There’s a good reason why, when previewing a show like SummerSlam, it’s important to use the phrase “on paper.”
On paper, the first night of SummerSlam looked undeniably stronger, with a higher floor and ceiling, but WWE was incapable of landing the plane in a couple of instances, dragging the overall show down.
And then you have this second evening’s show, which looked like the weaker lineup, but WWE pulled a proverbial rabbit out of its hat with one match in particular, which helped elevate the entire night. Of course, we’re talking about Kevin Owens making a shock return and being added to the number one contender’s match for the Undisputed WWE Championship (as was Gunther, making it a four-way melee instead of a respectable singles bout).
WWE also delivered two really nice moments with title changes, crowning Chad Gable as Intercontinental Champion and Chelsea Green as Interim WWE Women’s Champion.
But SummerSlam also featured a subpar United States Championship match, a disappointing comedy match between Danhausen and Dominik Mysterio, and an overly melodramatic, finisher-spam-laden gabfest between Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins.
The main event was competently worked and delivered the requisite near-falls to pop the crowd, but it scanned as more of a series of cheat codes than a good, cohesive match.
All told, night two eclipsed night one, but SummerSlam as a whole was another mediocre PLE for WWE, delivering just enough to be considered passable, but not enough to be remembered fondly or make anyone’s “best of” lists.
Let’s get to it…
