WWE Summerslam 2018 Review

This is a show that features a number of rematches from the lackluster Extreme Rules but also features a couple of matches that could end up being great, namely Styles vs Joe and Bryan vs Miz.

Kickoff: Rusev & Lana vs Andrade 'Cien' Almas & Zelina Vega

This was exactly the match that you think it was. It featured more lightheartedness than a singles match would have and was interrupted by an advert. Why do I review these? *1/2

Kickoff: Cruiserweight Title - Cedric Alexander vs Drew Gulak

I really wish this was on the main card, where there would be no chance that it would be interrupted by an advert. They start putting a good match together then the fucking advert turns up. I know we get picture in picture but it still sucks. The match overall was good but the crowd didn't really get into it until the closing stretch, which was really good bar a minor botch. ***1/2

Kickoff: Raw Tag Titles - B-Team vs The Revival

This match featured The Revival being in control for the entire thing before The B-Team picked up another fluke victory. It was what it was. The tag division is basically irrelevant. **

The intro video for the main show is done by Terry Crews. It's all downhill from here.

IC Title - Dolph Ziggler vs Seth Rollins

This is a sensible way to kick off the show, I just hope the crowd doesn't ambush this like last time. Ziggler has the image off the IC Title on his crotch and it is somewhat distracting. This match started off slowly, and so did the crowd, but it built up quite nicely as it went on and the crowd responded. The second half of the match was great and it turned into one of the better SummerSlam opening matches of the recent past. It was nice to see a match with very few shenanigans considering the men on the outside but it would have been nice to see them kick into high gear earlier. ***1/2

Smackdown Tag Titles - Bludgeon Brothers vs New Day

The Bludgeon Brothers look like they escaped through the shit pipe at Shawshank. Don't wear brown ring gear, kids. The match was pretty fun, despite being quite sloppy, and it featured a crazy elbow drop to the floor by Woods. Unfortunately, the finish was a cheap DQ that soured the feeling somewhat. I cannot take those hammers seriously. ***

MITB Contract Match - Braun Strowman vs Kevin Owens

This was an actual murder. Owens only got a kick in. It was some fun destruction but that is the second rapid squash PPV loss for Owens in less than 18 months. N/A

Smackdown Women's Title - Carmella vs Becky Lynch vs Charlotte Flair

The sections of this match that featured Lynch and Flair one on one were really enjoyable but, despite having a really well defined character, Carmella's ring work isn't at the level it needs to be for a match like this. Having said that, the finishing stretch was really good, with a number of good near falls. In the end Flair hit the Natural Selection to pick up her 7th title. ***

Following the match Becky and Charlotte hug it out but Becky fucks Charlotte up. The crowd is fully behind Lynch too, telling Flair that she deserved it. And she kinda did. Have fun trying to make Lynch the heel.

WWE Title - AJ Styles vs Samoa Joe

This was a great match that showed how good both men can be when they are allowed to be. Joe was a full blown asshole here, talking shit to Styles' wife while also kicking his ass. This made it believable that Styles would snap and cause the DQ finish. I eagerly await their next encounter, that should take place inside Hell In A Cell. ****1/4

Elias is here to play us his best song. He dedicates it to the filthy people of New York. Unfortunately his guitar breaks and he throws a shit fit. 

Daniel Bryan vs The Miz

This was another great match, albeit one that I think wasn't as good as these two are capable of. The put together a very enjoyable match that told an engrossing story but I can't help thinking that they are saving the truly blowaway match for down the line. Having Miz win with underhanded tactics was the right move though. ****

Finn Balor vs Constable Corbin

Finn turned up as the Demon and straight up murdered Corbin in short order. Good. N/A

US Title - Shinsuke Nakamura vs Jeff Hardy

This was a fine match but it was nothing that you wouldn't expect to see on an episode of Smackdown. The crowd was beginning to get really worn out at this stage too. Nakamura retained, for the record. **1/2

Raw Women's Title - Alexa Bliss vs Ronda Rousey

This was an extended squash with Bliss spending a large portion of her time stalling. That makes it sound less enjoyable than it was though, and Rousey provides an aura to the title that Bliss couldn't. ***

Universal Title - Brock Lesnar vs Roman Reigns

So, Reigns finally defeated Lesnar and the crowd couldn't give two shits. The fact that he did it by essentially using a Braun Strowman distraction didn't really help but I doubt anything would have. It was mercifully short though. **

Overall Grade - B-

SummerSlam has become a bloated show that runs for what seems like forever. There were definitely some great moments in there but with a bit of fat trimming this could have been a great show.