As I said to finish the last Summerslam I feel like we are on a downward slope from the peak of the mountain. This PPV features something called Diva’s Dodgeball, Eugene and a till death do us part match. Yep we aren’t in 2002 anymore are we? This was a pretty weak opening package by WWF/E’s standards however we get some pretty awesome pyro to open the show. We are live from Toronto, Canada and we have JR and Jerry Lawler announcing Raw and Cole and Tazz announcing Smackdown as normal. The Dudleys have the honor of opening up yet another Summerslam this time teaming with little brother Spike.
Dudley Boyz vs. Mysterio, Kidman & London: I completely forgot that Kidman and London were ever tag team champions. We have the cruiserweight champion on one side in Spike Dudley and the tag champs in London and Kidman on the other. This match starts with Kidman (short hair) and D’Von Dudley. Dudleys get the upper hand with some power and also some not so legal actions. Spike dudley gets tagged in and hits a Coup De Grau. Spike comes in with quite a bit of offense before tagging in Buh Buh Dudley who of course hits a punch of offense rhat looks like it hurts. London finally gets to Mysterio for the hot tag and he and Spike are in the ring with Mysterio fully in control. Mysterio now has to take out both D’Von and Buh Buh before getting back to Spike. Mysterio then tags in Kidman who gets the upperhand on everyone. He hits the BK bomb but Buh Buh breaks up the pin. London does a pretty cool flip off Kidman to the outside. Mysterio hits a 619 into the shooting star press. D’Von breaks up the pin and Mysterio takes a rough bump into the barricage off the top rope. Dudleys hit a 3D and Spike Dudley gets the pin to win.
Matt Hardy vs. Kane (Till Death Do Us Part Lita goes to Winner Match): Lita is out first in a dress which doesn’t really suit her the best. Before he was woken, broken, mattitude or version 2.0 he was Matt Hardy Version 1. Kane comes out laughing like he’s just going to destroy Matt Hardy with no issue. Matt controls the early portion of the match as he’s beating on Kane almost to the point of getting disqualified. Both men are laying it in pretty stiff and Lita is doing everything she can with facial expressions. Matt Hardy hits a top rope plancha pretty well on Kane and hits a twist of fate on the outside. Kane get’s back in at a nine count and Lita grabs the ring bell and gives it to Matt Hardy. Matt Hardy NAILS Kane with the bell and the referee comes over for the pin however Kane gets to the ropes. Kane finally gets the upperhand and Lita looks like she’s in pain from watching Kane in control. Hardy goes for a top rope twist of fate however gets chokeslammed off the top rope. Kane wins and Lita now has to “marry” Kane.
Booker T vs. John Cena (Best of Five Series Match): What is it about Booker T and best of five series matches that works so well. This is match one of the series and ultimately it is for the United States title. Cena is out to a damn good pop for the doctor of thuganomics. This match starts with fists of fury from both guys and Booker T ends up getting control. Cena is bringing some pretty good intensity to begin this match. Booker T however drops Cena onto the top rope and then to the outside. Booker T controls this match and ends up locking Cena into a camel clutch and the crowd is pretty dead for this match. It’s kind of surprising because of the pop Cena got when he came out. Both men get some pretty good back and forth offense and the crowd finally pops again when Booker T hits the spinarooni however it’s right inot a “FU” finisher from Cena for the win. Cena takes match one of the best of five series.
Batista vs. Chris Jericho vs. Edge (Intercontinental Title Match): Man Batista looks absolutely amazing Lex Luger levels of amazing. I can see why WWF/E thought so highly of him there is something about him that grabs your attention when he comes out. Jericho gets a pretty good pop when his music hits. Edge comes out to a really good hometown pop and if things go as well as they normally do for the home town guys the crowd won’t be happy. Jericho gets the upperhand as Batista dumps Edge out of the ring and Jericho goes right after Batista.Batista controls most of this match with his power and strength as he keeps separating Edge and Jericho so it’s one on one. Batista botches a fall outside the ring really bad and the crowd lets him know with really loud boos. All three men end up outside and Jericho dropkicks Batista into the stairs.The crowd is not happy about something and can’t hear what they are chanting but they aren’t really into this match. Edge and Jericho get some back and forth offense in and the crowd is shiting all over this match until Jericho locks in the Walls of Jericho and the crowd pop’s BIG for Jericho over Edge. The crowd is firmly behind Jericho in this match and not Batista or Edge Jericho hits a springboard dropkick onto Batista and Edge gets the spear for the win. SILENCE! If I didn’t hear Edge’s music playing I would think my TV is on mute.
Kurt Angle vs. Eddie Guerrero: Angle looks like a UFC fighter the bald head the physique OH and he won a gold medal with a broken freakin’ neck. Eddie comes out in the lowrider however the crowd isn’t popping so much for this entrance. I’m not sure what’s going on with this Toronto crowd but they are doing their own thing tonight. Match starts with some really good match wrestling and Eddie is looking JACKED. Not many guys look the part as they mat wrestle with Angle but Guerrero looks good doing it. Angle doing his best as he controls the match to keep Eddie on the mat and try to continually lock in the ankle lock. Angle now continues to control the match working on the leg/ankle of Eddie Guerrero. Angle continually goes for the ankle lock over and over as he works on the leg. Eddie loosens his boot to get out of the ankle lock at one point. Eddie finally gets a breather as both men are laying on the mat and the referee starts the ten count. The three amigos is such a cool move and really wonder why nobody today does that move. Eddie misses a frog splash and Angle is now back in charge as he hits an Angle slam. Eddie kicks out at the last minute and now Eddie has no boot on his left foot and Angle locks in the ankle lock again and we get a ref bump. Eddie hits Angle and Luther Reigns with a boot and Eddie begins to argue with the ref and Angle locks the ankle lock back in and the crowd is chanting tap. Angle wins and the crowd pop’s. Someone explain to me why 2004 Toronto hates faces.
