This is the twentieth anniversary of Summesrlam and it looks like Randy Orton and John Cena is the headliner. We also have Chavo and Mysterio and in a rematch of the prior year. We of course have a opening video package and King Booker/HHH close the video package and we get kind of an old school video of the logo over water with music. TONS of pyro to start the show and we have surfboards and everything that makes me think i’m watching Bash at the Beach on the entrance ramp. This PPV get’s started fairly quickly and we have Cole/JBL as the Smackdown commentators and of course Jim Ross and Lawler as the Raw commentators. I’d be remissed if I left out Joey Styles and Tazz as the ECW commentators.
Kane vs. Finlay: Kane comes to the ring with his ribs taped because Finlay attacked him weeks ago. Kane gets early control of the match however Finlay takes over quick due to Kane’s injured ribs. I’ve always heard that Finlay was one of the biggest heel’s ever overseas. This leads me to wonder why he never got as over in WCW or WWF/E. He’s almost always had feuds in both promotions however never completely taken seriously. We get interference from Hornswoggle you know because he’s a “leprechaun”and Finlay is Irish. Kane goes for a big chokeslam however due to his injured ribs isn’t able to big him up. This leads to a near fall for Finlay. Finley ends up going shoulder first into the ring post and Kane delivers a chokeslam for the win and the crowd is happy.
Mr Kennedy vs. Umaga vs. Carlito (Intercontinental Title Match): We start this match with Kennedy trying to talk Umaga into double teaming Carlito. Instead Umaga punches this both in the mush and for a big guy Umaga moves around very well. I’ve never gotten into either Kennedy or Carlito even when I would flip over and casually watch or watching back. Umaga however intrigues me because he is big, has a good look and is super intense. You and I are both learning that I like intense wrestlers right? Except my current favorite and he has been for as long as I can remember now is the Miz. HA! Kennedy takes out Umaga and we get Carlito and Kennedy one on one. We get some back and forth action and Umaga gets involved again until Kennedy hits Umaga with a TV monitor. Carlito goes for the pin however Umaga kicks out. Kennedy and Carlito begin to double team Umaga and it ends up being Kennedy and Carlito one on one again. Kennedy goes for a pin on Carlito but catches a samoan spike and Umaga retains his title.
Chavo vs. Rey Mysterio: The sequel from last year and what the hell is Rey Mysterio wearing?His body is painted like he’s in the keys and looks like he’s wearing aluminum foil pants and mask. The crowd is chanting Chavo sucks and Chavo is in total control of this match working on the leg of Rey Mysterio. So we are no longer fighting over who Eddie loved more right? We get a spot where Mysterio fights back and goes for the 619 and Chavo locks him in a single crab. Rey Mysterio is flying all over the place in this match both inside and outside the ring. I always talk about guys who were seriously underrated but I want to say I think Chavo has always been properly rated when viewed all time. We get a 619 attempt and reversal into a three amigo’s attempt which is reversed into another 619 attempt this time he nails it and drops the dime for the win.
Divas Battle Royal/MVP and Austin Segment: This is pretty much a cluster the entire time until we get to the end and Beth Phoenix who looks like a monster during this whole thing gets the win. Mvp is out right after the match with a cooler. He challenges Matt Hardy to a beer drinking contest. Matt Hardy says he has a substitute for him for this contest and it’s AUSTIN! The crowd is super hot for it before his name is even announced. Austin hits a Stunner and the arena erupts.
CM Punk vs. John Morrison (ECW Title Match): This match starts out with some really good mat wrestling between the two. You know two ECW guys showing off their mat wrestling abilities. Morrison ends up with the upper hand and starts laying shots into Punk’s face. Morrison really hasn’t shown off his superior athletic ability instead just ground and pound offense. The crowd is pretty dead for this match but I guess that’s what happens when you have to follow Austin. This has been the most NWA, ECW title match since the title has been named Extreme and not Eastern. The ending of this match is very sloppy as Punk misses a top rope hurricanrana and Morrison awkwardly drops down and attempts to use the ropes to no effect.
