WWE wants you to like SummerSlam; they want you to like it a lot. In fact, WWE wants you to like SummerSlam almost as much as WrestleMania, but for most fans that isn’t likely. I’m not trying to take anything away from “the biggest event of the summer” but it just doesn’t have the electricity that other events do, no matter how hard WWE tries to make us believe otherwise.
It’s hard to pinpoint exactly when WWE began campaigning SummerSlam to be their #2 pay-per-view of the year, but it is at least the better part of a decade, if not longer. In 2002 WWE used SummerSlam as the launching point for then newcomer Brock Lesnar when he took the WWE Championship from The Rock. In much the same fashion as the Royal Rumble Winner receiving a WrestleMania title match, Brock won this opportunity when he won the King of the Ring tournament.
SummerSlam 2003 featured the second ever Elimination Chamber match, something that is commonplace now, but at the time was still fresh and new. However the biggest push for making SummerSlam seem important started in 2009 when WWE began a six year residence at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. It made sense having the big Summer event emanate from sunny California as it was close to Hollywood and having it take place in the same venue did set it apart from other pay-per-views. For a few years WWE even had a SummerSlam Axxess event leading up to the show much like WrestleMania Axxess, but even that didn’t last.
The crux of the issue doesn’t have to do with the event itself as much as WWE’s attempt to force it into the wrestling consciousness as its #2 event, instead of accepting that the vast majority of fans consider the Royal Rumble to be the pay-per-view that is second to WrestleMania. The Rumble has a great hook, a big gimmick match that, even if the outcome isn’t a welcome one, will still have a selection of cool moments. The Royal Rumble has stakes, with the winner receiving a WWE World Heavyweight Championship match at WrestleMania. And finally, the Rumble has an energy about it. Once January rolls around people start getting excited for the 30 man over the top rope match, trying to figure out who will be involved, who has the best chance of winning, and what surprise entrants might get involved. SummerSlam doesn’t have any of that.
Of the original “Big Four” WWE pay-per-views, SummerSlam was the last to be introduced, and when there were only four pay-per-views a year, it could hold its own. The biggest gap between pay-per-views back then was between WrestleMania and SummerSlam, so fans were itching to see a big event again. However, with the advent of monthly pay-per-views, WWE has tried to keep the event from becoming generic.
The question then becomes, is there anything WWE can do to sway the minds of the fans? Yes and no. I don’t think fans will turn away from the Royal Rumble any time soon, even if the outcome causes a trend for many to #CancelWWENetwork. They will be back again next year and just as excited, but for SummerSlam, maybe WWE just needs to change their strategy and listen to the fans. Looking at this years card they may be on the right track.
Fans and fellow wrestlers alike have been singing the praises of the NXT Women’s division for months, so to have not one but three of them heading into SummerSlam is a big deal. Here’s hoping these women are given a chance to shine, it might not be easy in a nine-person match.
The tag team renaissance from a couple of years ago had a ton of great teams, but two of those teams in particular were The Shield and The Wyatt Family. WWE fans will get to relive a little of that with Wyatt and Harper facing Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose. There has been some speculation involving Reigns or Ambrose turning on the other but regardless, expect a hard hitting match worthy of the legacy these two teams have forged.
Adding a little bit of celebrity status to the proceedings, long time WWE fan and star of the CW series Arrow, Stephen Amell will be in action. As a fan of the television show I am looking forward to this, but it was also smart of WWE to make this a tag team match. Not too much pressure on Amell, but enough of a spotlight is shined on him to gain some media attention. Also, complete credit as well to Cody Rhodes for being the driving force behind this angle.
A match for all of the people screaming for the under-pushed workers, Kevin Owens vs. Cesaro. I’m calling this one as the sleeper hit that will steal the show. The only thing that would make this match better would be if it were for the Intercontinental Championship, much ike Bret Hart and Mr. Perfect from 1991.
To really put this years SummerSlam over the top, it’s the rematch that has been on everyone’s mind, Undertaker vs. Brock Lesnar. On one hand it could be looked at as being a little disappointing that it isn’t taking place at WrestleMania, but then again, if not on the Grandest Stage of all, why not the next best thing? (at least in WWE’s mind)
All of these look to be stellar matches, but it’s not to say that there aren’t some matches that leave a little to be desired: the Intercontinental title triple threat isn’t expected to be a barn burner, the Ziggler Rusev feud has fallen flat, and while Orton vs. Sheamus probably won’t be too bad, I’m not expecting it to be like Orton’s matches with Rollins.
While WWE seems to be on the right track this year to making SummerSlam its second biggest pay-per-view of the year, there’s still some more growing to do and some fine tuning before it can really be the biggest event of the Summer.