HHH vs. Eugene: This is a downgrade for HHH who has been absolutely fantastic in Summerslam history. As I watch HHH i remember when I fully became a HHH fan. It was after HBK left and it was Armageddon ‘99 when Stephanie McMahon joined HHH and began the McMahon/Helmsley regime. I absolutely loved that angle. You will have to excuse me as I will give this match a chance however I’m not really looking forward to it. Shocker Toronto doesn’t really care for Eugene. This match opens pretty aggressively with HHH getting the upperhand on Eugene. They go back and forth and now to the outside where HHH shoves Lillian and Eugene goes to check on Lilian and gets nailed by HHH. HHH is using every trick in the book here against Eugene as every time Eugene starts to get the upperhand HHH uses an underhanded tactic to regain control. The crowd seems to care about this match as much as I do. HHH pretty much dominates the entire match until Eugene finally gets control. Man Eugene is sweating up a STORM I mean IRS levels of sweat. The crowd finally goes nuts when Eugene hits a Stunner on HHH. Eugene then htis a pedigree and it looks like it’s over until Flair saves the day. Regal is out now to confront Flair and he hits Flair with brass knuckles. HHH hits the pedigree and this match is over. Sorry if you’re a big Eugene fan but i’m glad i’m moving on.
Divas Dodgeball happens. Yup the diva’s legit played a game of dodgeball. Want to know what happened you sit through it because i’m not. HA!
Undertaker vs. JBL (WWE Title Match): Undertaker gets a pretty bad ass entrance with flaming torches on the entrance ramp. We have officially moved on from Ministry Taker, American Badass Taker, and Big Evil Taker and back to just our beloved Undertaker. Man WWE loved their vehicle entrances during this time as JBL enters in a stretch limo with bull horns on the hood. Undertaker takes control of this match early and he begins to try and break the arm of JBL. It’s kind of weird JBL wearing red, I don’t know why it just looks weird. Undertaker going for old school early in a match and having it reversed is a staple of Undertaker from 2000-this point. The crowd starts chanting something again however I can’t make out what they are saying, how aboot that eh? JBL uses a chair on the undertaker’s knee on the steel stairs. They begin to brawl on the outside and Undertaker is limping on the leg that JBL used a chair on. We get some continuous back and forth action and i’m pretty sure the crowd just booed the Undertaker. I think i’m more intrigued by this 2004 crowd than I am the actual match. Did this kind of stuff really start happening thirteen years ago? Should I blame Canadians for fans going into business for themselves? The crowd is certainly now chanting get the tables as Undertaker hits a tough looking leg drop on JBL who is laying on the apron. This match is going entirely too long for these two. JBL isn’t a good enough worker for this to be a Undertaker match that is nearly twenty minutes long. We get some traditional Undertaker offense and Orlando Jordan distracts Undertaker who turns into one hell of a clothesline from hell. We get a ref bump and a last ride however JBL is still not done yet. Undertaker goes for the tombstone however Jordan comes in with the title and Undertaker uses it on JBL and gets disqualified and the crowd is PISSED. Twenty minutes of JBL and Undertaker for it to end like this. YUCK!
Randy Orton vs. Chris Benoit (WWE Title Match): Randy Orton looks chiseled out of stone as he enters the match here. Summerslam was really the crowning place for the “next guy” during this time wasn’t it. I absolutely love this version of Benoit’s theme and I am finding out that i’m quite the Benoit mark as I watch him back. I don’t think i’ve ever watched a BAD Benoit match and that even includes WCW. You can overcome a lot if you are just intense in everything you do. Both men start this match off with neither man really getting the upperhand. We get the ole test of strength and we end up with an Orton pose and it sounds like the crowd is cheering Orton. Benoit grounds Orton and really controls the match and attempts to lock in the crossface and Benoit takes a stiff bump into the barricade. Orton now begins to work on the arm/shoulder of Benoit and really uses psychology for all of his offense to hurt that arm. Orton looks like a million dollars and Benoit is selling his ass off for Orton. OUCH! Benoit goes for the suicide dive and goes head first into the barricade and misses Orton completely, that looked brutal. Orton now has control of the match and we see some awesome offense from Orton and the crowd is firmly behind Orton and not their canadian champion Benoit. Benoit is really selling his ass of for Orton to make him look like a star. Now we get both men trading punch after punch and Benoit begins his comeback. Benoit hits a beautiful northern lights suplex and gets in some of his offense and locks in the sharpshooter which looks much better than the Rock’s sharpshooter. Benoit hits the german suplexes and FINALLY they cheer Benoit for him throwing Orton over his head god knows how many times. Benoit now signals for the diving headbutt and the crowd is on their feet. Orton counters and goes for a pin fall however Benoit reverses into a crossface. Orton manages to escape the crossface goes for a RKO and it looks like it would be reversed but ends up hitting it anyway and we have a NEW World Heavyweight Champion. To credit JR he made the called after the match that Orton hit the “RKO out of nowhere”.
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This Summerslam is somewhere in the middle all time. It was pretty much flat without a lot of peaks but nothing overly bad. It’s hard to pick a clear match of the night as none of them was clearly great. When in doubt if the main event was good go with it and that’s what i’m going to do. The match of the night is Chris Benoit and Randy Orton. The crowd kind of messed with me a bit as I didn’t expect them to be so close to today’s audience. Overal not bad but nothing comared to the Summerslams that preceeded it. Until next time be awesome.