HHH vs. King Booker: The crowd is pretty hot for HHH during the opening of this match. Loud HHH chants litter the arena. HHH opens the match with some stiff punches and sends King Booker to the outside with a clothesline. King Booker gets back in the ring and the go back and forth until King Booker gets control. Booker slows down this match to a snail’s pace and really tries to work a psychological match without using too much athleticism. The Harlem Hangover is still impressive even after seeing it so many times. Booker T and HHH get some reversals on one another’s finishers and this ultimately leads to HHH pedigrees King Booker.
Great Khali vs. Batista (World Title Match): This PPV has not been very good to this point hopefully somehow we have an AWESOME final two matches however I’m pretty certain this next one will disappoint. Khali is a MASSIVE human being however he’s in the wrong era of wrestling. During the Hogan era Khali would have been fantastic and the perfect foe, brother for the Hulkster. We start this match and this match is dominated by LOTS OF CHOPS. Not like Ric Flair chops or Benoit chops either like just head chops. The match is really slow paced and is not one of Batista’s finest moments. Here’s the thing I see why 100% officials were behind Batista not many people look like this guy. He also carries himself during his entrance like a mega star and during the match gets the crowd going when setting up for the finisher. This match doesn’t help him though Khali’s limited move set is an awful match for Batista who would work better in a more intense setting. Imagine Batista vs. Strowman in today’s WWE. That would be MONEY! This ends in a disqualification and there is absolutely no heat.
John Cena vs. Randy Orton (WWE Title Match): Save me main event. Don’t make this the biggest waste of three hours since, YOU KNOW WHAT SUMMERSLAM I AM REFERENCING. At the time I believe this is the second time they have met and with the uprising of both superstars had to feel like a mega match. Fast forward seven years later and the match has happened another five hundred times (exaggeration). I’ll keep saying it over and over Randy Orton even to this day may LOOK the part of a superstar more than anyone else especially during his entrance. Looks like we have another anti Cena crowd on our hands early and in ’07. As I said in a prior article I took time off from WWE around this time so I really missed the rise of Cena and boy did the fans turn quick on him. Orton works the head which is kind of his gimmick at the time here of trying to concuss EVERYONE ALWAYS. This match has REALLY good psychology as Orton always seem to be one step of Cena during his signature moves. Almost like he scouted and watched tape for this mega matchup. We start bringing it home when Orton lines up for the punt kick however Cena locks him in the STF that is Rock’s Sharpshooter levels of bad. Orton breaks the hold and hits an RKO out of NO WHERE the crowd is excited about a possible title change. However you know what happens brother… um…. jack… Cena kicks out hits the FU and retains the title. This was a match probably propped up by how bad the rest of the card is.
Summerslam 1988 Review | Summerslam 1989 Review | Summerslam 1990 Review | Summerslam 1991 Review | Summerslam 1992 Review | Summerslam 1993 Review | Summerslam 1994 Review | Summerslam 1995 Review | Summerslam 1996 Review | Summerslam 1997 Review | Summerslam 1998 Review | Summerslam 199 Results | Summerslam 2000 Review | |Summerslam 2001 Review | Summerslam 2002 Review | Summerslam 2003 Review | Summerslam 2004 Review | Summerslam 2005 Review | Summerslam 2006 Review
Don’t’ do it. Don’t watch this PPV. All you have to do is read my review save yourself the three hours and instead go back and re-watch ’88 or ’01. This is really a two match card that was even GOOD Punk and Morrison although sloppy was a good match. When in doubt go with the main event if it’s decent as the match of the night and that’s what I’m doing. Orton vs. Cena is the match of the night and this is two PPV’s in a row I go with an Orton Match. I’m glad this is over and until Summerslam ’08 be awesome.
