Welcome to POST Wrestling’s coverage of WWE SummerSlam from the Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. Our coverage will begin at 6 pm Eastern with the SummerSlam Kickoff.
Wai Ting and I will have our WWE SummerSlam POST Show LIVE immediately after the show for all Double Double, Iced Capp & Espresso members of the POST Wrestling Café.
Braden Herrington & Davie Portman will be hosting a LIVE Watch-Along beginning at 7 pm Eastern at YouTube.com/upNXT.
*WWE Universal Championship Falls Count Anywhere: The Fiend Bray Wyatt def. Braun Strowman in 11:58 to win the Universal title
*WWE Championship: Drew McIntyre (champion) def. Randy Orton in 20:35
*Raw Women’s Championship: Asuka def. Sasha Banks (champion) in 11:30 to win the title
*Street Fight: Seth Rollins def. Dominik Mysterio in 22:35
*Loser Leaves WWE Match: Mandy Rose def. Sonya Deville in 10:01
*Raw Tag Team Championship: The Street Profits (champions) def. Andrade & Angel Garza in 7:49
*SmackDown Women’s Championship: Bayley (champion) def. Asuka in 11:36
*United States Championship: Apollo Crews (champion) def. MVP in 6:36 on the kickoff
The SummerSlam Kickoff was hosted by Charly Caruso with Renee Young, Booker T., JBL, and Peter Rosenberg.
Renee Young noted off the top this was her final show.
Earlier in the day, it was announced that the United States title match between Apollo Crews and MVP will be the kickoff match.
Sarah Schreiber interviewed Angel Garza, Andrade, and Zelina Vega. Garza presented a rose to Schreiber after asking where Charly was. Vega denied poisoning Montez Ford and it wouldn’t matter anyway since he is 100%. She was an innocent bystander and attacked by Bianca Belair, the audience has been poisoned by the Street Profits and her team is the antidote.
There was a shot of Rey & Dominik Mysterio arriving in the building with Rey’s wife Angie.
Shayna Baszler interrupted the panel. All Baszler cares about is what happens with the Raw women’s title and she gets the next shot. Charly brought up that Nia Jax thinks she is next. Baszler is willing to put Jax to sleep once her suspension is up.
APOLLO CREWS VS MVP FOR THE UNITED STATES TITLE
Bobby Lashley and Shelton Benjamin are banned from ringside. Crews suggested that perhaps they can appear on the screens with fans and he’ll give them a wave.
MVP rolls to the floor after an early exchange. Crews and MVP fought on the floor with Crews knocked into the announcer’s desk. They beat the count to get back inside.
Crews attacked with strikes and several splashes into the corner followed by a spine buster. Crews landed the standing moonsault and MVP kicked out. MVP blocked the Toss Powerbomb and went for the Playmaker, which was countered, and he hit the Toss Powerbomb to win.
WINNER: Apollo Crews at 6:35 to retain the United States title
Lashley and Benjamin ran into the ring and Crews ran away.
The match was generic and had a simple layout that was not designed to be a big match on the card and the placement reflected that. Given the length and lack of crowd interaction, it came off flat.
The opening video for SummerSlam included Vince McMahon screaming “ThunderDome”, so yes, Friday was a live VO session and that was the lone purpose of McMahon’s promo.
Michael Cole opened the show proclaiming that “The WWE Virtual Universe is going insane.”
BAYLEY VS ASUKA FOR THE SMACKDOWN WOMEN’S TITLE
Bayley came out with Sasha Banks.
Corey Graves brought up Asuka ending Bayley’s NXT women’s title reign in 2016.
Asuka sent Bayley to the floor with a hip attack and a jumping DDT off the steps.
Asuka landed some leg kicks and then Bayley stopped her with the Bayley-to-belly out of nowhere and got a two-count. Asuka connected with a head kick a hip attack, which Bayley kicked out of.
Asuka tried a hip attack on the edge of the apron, was caught, and had her knee driven onto the mat. Bayley attacked the knee and went for an Indian Death Lock that was countered.
Bayley went for a sunset flip sending Asuka into the corner and both crashed. Bayley’s top rope elbow was caught with Asuka applying an armbar, but she broke it to kick Banks on the floor. Asuka was distracted by Banks and rolled up for two.
Asuka missed Bayley with the hip attack and knocked Banks off the apron allowing Bayley to roll up Asuka for the pin.
WINNER: Bayley at 11:36 to retain the SmackDown women’s title
Banks attacked Asuka after the match to further weaken her for their title match later.
The match wasn’t at the level of some of Asuka’s previous matches this summer with either Bayley or Sasha Banks. The lack of sound from the audience is a major hurdle to get over, personally, I think it sounds worse than the Performance Center set-up with the extras even though it’s superior from a visual standpoint.
Dominik Mysterio spoke with Rey and said it’s his fight and wants Rey to promise to not get involved. Rey reluctantly agrees and gives Dominik his word.
Retribution has hijacked WWE production and Final Cut Pro to produce a highlight package of their actions over the past month.
Kevin Owens came out to provide commentary for the Raw tag title match.
