The Miz and The Miztourage vs. Jason Jordan and The Hardy Boyz
Yeah, #ICChampion‘s @mikethemiz‘s mood just changed as he and the #Miztourage pick up the win on #SummerSlam Kickoff! pic.twitter.com/gCiQtQZi27
— WWE (@WWE) August 20, 2017
This match started about twenty-five minutes after the doors opened, so there were literally 50-60 people in the crowd. That forced WWE’s production team to keep the houselights down, while only using close-up shots (no hard cam) to capture the action.
We still managed to get a “Brother Nero” chant somehow, which was impressive.
The Miz pinned Jason Jordan via The Skull Crushing Finale.
Winner: The Miz and The Miztourage
Akira Tozawa (c) vs. Neville
Cruiserweight Championship Match
All it took was a #RedArrow, and @WWENeville regains his position atop the #Cruiserweight division on #SummerSlam Kickoff! pic.twitter.com/jGGzumyBI8
— 205Live (@WWE205Live) August 20, 2017
Like the previous match, this bout suffered from the fact that the building was still predominately empty.
That being said, the action was fantastic, hard-hitting, and fast-paced. The cruiserweights continue to be exciting and fun to watch.
Neville recaptured the WWE Cruiserweight Championship from Akira Tozawa via The Red Arrow.
Winner: Neville
The New Day (c) vs. The Usos
SmackDown Live Tag Team Championship Match
Every now and then, you just WANT to receive a Powerbomb, and @XavierWoodsPhD knows that… #SummerSlam #TagTeamTitles @WWEBigE pic.twitter.com/YL7cp5i3pk
— WWE SummerSlam (@SummerSlam) August 20, 2017
Both The Usos and The New Day have mastered the art of tag team wrestling. This isn’t the first time they’ve had a fantastic match together, but this one may be the best of the bunch.
This bout featured tons of unique offensive tag maneuvers, as well as exciting false finishes.
The Usos defeated The New Day to capture the SmackDown Live Tag Team Championships after both Jimmy and Jey Uso hit big splashes on Big E off the top rope.
Winner: The Usos
John Cena vs. Baron Corbin
Throw up the ??…because @JohnCena is VICTORIOUS at #SummerSlam! pic.twitter.com/l5HrASW2RG
— WWE (@WWE) August 20, 2017
The crowd was HOT for this match, despite the fact that our Twitter timeline was not.
Corbin got in a ton of offense on Cena, but it wasn’t enough, as Cena got the W via the Attitude Adjustment.
Winner: John Cena
Naomi (c) vs. Natalya
SmackDown Live Women’s Championship Match
#SDLive #WomensChampion @NaomiWWE is breaking out the new tricks early! #SummerSlam pic.twitter.com/K01TS6kbYJ
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) August 20, 2017
Naomi and Natalya work well together, as made evident by this match.
Tons of brawling outside of the ring early on, including a cool spot where Naomi hit Natalya with a blockbuster off the stairs onto the floor.
Natalya got the best of Naomi for most of the match and eventually forced her to submit via The Sharpshooter to capture the SmackDown Live Women’s Championship.
Winner: Natalya
Big Cass vs. Big Show (w/ Enzo Amore in Shark Cage)
What… is @real1 trying to do? #SummerSlam pic.twitter.com/vKCllKR7Kv
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) August 20, 2017
The most memorable moment in this match occurred when Enzo Amore stripped down to his underwear, oiled himself up, and slipped outside of the shark cage.
Once he fell into the ring, he quickly received a big boot from Cass, as did Big Show.
Winner: Big Cass
Randy Orton vs. Rusev
It only takes ONE! @RandyOrton nails @RusevBUL with a BRUTAL #RKO for the victory at #SummerSlam! pic.twitter.com/1CeW58bYjv
— WWE (@WWE) August 21, 2017
Randy Orton defeated Rusev via the RKO in quick fashion.
Very disappointing match and outcome if you’re a big Rusev fan (we are).
Winner: Randy Orton
Alexa Bliss (c) vs. Sasha Banks
Raw Women’s Championship Match
#TheBoss has DONE IT! @SashaBanksWWE makes @AlexaBliss_WWE tap out to the #BankStatement to become the NEW #RAW #WomensChampion! #SummerSlam pic.twitter.com/ZAj7bantcT
— WWE (@WWE) August 21, 2017
This match was far from bad, but the crowd was not into it.
