Seth Rollins stands over a beaten John CenaWWE’s SummerSlam is in the books and the event delivered on much of the hype surrounding it. Titles changed hands, wars were waged in the ring and John Stewart got some serious laughs both in the ring and backstage.No one knows how to put on a show like Vince McMahon’s company and SummerSlam was no different, as some heavy hitters stepped through the ropes and took care of business on the worldwide stage.John Cena, Seth Rollins, Brock Lesnar and The Undertaker were all on hand and all did everything in their power to put on the best event possible. This one had a lot to live up to of course as WWE booked it as the most important night of the year next to WrestleMania.Now that it’s over, fans are surely ready to look ahead but there is no doubt that the biggest moments of SummerSlam are still very much in focus.
#5 Stephen Amell has a great showing
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Stephen Amell’s ring debut was seen around the world not only by WWE fans but comic book fans as well, all of whom were waiting to see how the Arrow star would fare in his first ever pro wrestling match.
Amell had a war of words with Stardust over the past couple of months and that war led to the big tag match at SummerSlam. As fans watched and waited to see what would happen, Amell entered the ring and took care of business.
He was no Daniel Bryan and it was obvious he had some butterflies in the beginning. But it did not take long until his celebrity status gave way to his performance, which was far better than many likely expected.
Amell looked as though he belonged in the ring as everything he did was proof he was fully ready for the match. He followed direction, he was careful with his movements and the other guys in the ring worked very patiently with him.
He even went over the top rope, much to the surprise of everyone. Amell may not make this a second career but there’s no doubt he more than held his own and did very well indeed.
#4 The 4-way tag team match brings the fun
Of the 10 matches booked at SummerSlam, this was likely the one with the least amount of expectation. The reason for that was not necessarily due to the four teams involved but to the caliber of the other bouts being featured.
Indeed, this one really could have taken place on Monday Night Raw instead of on the SummerSlam stage and fans would more than likely would have been just fine with that. But The New Day, The Prime Time Players, The Lucha Dragons and Los Matadores were obviously determined to leave a mark.
Instead of the match being a run-of-the-mill tag team war, it was full of fun moments. From the high flying to the mat wrestling to everything in between, all four teams brought tremendous energy and brought the fans to their feet.
The crowd stayed with the action and the guys involved worked hard to ensure the match was a success. NXT Takeover may or may not have been the inspiration for the combined effort here, but the fact remains this one was a nice surprise on a very deep card.
#3 Kevin Owens and Cesaro put on a clinic
Kevin Owens versus Cesaro could be a main event on any WWE presentation. On the SummerSlam card, only two matches took place after it.
That placement was proof of the faith the company had in the performers involved and it was definitely warranted. Cesaro and Owens gave their all in this one and they not only stole the show, but also put on clinic like none other.
This was a no-frills, no flash professional wrestling match. There was no pyro, no smoke, and no title belt. This was a display of pure skill and ability, one that showed exactly the kind of company WWE is, thanks to the talent on its roster.
The future of WWE is always in play, it’s a mantra that is repeated on a near weekly basis by Triple H and is often repeated by the commentary teams. But perhaps the best ambassadors of that future were in top form at SummerSlam as Kevin Owens and Cesaro proved they are both definitely worthy of that recognition.
#2 Jon Stewart interferes on Seth Rollins\'s behalf
When John Stewart and Seth Rollins began their tongue-in cheek rivalry, fans all over the world sat back and had a nice chuckle. The pairing was a good one, as the smarmy and somehwat neurotic Rollins was constantly being mocked by the clever and sarcastic Stewart.
Seth was an easy target for the former Daily Show host and it became very apparent that both men were having fun with it. But that fun turned to shock for fans when Stewart decided to betray John Cena and help Seth get the win at SummerSlam.
Even though the New York crowd was cheering Rollins and booing Cena, the fact is John was the babyface of the contest. When Stewart hit him with a steel chair, he helped the heel get the win.
By definition, he heeled out himself and now fans are left wondering why in the world this happened in the first place. Seth Rollins is now the United States and WWE world heavyweight champion and he has Jon Stewart to thank for it.
#1 The Undertaker vs. Brock Lesnar ends in controversy
The bout with the top spot belongs to ‘The Phenom’ and ‘The Beast Incarnate’. The chants of “Suplex City” and “Undertaker” rang out from the time the opening bell rang and they continued throughout this match.
What some fans perhaps believed would be just a re-hash of WrestleMania 30 turned into something much more as The Undertaker and Brock Lesnar proved what two main event veterans can truly do when given the spotlight on a worldwide stage.
This match had many entertaining moments, as both men brought their best. From Taker mocking Lesnar’s laughter to The Deadman taking three F-5’s, no one can deny the intensity was definitely present. But what stands out perhaps more than anything about this match was the ending.
As the referee was checking Lesnar’s shoulders on the mat, Taker was tapping out due to the Kimura Lock. This was not seen however and the match continued. Taker locked in the Hell’s Gate submission and Brock flipped him the middle finger before “passing out” in the ring.
The finish may not have been what fans wanted, but it sets up a third match and definitely stands out as SummerSlam’s most memorable moment.