THE STREET PROFITS VS ANDRADE & ANGEL GARZA FOR THE RAW TAG TITLES
The Street Profits said they are the “Jordan and Pippen” of the tag division but aren’t close to their last dance. It’s a remarkable story regarding Ford’s recovery from the poisoning.
Ford hits Andrade with a ‘rana off the corner, sent them to the floor and his tope con giro was caught and was dropped on the ground by the challengers. Andrade & Garza attacked Ford on their side of the ring.
Ford ducked Andrade and dove to the corner to tag Dawkins. Andrade connected with the spinning elbow and Dawkins responded with a spear.
Garza superkicked Ford, who backed up and sent Vega off the apron. Andrade was checking on Vega as Dawkins hit the Cash out followed by From the Heavens as Ford pinned Garza.
WINNERS: The Street Profits at 7:49 to retain the Raw tag titles
This match had its moments especially when Montez Ford was on offense as the main standout in the match. There were a few spots that were slightly off that they called attention to, but it was a fine match.
Garza argued with Vega and Andrade over the ending as Andrade was taking care of Vega on the floor, so they are back to being on different pages.
The Kevin Owens Show will be featured on Raw and he is inviting Aleister Black to the show.
Kayla Braxton interviewed Bayley and Sasha Banks. Bayley won’t have any of Braxton’s “Gotcha Journalism” and nothing will ruin this magical night for them. Banks says if Bayley can beat Asuka, then she knows she can beat Asuka. They continued with the subtle one-upping of each other. Banks said she is going tap Asuka out and then Bayley used a broom calling it a “clean sweep” tonight.
MANDY ROSE VS SONYA DEVILLE IN THE NO DISQUALIFICATION, LOSER LEAVES WWE MATCH
They fight to the floor immediately with Deville throwing elbows before she was tossed into the barricade and steps by Rose. Deville was suplexed onto the ramp and run into the post. Rose climbed onto the announcer’s desk and hit a flying clothesline.
Rose had a hell of a time setting up a table on the floor before finally getting it. At this point, Deville took over and they returned inside the ring.
Deville applied a Dragon Sleeper and took Rose down to the mat with the submission applied. Deville moved to a triangle. Deville yelled at Rose, who fought back with strikes including a flying knee for a two-count.
Rose placed Deville onto the table on the floor, but Deville rolled off. Rose slid a chair across the table as Deville dodged the chairs.
Inside the ring, Rose hit another flying knee and followed with more knee strikes and hit her version of the Angel’s Wings and a final running knee for the win.
WINNER: Mandy Rose at 10:01
For all the circumstances these two were working under this week, they came through with a great performance in this one. It was easily the best match of either one’s career and they held their own for a spot on this card and one that had a great story and great portrayals by both women throughout this angle.
Otis ran down with the briefcase and did the caterpillar before hugging Rose and she tried her own caterpillar.
SETH ROLLINS VS DOMINIK MYSTERIO IN A STREET FIGHT
Rollins came out in gear designed to resemble Rey Mysterio’s at Halloween Havoc 1997 against Eddie Guerrero. He has Murphy in his corner.
Angie gave Dominik her blessing before he came out.
Rollins was playing with Dominik at the beginning. Dominik came back with a deep arm drag and a kip-up. Rollins proceeded to stomp him, and Murphy handed him a kendo stick that Dominik prevented him from using.
Dominik was being beaten down as Rey leaned in asking if he needs him and Dominik continually waved him off. Rollins brought a chair inside and leaped off it for a stomp, Dominik got out of the way and used a drop toe hold sending Rollins onto the chair and hit a tornado DDT for a two-count.
Dominik attacked Rollins with the kendo stick until he was crotched on the top turnbuckle. Rollins hit the superplex into the Falcon Arrow as they cut to Angie Mysterio in the back looking concerned.
Rollins attacked with the kendo stick as Murphy placed a table inside the ring. Rollins was yelling at Rey from the turnbuckle allowing Dominik to crotch him and hit a reverse Russian leg sweep off the turnbuckle putting both through the table.
Dominik hit a frog splash for a two-count.
Rollins caught him with a superkick and hit a big powerbomb and tore off the top of his gear as he got the kendo stick and attacked the exposed back and chest. Murphy passes handcuffs to Rollins, who was goading Rey to stop it.
Angie walked out, and Rey protested with her as Dominik fought back. Murphy landed a flying knee and went to stab Dominik’s eye into the steps as Rey attacked Murphy. The two double-teamed Rey and handcuffed Rey to the middle rope and Rollins turned his attention to Angie and Dominik came back to attack.
Dominik hit Rollins with the 619, climbed to the top and Rollins got his knees up to block the frog splash. Rollins taunted Rey telling him to “reach” for Dominik before hitting the stomp and pinned Dominik.
WINNER: Seth Rollins at 22:35
This was a fantastic performance and Rollins deserves all the praise for quarterbacking this match while working around Dominik and using him for his big spots to fire up where a live crowd would have gone crazy for this.
This match was really well put together and it’s an enormous accomplishment for Dominik to do a 22-minute live match on pay-per-view at such an early stage of his career. He has lots of potential, but it was clear he was in the ring with a tremendous talent.
