For all the worry, it’s still here-SummerSlam in a Nutshell. WWE says Viva Las Vegas…on Saturday!
Yes, it’s a bit odd, a Saturday main roster show, with NXT happening on Sunday.
However, for now, it’s all about SummerSlam and viva Las Vegas.
Sure, WWE worried that this show might not happen, but happen is has.
Before we get into the Nutshell, I have to say…it’s an interesting setup.
It’s the biggest stateside stadium for SummerSlam. The vibe is decidedly different from past SummerSlams.
I was a bit surprised at no massive stage or ramp…and part of me can’t help but wonder if that was a budget decision.
However…it also made me think back to the Rumbles from the baseball stadiums with Superstars out of the dugout.
Or, SummerSlam from Wembley? Kinda sorta.
My mind also went to WrestleMania VIII, big football stadium, long entrance, no ramp or stage.
Not a complaint…just a different feel, and different isn’t a bad thing.
So enough about set analysis…
This is SummerSlam in a Nutshell, and we’ve got plenty to discuss. Seven titles are on the line, and it seems likely at least a few change hands.
So WWE says viva Las Vegas on Saturday for a change, and I am here for it.
So…one more time, for those who might have missed it…let’s get to it!
SummerSlam In A Nutshell: WWE Says Viva Las Vegas On Saturday!
Let’s crack open this Nutshell and enjoy the show!
Best Match of the night:
Decisions…decisions…
I cannot…will not…be able to say just one match.
Enjoyed the opening tag match. Better than I expected it to be.
Damien Priest and Sheamus I think ended up being sneaky good. Especially after Priest’s bad spill.
Edge and Seth Rollins was as good or better than I could have imagined.
Roman Reigns and John Cena was a well told story as well.
Worst match of the night:
From a standpoint of…why did we have to endure it? That would be Eva and Alexa Bliss.
Looking at it from an “I don’t know” perspective…Belair and Becky Lynch.
I don’t think anyone is unhappy with Becky Lynch returning and winning the belt in unannounced fashion.
My gripe is…she squashed the now former champion. It wasn’t like she had been attacked before and Becky was taking advantage.
No, she punched her, delivered her Manhandle Slam and that was it.
Would have been nice to at least get a little bit of a match there.
We had to expect it here from the moment it was set up…but Lashley and Goldberg was not fun to watch.
Having Gage come in after it? Just totally not needed.
I mean…the kid is in high school? He’s legit a minor.
Crowd Chants of the Night:
No chants to put down, but I will say…
I was impressed by the pops tonight.
Riddle got things started, and the crowd seemed to dig that.
Popped for the RK-Bro win.
Huge pop for Becky Lynch, returning and winning.
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Star of the Night
RK-Bro, your new RAW Tag Team Champions.
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Damien Priest, the new United States Champion.
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Becky Lynch…you see the trend here.
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Edge and Seth Rollins. Why?
Because they went long and hit hard, and given Edge’s neck…you could see Rollins protecting the Hall of Famer, if you watched close.
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All around great match from those two.
Spot of the Night:
Becky Lynch. Welcome back.
Edge with the Brood entrance.
Also the Glam Slam!
Charlotte’s corkscrew moonsault to the outside was slick.
The AA through the table was nice too.
Jobber of the Night:
Carmella. She got to Vegas and dressed up for that.
Holy Sh** Moment of the Night:
The question now, which I am sure will be asked (and maybe even answered) soon enough…
Was this planned, or is something happening that will be keeping Banks away for an extended period of time?
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A week ago, rumors were already swirling that there were concerns about whether Banks and Belair would happen.
Then, just a few days ago, reports came out that both women are cleared and no concerns.
Except, concerns lingered. Still, on SmackDown, WWE continued to hype the match.
And as it went to happen, we were told that Sasha Banks wouldn’t be able to go…and would be replaced by Carmella.
Fans weren’t happy. Belair wasn’t happy.
