The Summerslam 2020 review is written by Rob Crowther IV, Michael Vacchiano and Matthew Widdis
United States Championship: Apollo Crews (c) vs MVP
MVP is keeping with his Marvel themes, rocking a Punisher skull on his ring gear tonight. Despite Apollo’s athleticism and MVP’s flash, this became a grimy affair at times with both men jawing at each other and shoving each other’s faces during their advantages. MVP does a great job playing the heel with roughhouse offense and rule breaking while feeding into Apollo’s dives and splashes. MVP was a standout US Champ (WWE years) but Apollo needed this more coming back to action. When he wins with a sit out powerbomb, it feels cathartic and, when Bobby Lashley and Shelton Benjamin come down to beat on him, it feels like we’re just getting started with The Hurt Business vs Apollo. -Matthew Widdis
Winner: Apollo Crews
Smackdown Women’s Championship: Bayley (c) w/ Sasha Banks vs. Asuka
The Empress of Tomorrow took control early on after a running hip attack knocked Bayley to the outside. Still on the offensive, Asuka also dropped the champ with a leaping DDT off the steps. The former hugger regained the advantage mid-match and began wearing down the challenger, almost gaining a near fall with a Bayley-to-belly suplex out of nowhere.
A comeback attempt from Asuka soon came to a halt when Bayley Dos Straps attacked her knee, working it over with some submissions. The lady from Japan fought through the pain and attacked Bayley with enough fury to cause Sasha to get herself involved. Asuka knocked Banks off the apron, but the distraction was enough for Bayley to trap her opponent with an inside cradle to retain her title. The BFFs attacked the Empress post-match, an obvious move to soften Asuka up for her match for the Boss’s belt later on tonight. -Michael Vacchiano
Winner and still champion: Bayley
Raw Tag Team Championship: The Street Profits(c) vs. Andrade & Angel Garza w/ Zelina Vega
The champs made a grand entrance at the WWE Thunderdome with a massive red solo cup shower. Nice touch for such a big event. Montez Ford started off rolling with his trademark explosive offense, but it didn’t last. A tope con hilo to the outside was caught by Andrade and Garza, who then slammed Ford straight to the ground. The heels continued the advantage, planting Montez with an assisted double stomp out of the corner from the tree of woe.
A hot tag from the champs led to Angelo Dawkins to enter the fray like a ball of fire. Andrade soon leveled the big man with a spinning reverse elbow, and Dawkins rebounded with a stiff-looking spear. Ford reemerged with a beautiful top rope crossbody before Garza saved El Idolo from more punishment. The Latin ladies man tried to end things with a wing clipper, which Montez escaped and accidentally knocked an interfering Zelina Vega off the apron.
With Andrade checking on his fallen manager, Garza was left alone with the Profits and ate a Dawkins sky high spinebuster. Ford followed with a spectacular inverted frog splash, getting insane height in the process, to get the 1-2-3…and the Smoke. Wish this match had gotten an extra five minutes or so, but both tandems did great with the time they had and hit some fantastic spots. A red solo cup toast is in order. -Michael Vacchiano
Winners and still champions: Street Profits
Mandy Rose vs Sonya Deville in a No Disqualification, “Loser Leaves WWE” Match
Mandy is aggressive at the start but misses with the pump knee strike a few times. Sonya takes advantage using her MMA background including a Dragon Sleeper that she transitions to an Armbar/Triangle. The “NO DQ” nature of the match isn’t highlighted much but there is a unique spot where Mandy attempts to play air hockey with steel chairs across a table. The finish comes when Mandy connects with the pump knee multiple times before and after hitting the Bed of Roses. Sonya can’t believe it and Otis caterpillars his way into the ring to celebrate with his peach.
Given the real life events that Daria Berenato and Mandy Saccomano went through in the week before SummerSlam, this match going on at all is a testament to both women’s grit. If it led to any last minute changes, including Sonya being off of TV for a while, so be it. It’s certainly understandable and, if a backstage interview is any indication, Sonya will be back with a new name and/or persona when we see her next. -Matthew Widdis
Winner: Mandy Rose
No DQ Match: Dominik Mysterio vs. Seth Rollins
One of the few things that I’ve really enjoyed in the WWE as of late has been the development of one Dominik Mysterio. Over a year ago I loved watching his training videos with his father. Then we got to see a moment where Rey and his son were able to hit a simultaneous double 619 (1238?) followed by a pair of Eddie Guerrero-esque frogsplashes on the then WWE Champion Brock Lesnar. I absolutely adored that father and son moment, and moreso can’t remember a time that the crowd has been that red hot for a moment in a long time — granted we don’t really have crowds these days.
Needless to say this was THE match for me at Summerslam. The OFFICIAL debut of the son of the legendary Rey Mysterio against the cream of the crop Seth Rollins. Rollins who runs his own training school is known for expecting the best out of HIS trainees as we’ve been told. Expectations are VERY high. On paper this match was money. In the ring we got a fantastic match that told an even better story.
Let’s start with the gear. Earlier this week costume maker Hayashi Masahiro posted on Instagram a small glimpse of the hood from what would be Domink’s debut gear with the caption with the caption “I’ve been waiting #dominikmysterio” to give fans just a taste. Let me say that his gear was fantastic including the hood that is reminiscent of father’s mask. It’s all about the details. The black and blue colors reminded me a lot of Nightwing as well. Seth’s gear mocked that of Mysterio’s classic WCW gear with the bright pink and question marks. Very well done. This ends your #wrestlingfashion segment.