Rey was excellent at ringside and added so much drama to the match.
After the match, Rey hugged Dominik.
SASHA BANKS VS ASUKA FOR THE RAW WOMEN’S TITLE
As Banks posed in the ring for her entrance, one of the LED screens facing the hard camera displayed a visible “Fire Velveteen Dream” sign.
Banks targeted the left knee immediately. They were on the edge of the apron and Banks hit a sunset bomb to the floor that looked horrific with impact Asuka landed on the floor. Asuka beat the count into the ring. Banks continued by drilling her in the head with a kick in the corner.
Asuka dropped Banks off the shoulders for a facebuster and into an ankle lock and Banks got out of it. Asuka hit a DDT off the middle turnbuckle and Banks rolled to the floor. Asuka brought Banks into the ring and hit a missile dropkick for a two-count. Asuka yanked her out of the corner and Banks turned it into a codebreaker for a near fall.
Banks missed a frog splash and Bayley gave her a pep talk. Asuka proceeded to catch her with the Asuka Lock, Banks tried to break free and rolled over for a two-count and reversed to apply the Bank Statement and kicks to the center but Asuka counters to the Asuka Lock, but Banks escapes.
They redid the spot from the previous match where Asuka went for the hip attack and Bayley got out of the way on the apron, Banks went for the roll-up but this time Asuka reversed to re-apply the Asuka Lock and submitted Banks.
WINNER: Asuka in 11:30 to win the Raw women’s title
They had a very good match, the better match of the two women’s title matches tonight. It was a clever ending to play off the finish of the previous match with Bayley getting out of the way and Banks loses her title.
These two have fantastic chemistry and the counters to the finishing submissions holds were the best part of the match as they continue to get more intricate the more matches they have.
Banks was devastated as Bayley consoled her while holding her own title belts, which was a great touch.
DREW McINTYRE VS RANDY ORTON FOR THE WWE TITLE
Shawn Michaels did a taped promo next to an ancient museum display.
Orton instantly bailed to the floor to psych out McIntyre. In the ring, McIntyre ran the ropes and his knee buckled and Orton attempted the RKO as McIntyre blocked it and went to the floor to collect himself. Samoa Joe is explaining that Orton is playing him like a fiddle.
On the floor, Orton suplexed McIntyre off the announcer’s desk. Back in the ring, McIntyre snapped Orton’s knee in the corner and used a figure-four that was broken when Orton threw the referee and gouged McIntyre’s eye to break the hold.
McIntyre fired back and landed a flying clothesline off the top. McIntyre went for a superplex and Orton stopped it, sent him into the tree of woe before McIntyre popped up and suplexed Orton off.
McIntyre hit the Future Shock DDT and Orton kicked out.
The draping DDT was blocked, and McIntyre hit the Glasgow Kiss and clotheslined both to the floor.
On the second try, Orton hit the draping DDT and called for the RKO but instead, backed into the corner for the punt and McIntyre stopped it with a powerbomb. McIntyre set up for the Claymore but Orton ducked it, the RKO was countered with a backslide and McIntyre caught him for the three count.
WINNER: Drew McIntyre in 20:35 to retain the WWE title
They played up that Orton “never saw it coming” with the way McIntyre won.
They had a strong match and worked well off each other. The finish was surprising but also leaves it open to continue this program with the idea McIntyre and Orton didn’t hit their finishers and Orton was caught, rather than beaten.
I enjoyed this a lot, it was a strong title match style of match and both felt like the biggest stars of the company on this show.
There was a promo announcing that Keith Lee will be on Raw tomorrow night.
BRAUN STROWMAN VS THE FIEND BRAY WYATT IN A FALLS COUNT ANYWHERE MATCH FOR THE UNIVERSAL TITLE
No red light when the match began.
Strowman charged at him and The Fiend laughed, he came back hit the uranage to Strowman and twisted his neck violently. On the floor, The Fiend attacked with a toolbox.
Strowman tried to chokeslam him onto the table, Wyatt landed on the edge of the table it didn’t break – that sucked.
Strowman hit a powerslam in the ring and The Fiend kicked out. They fought up to the entrance and The Fiend was run into the screen and went backstage where Strowman was hit with Sister Abigail and kicked out.
They make it back to the ring where Strowman had a cut on his head. Strowman hit another powerslam and The Fiend kicks out again.
Strowman grabbed a box cutter knife and cut open the ring mat to expose the wood. The Fiend attacked Strowman with a uranage and hit Sister Abigail on the exposed wood twice before pinning Strowman.
WINNER: The Fiend Bray Wyatt at 11:58 to win the Universal title
The Fiend held up the title when Roman Reigns returned and speared The Fiend and attacked him with strikes.
Reigns went to the floor and hit Strowman with a spear and yelled “I made you. You ain’t a monster unless I’m here.”
Reigns got a chair and attacked Strowman with it repeatedly as the camera went up and down until every viewer threw up.
Reigns returned to the ring and hit The Fiend with a spear and told him the title was always his and “you can’t handle the responsibility” as held it up to end the show.
The show ends with Michael Cole proclaiming “SummerSlam, we never saw this coming.”