And then Becky’s music hit.
Was it the biggest return of the weekend? No…but it was a lot closer to it than it may get credit for.
And…then she squashed Belair and she’s the new SmackDown Women’s Champion.
But…not to be topped….
After a pretty good main event…we got…this…
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Botch of the night:
There were a few…perhaps the big stage and more fans than they’ve had in a while gave some the jitters.
During the opening tag, there were a couple.
First double team that Orton and Riddle went for, they had to try twice.
That double team where AJ leapt over Omos to go for a DDT? That didn’t look great.
Both are the dangers of, or risks of, having Superstars who are not the fabled “tag team specialists”.
Eva Marie…enough said.
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Damien Priest’s dive/flip over the rope to the outside was scary. Best guess, either his leg buckled a little bit off the second rope or he clipped the top rope, but he did not get fully rotated.
First thought he was going to crack his skull on the edge of the apron. Instead, he took the bump on his lower back, as opposed to up on the shoulder blade/upper back area.
Then we’ve got Jimmy and Jey Uso. And I guess Rey Mysterio too.
That near end of the match stereo super kick? Very clear from the angle shown that the brothers hit foot to foot and no Rey contact was made.
Noteworthy Moment:
WWE hosted two Olympic Gold Medalists at SummerSlam-two significant prospects. Got a nice Las Vegas welcome too.
Olympic gold medalists @MensahTamStock and @GableSteveson are HERE at #SummerSlam!??
? https://t.co/5FC5w1zamA
? https://t.co/aEwGYUp0uE pic.twitter.com/AvbqShwQAI— WWE (@WWE) August 22, 2021
Tamyra Mensah-Stock and Gable Steveson got to come to the ring, wave and smile.
They are the exact type of prospects you’d think Vince would want. I have to think they aren’t afforded that moment unless there is significant progress toward contracts.
Edge got not one, but two entrances. After the flashes of Brood Edge the other night…we got a full on Brood entrance for him, if only for a moment.
Big announcement-2022 Money In The Bank is slated to be back in Las Vegas.
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By the looks of the graphics, it would also be in Allegiant Stadium, which if so, would be a massive setting for the PPV.
I mean…another chance for WWE to say Viva Las Vegas, right?
Overall lowlights:
I love Nikki…but that triple threat made her look bad. It makes me expect we should see Raquel Gonzalez up on RAW soon though.
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A couple shorter matches, for varying reasons.
Surely no one could have predicted that Eva Marie’s match would be bad…
It could have been an LOL if I didn’t remove that section. But Xavier hosing down Miz and Morrison lands here instead.
Why? Well, mainly…why in the world would you soak down the canvas with a good deal of water before your top two matches?
Unless WWE changed the canvas between that segment and the Goldberg/Lashley match…seems like a risk not worth taking.
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Goldberg and Lashley was bad. Lashley attacking Gage (15 years old, I believe?) was worse.
Overall highlights:
Becky Lynch is back. That’s SummerSlam In A Nutshell, no?
Enjoyed the RK-Bro win.
Edge giving fans some nice nostalgia in that entrance.
A #SummerSlam entrance for the ages.@EdgeRatedR is in a DARK PLACE heading into battle against @WWERollins! pic.twitter.com/tbi3s5dkMs
— WWE SummerSlam (@SummerSlam) August 22, 2021
After the final bell:
This was a mixed bag SummerSlam for sure. Viva Las Vegas indeed.
Some great spots. But…some I wish we never got.
When it was good, it was really good.
However, when it was bad…it was really bad.
Yep, that’s really SummerSlam in A Nutshell…hit and miss.
I almost want WWE (Vince) to recognize…big show that it may be, we don’t need a 5 hour SummerSlam because we have to see Xavier play with water guns and Eva Marie pretend to wrestle.
Less can be more.
Not that WWE reads it, but that’s my SummerSlam in a Nutshell.
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