Richard HolmesWWE’s biggest party of the summer heads to the Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, Canada, as the company presents a mammoth PPV in the shape of Summerslam. Rushonrock’s King Of The Ring Andy Spoors previews tonight’s action with Reese and John Burrows.
Despite what WWE label other shows, both domestic and international, Summerslam has always been second only to Wrestlemania on the PPV calendar. The Royal Rumble may be more anticipated due to its impact on Mania’s main event, but the prestige and pageantry of Summerslam shouldn’t be discounted.
Selling out Wembley Stadium, the original Tables, Ladders & Chairs match and some of the most memorable matches in the company’s history, have set the standard for today’s generation.
Subtle artistic and creative changes have ensured the funk that fans claimed WWE found itself in, has somewhat subsided.
More emphasis on both the fun injection of the 24/7 title, combined with fleshing out storylines where possible, certainly gives fans more of what has been asked for.
There have been missteps in the build up to the PPV. Kevin Owens channeling his inner Stone Cold seems wasted on a feud with Shane McMahon. The stipulation of Owens putting his career on the line gives at least an air of intrigue to proceedings. After being promised the end of authority figures just a few short months ago and the claim of giving the fans what they want, nothing less than an Owens win will do here.
After returning to fight Kofi for his WWE Championship, Dolph Ziggler has had an even bigger chip on his shoulder than usual. Delivering a dose of Sweet Chin Music to Shawn Michaels, as well as a verbal tongue lashing at the expense of the hall of fame, the showoff Ziggler unwittingly signed himself up for a match with Goldberg. The last match Goldberg found himself in was a difficult to watch bout with The Undertaker in Saudi Arabia. Let’s just say the wrestling wasn’t as fluid or clean as it may have been 15 years ago and Goldberg will be keen to wash the taste of that disappointment away with a match against a younger appointment. In Ziggler there’s a safe pair of hands that will no doubt be subjected to the 90’s pattern of spear, jackhammer, done.
Personal programmes between Lynch & Natalya, Ricochet & AJ Styles as well as Kofi Kingston & Randy Orton will all come to a head in Toronto.
The same could be said for the main event of the night between Universal Champion Brock Lesnar and Seth Rollins. A couple of brutal beatings has painted Rollins as a severe underdog, with question marks hanging over his physical ability to make the match. A simply sickening F5 to Rollins on the side of an ambulance gurney, was enough to make this grizzled fan wince in pain. We have spoke at length at the reliance on Brock’s presence, so Team Rushonrock will be firmly rooting for an upset.
The most anticipated match of the night lies away from the main event however. After months of promos and trips to the Firefly Funhouse, the WWE Universe will finally get to welcome back Bray Wyatt, this time as his new alter ego ‘The Fiend’. Fans will be praying that this isn’t where all the hard work comes unglued. A fresh move set and entrance would solidify Wyatt as one of the best in the business, let’s just hope WWE see him the same way…
The full WWE SummerSlam 2019 match card and Rushonrock predictions:
Universal Championship Match
Brock Lesnar (c) vs. Seth Rollins
Reese: Brock
John: Brock
Andy: Seth
Raw Women’s Championship Match
Becky Lynch (c) vs. Natalya
Reese: Natalya
John: Natalya
Andy: Lynch
WWE Championship Match
Kofi Kingston (c) vs. Randy Orton
Reese: Kofi
John: Kofi
Andy: Kofi
Trish Stratus vs. Charlotte Flair
Reese: Trish
John: Charlotte
Andy: Charlotte
SmackDown Women’s Championship Match
Bayley (c) vs. Ember Moon
Reese: Ember
John: Ember
Andy: Bayley
Kevin Owens vs. Shane McMahon — If Owens loses, he will quit WWE
Reese: Owens
John: Owens
Andy: Owens
Goldberg vs. Dolph Ziggler
Reese: Goldberg
John: Goldberg
Andy: Goldberg
United States Championship Match
AJ Styles (c) vs. Ricochet
Reese: Ricochet
John: AJ
Andy: AJ
Finn Bálor vs. “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt
Reese: Bray
John: Bray
Andy: Bray
WWE Cruiserweight Championship Match
Drew Gulak (c) vs. Oney Lorcan
Reese: Lorcan
John: Lorcan
Andy: Gulak