Also I believe Dominik’s entrance music may have very well been done by P.O.D. as well and I absolutely love it.
In ring we saw the story of a very capable Dominik Mysterio who was ultimately bested by a torturous Rollins. Murphy interfered and Rey had to get involved even though he promised his son he wouldn’t. Dominik impressed with a swinging DDT, Frog Splash, and of course the 619. He even took a superplex off the top of the corner pole (Not Turnbuckle) like a champ.Rollins would use his mind games to get the best of the Mysterio family by threatening Dominik’s mother, handcuffing Rey, and making him watch his son get tortured in front of him. Between the suplexes by Brock and all the Kendo Stick shots from Seth, this kid has MORE than payed his dues. This was a really great match, but more so displayed such a range of emotion. I absolutely loved it and I can’t wait to see more from Dominik.
Post match a nice embrace from Rey, a forehead kiss, and the words, “I’m proud of you.”
-Rob Crowther IV
Winner: Seth Rollins
Raw Women’s Championship: Sasha Banks (c) w/ Bayley vs. Asuka
The Boss immediately goes after Asuka’s weakened leg from the previous title match. The Empress still showed life and proceeded with some patented kicks while both ladies were on the apron. Banks soon cut that off with a nasty looking sunset bomb to the floor in which Asuka landed really hard. With Bayley playing cheerleader on the outside, Sasha kept on wearing the challenger down.
Asuka soon got a breather after a DDT off the top rope followed by a missile dropkick for a near fall. An exchange at the end resulted in both opponents applying their trademark submission holds (Asuka Lock and Banks Statement) only to roll into the ropes for the break. Bayley tried to distract Asuka, who charged at her but Sasha’s BFF wouldn’t take the same bullet like in the previous title match. Back stabber into a Bank Statement attempt was reversed into yet another Asuka Lock. With no escape and with her Women’s Tag Title partner nowhere around to save her, Banks was forced to tap. While the Empress celebrated regaining the Raw Women’s title, there appeared to be some slight dissension between the female heel tandem. I sense an implosion in the works. – Michael Vacchiano
Winner and new champion: Asuka
WWE Heavyweight Championship: Randy Orton vs Drew McIntyre (C)
Our match opens with the classic Orton bait-and-frustrate technique where he’s in and out of the ring to get McIntyre flustered. It works and sets up a few near RKOs that slow down Big Mac and make him cognizant of the danger. Outside the ring, Randy hits his signature table spot, taunting Drew with “your title is coming home with me.” Uncharacteristically, he suplexes Drew off the table and onto the arena floor.
Back in the ring, they injure each other’s knees. This allows McIntyre to get some miles out of a Figure Four on Randy after a Spinebuster. After the rope break, they trade shots and Big Mac gets rolling with back-to-back belly-to-bellies. He goes up top to attempt a superplex but Randy crotches him down and repeated headbutts put him on the mat. The champion scores with a Future Shock DDT but The Viper ducks a flying chop and powerslams him. A Glasgow Kiss busts Randy’s forehead open and Drew clotheslines them both to the outside. As they climb back in, Randy hits the rope hung DDT and sets up for the punt. He’s caught for a powerbomb but dodges The Claymore! RKO is reversed for… a backslide pin?! It works and the champ retains. -Matthew Widdis
Winner: Drew McIntyre
WWE Universal Championship: The Fiend vs Braun Strowman (C)
The Fiend goes right in on the attack with a toolbox from under the ring but Braun plows him through the timekeeper’s barricade. A chokeslam on the announce table was off center and didn’t break it but rather buckled it like Vince McMahon did at St Valentine’s Day Massacre. Ouch!
Neither the man nor The Fiend shows it, however, when a corner avalanche and powerslam by Braun only gets a one count! Braun drags Fiend backstage to gorilla position. Fiend turns things around there and throws Braun from wall-to-wall and hits Sister Abigail for a 2 count.
Fiend gets a handful of Braun’s beard and starts walking him back to the ring. He stops to apply the Mandible Claw but Braun keeps it from being fully applied and powers out.
Another powerslam doesn’t win it and Braun is angry and frustrated. He goes to the mangled toolbox at ringside and retrieves a box cutter! Is Braun going to go full on paranoid hobo on The Fiend?
It turns out that he uses it to cut away the canvas and mat of the ring. The Fiend recovers in time to spike Braun down on the exposed wooden beams. One Sister Abigai after another, face first on the wood will do it. The Fiend is Universal Champion once again. -Matthew Widdis
Winner: The Fiend
Short-lived celebration, though. No sooner is The Fiend on his feet when he gets speared by Roman Reigns! Roman hits him with mounted punches like he’s owed money. The Big Dog leaves him flat and goes after Braun with a spear and punishing chair shots. One more spear for Fiend and we leave with Roman smoothing out his new T-shirt: “Wreck Everyone and Leave.” Really exciting to see Roman back and in a program with either or both of these two. All three look to be in the best shape they have in quite some time (or ever) and have been quality anytime they’ve worked together. The one thing Roman needed (besides being Daniel Bryan at the 2015 Rumble) all this time was to show his edge. It’s happening now.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2TxqpjOlqY