You can tell that neither girl likes the other outside of the ring, as their stuff inside of the ring was a little snug.
Another match, another title change, as Sasha Banks got the victory with the Banks Statement.
Winner: Sasha Banks
Bray Wyatt vs. Finn Bálor
#TheDemon. Is. BACK! #SummerSlam @FinnBalor pic.twitter.com/VKN4wQLzi1
— WWE (@WWE) August 21, 2017
This match was awesome from the moment the ring entrances began to the final bell.
Finn Bálor, The Demon King, and Bray Wyatt, The Eater of Worlds, are two of our favorite characters in the world of WWE.
They compliment each other very well inside the ring. Wyatt has the size and power advantage, but Bálor bests Wyatt when it comes to speed and quickness.
Bálor got a big win via the Coup de Grâce.
Winner: Finn Bálor
Cesaro and Sheamus (c) vs. Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose
Raw Tag Team Championship Match
#SwissCyborg @WWECesaro is not amused, @WWEUniverse… #SummerSlam pic.twitter.com/MjOYs4wjtU
— WWE (@WWE) August 21, 2017
Firstly, tag team wrestling is alive and well in WWE.
Secondly, this match was fantastic. The highlight for us occurred when Cesaro jumped the barricade, ran into the crowd, and destroyed a beach ball that was being tossed around the audience. Hilarious.
Cesaro and Sheamus have been gold together, but you can’t deny the star power that Rollins and Ambrose possess.
Rollins and Ambrose get the victory after hitting both of their finishers on Sheamus. Brutal stuff.
Winner: Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose
AJ Styles (c) vs. Kevin Owens (w/ Shane McMahon as Guest Referee)
United States Championship Match
THIS just blew @shanemcmahon‘s MIND! #SummerSlam #USTitle @FightOwensFight pic.twitter.com/9i0z0Kfmoo
— WWE (@WWE) August 21, 2017
AJ Styles and Kevin Owens are fantastic, so it’s no surprise that this match was also very good.
Shane McMahon added even more depth to the story and made this bout even better.
AJ Styles won via The Phenomenal Forearm AND The Styles Clash.
Don’t be surprised to see a VERY angry Kevin Owens get physical with Shane O’Mac Tuesday night on SmackDown Live.
Winner: AJ Styles
Jinder Mahal (w/ The Singh Brothers) vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
WWE Championship Match
The @SinghBrosWWE force the distraction AGAIN as @JinderMahal hits @ShinsukeN with the #Khallas to RETAIN his #WWEChampionship! #SummerSlam pic.twitter.com/1RmCTp7Tj8
— WWE (@WWE) August 21, 2017
This match was going well up until the finish. It was far too abrupt and kind of soured us on the entire thing.
Mahal got the win, after Nakamura was distracted by The Singh Bros.
It felt like Nakamura was destined to kick out of Mahal’s finishing maneuver, as he recently overcame the Attitude Adjustment, but one Khallas was all The Pride of India needed to defeat The King of Strong Style.
Winner: Jinder Mahal
Brock Lesnar (c) vs. Samoa Joe vs. Roman Reigns vs. Braun Strowman
Universal Championship Fatal 4-Way Match
When a MONSTER manhandles a BEAST… your #UniversalChampion @BrockLesnar gets sent straight through the ANNOUNCE TABLE! #SummerSlam pic.twitter.com/rIQlGkYfpq
— WWE (@WWE) August 21, 2017
We knew this was going to be brutal, chaotic, and an absolute blast to watch before the bell even rang, and it was all of that AND more.
The four biggest and baddest dudes on Raw battling it out to determine who the best in the world truly is; what more could you want?
Braun Strowman lived up to the moniker, ‘The Monster Among Men’ in this bout, but in the end, no one could overcome The Beast that is Brock Lesnar.
This match topped off what was an awesome night of wrestling, albeit a tad bit too long.
Winner: Brock Lesnar
Did you enjoy the 2017 SummerSlam pay-per-view event? Let us know on Twitter, @TheRumbleRamble.
