the mind of a performer yet. I say yet, because it's clearly coming. The Superman Punch is a charismatic, out of nowhere finisher that works well for him – but it's telling that the biggest pops in this match resulted from moves by Randy Orton. Orton's methodical style never works as well against men who are bigger and slower than he is. When he changes his style to suit, he's fine, but when he works what he's used to anyway, it gets boring fast. Thankfully, what does work about Orton is what works here – he's great at putting together a sudden and dramatic sequence. His two big counters are the highlights of this whole match, despite the otherwise meandering pace. The win is a big deal for Reigns, but I hope this feud ends and Reigns can work with someone better positioned to help him mature.

Rating: 3 Stars

WWE World Heavyweight Championship

Brock Lesnar Vs John Cena

Or: How John Cena Learned to Stop Worrying and Love German Suplexes.

16 German Suplexes in 16 minutes. That's crazy. This was nothing like the match I expected. This was a squash. Why? I have no idea. Unlike their last encounter at Extreme Rules 2012, this match made no attempt to tell a story, or have drama. The story and the drama were all part of a single spectacle – watching John Cena get dismantled. As a historic event, it did everything it needed to do, and with some of the audience it seems to have worked. As the conclusion of a Pay Per View however – and as the show's only true Main Event – it was a complete failure. Yes; Brock looks unstoppable now. But there are other ways to create that feeling that don't result in a match like this. His last match with Cena made him look like more of a monster. His match last year with CM Punk made him look like more of a monster. The only squash matches I hold in high regard involve someone who is able to take a hellacious beating in a fast paced, interesting ways. John Cena is not that kind of guy. Credit to him, but this match needed more variety and more believable moments of potential comeback. Still, I don't think it will be forgotten any time soon.

“It wasn't even close” - Michael Cole

Rating: 2.5 Stars

WWE SummerSlam 2014 Final Score: 3 Stars

SummerSlam 2014 was an extremely average show. Looking back, it feels like it didn't have any real main events – which is the complete opposite to SummerSlam from last year. Nothing ran beyond 17 minutes in length, and the main event was a monotone squash. The other matches had more ambition, but failed to click together, even if they weren't in any way terrible. Thankfully, the Lumberjack match was historic, an easy match of the night and saviour of the whole show – but it wasn't long enough to transcend its placement in the mid-card. The company is suffering from a lack of established face talents like CM Punk and Daniel Bryan, and, despite our new champion, a lack of big part-time names like Triple H, Batista or The Undertaker. While the former Shield members save the day yet again - they need time to grow. Roman Reigns is not ready to be the #2 face after John Cena - he's just not. Let's all hope Daniel Bryan has a speedy recovery...