A dream match finally comes true at this Summerslam and turns into a bit of a joke all at the same time. We have Lilian Garcia back out to sing the national anthem again, I guess maybe they were nervous Toronto would boo her the year prior? Also at this PPV we have the custody of a child on the line, Matt Hardy and Edge, and oh more Eugene YAY! We get a pretty good video package of all the matches on the card and the card actually looks pretty good on paper. It’s amazing I see Hogan and man I get the feels all over again brother. At the same time I grew up a HBK fan from the days of the Rockers on. We get the pyro and the announce team of JR, Lawler and Coachmen for Raw and Cole and Tazz for Smackdown introducing us to Summerslam.
Orlando Jordan vs. Chris Benoit (US Title Match): Benoit’s music hits and he gets a pretty damn good pop. You know if Ambrose was a bit more intense and not so goofy he could be the better more evolved version of Benoit. This match is over quick as Benoit hits some german suplexes then the crossface for the win and we have a new champion. This is Ultimate Warrior esque and the crowd is going NUTS for this. Good for Benoit to get that kind of ovation and go over that quick on a champion.
Edge vs. Matt Hardy: Edge FINALLY has this theme that I love and not the “you think that you know me” theme. Edge has this look on his face like he’s not quite sure exactly how this is going to go but he’s ready for whatever happens. Matt Hardy now enters to yet another thunderous pop and these two guys go straight into rockers punches (you can thank @FManzo3 for that term.). This is a fight more so than a wrestling match and the crowd is firmly behind Hardy. These shots look pretty stiff and I hope it doesn’t hurt as much as it looks like it does. Edge opens up Matt Hardy and Edge just continues to beat the hell out of Hardy. I don’t think one move has been done just strikes. The referee stops the fight and the crowd sounds like they are going to riot. Edge is the winner I guess via TKO.
Eddie Guerrero vs. Rey Mysterio (Custody Ladder Match): I’m really excited to watch a ladder match with these two guys, i’m not exactly excited about it being for a child. Eddie is out first and i’m not digging this theme music so much. Rey Mysterio comes out to a pretty good pop and in all blue. We get loud Eddie sucks chants and to start there isn’t much technical wrestling but Eddie trying to beat the hell out of Mysterio. Using the stairs and the ladder as objects to inflict pain. We get a ladder setup early and neither man has been able to really climb it yet. Now we get another ladder in the ring with one setup and Eddie gets throw to the outside. Mysterio hits a baseball slide into the ladder into Eddie’s face. Then we get a springboard seated senton to the outside by Mysterio. The chemistry here is amazing I urge everyone if you haven’t watched their WCW stuff please go do that. You can really see some of this match in those older matches and even be able to appreciate and enjoy this match more. Eddie has regained control and using the ladders as apart of his offense including the helo from the apron onto a ladder that is sandwiching Mysterio. The crowd is enjoying this so much they are cheering both men although you can tell they want Mysterio to win they are impressed by Eddie. Guerrero continues to control the match and use the ladders at will to ground Mysterio. Eddie starts to climb the ladder and Mysterio’s son Domnic comes in the ring and tries to shake the ladder and that pisses Eddie off. This allows Mysterio to get back in the match and now Mysterio is using the ladders to his advantage including a 619 with the ladder. Mysterio gets to the top of the ladder and grabs the briefcase however Guerrero kicks the ladder out from under Mysterio and Rey drops into a powerbomb. Guerrero now sets up the ladder over Mysterio and as Mysterio is looking up at Guerrero holding the briefcase Mysterio starts to move the ladder and now Eddie is dangling by the briefcase. We get some more back and forth and Guerrero gets to the top of the ladder and now Vickie Guerrero comes down and pushes the ladder over this leads to Mysterio climbing the ladder and keeping his son. Really good match with an awful storyline.
Eugene vs. Kurt Angle: Oh boy if you didn’t learn from the last Summerslam I’m not exactly the biggest Eugene fan. He’s out with a cheerleader (Christy Hemme) and Angle’s gold medals. Very loud you suck chants from the crowd to Angle during his entrance. Eugene actually dominates much of the beginning of the match and the crowd isn’t behind him at all. Angle pops up and hits a clothesline to a massive pop. Loud let’s go Angle chants and Angle hits some german suplexes. Eugene regains control of the match and he fakes pulling his straps down and locks Angle in the ankle lock however Angle rolls hrough and hits the angle slam. The crowd is going bonkers for Angle who locks in the ankle lock for the win.
Undertaker vs. Randy Orton: So far the loudest pop of the night goes to the Undertaker’s first bell toll where the crowd is super into it. The stage and entrance ramp appear to be on fire and crazy foggy and i’m glad we have Undertaker classic back. Undertaker starts this match off as the wily veteran who is outsmarting the young up and comer. Undertaker works on the shoulder of Orton however Orton gets the upperhand and starts laying in some pretty stiff shots to Undertaker. If you had to take one would you rather take the corner punches from Undertaker or the corner punches from Vader? Both look absolutely nasty. Undertaker is bumping around for Orton trying to make the young kid look fantastic. On the same token Orton is selling his ass off for Undertaker and making everything looks like it feels awful. Orton starts to work on the Undertaker’s leg and try to cut the big man down. Do you think Orton hears voices at this point in his career? Orton continues to work on the leg and Undertaker is hobbling around selling the leg injury and Orton his an awesome looking powerslam. Orton has gone to the HHH school of working on a limb or this match which isn’t a bad thing it’s actually great psychology. Undertaker finally gets some offense back in and both men are slow to get up and we get snake eyes into a picture perfect drop kick from Orton. We get some finisher counters and Orton goes for a five star cross body and Undertaker reverses into a chokeslam. An old man comes into the ring and Orton hits an RKO outta nowhere for the win. Its revealed the old man is actually Cowboy Bob Orton, Randy Orton’s father.
Chris Jericho vs. John Cena (WWE Title Match): Their isn’t any mixed reaction for Cena here the fans are going crazy for Cena. Jericho gets the upperhand in this match and grounds Cena. Cena starts to mount a bit of a comeback with some high impact moves and some offense in the corners. Say what you will about Cena but even in this match he’s selling his ass off for Jericho. We get some action inside and then Cena ends up outside the ring and Jericho hits a dropkick off the apron. Jericho grounds Cena again and controls the mach. The crowd is kind of meh about this match about half way through. Jericho hits some patented offense and goes for a lionsault and misses. This leads to Jericho getting thrown out of the ring instead of Cena being locked in the Walls of Jericho. Jericho gets back in the ring and takes control of the match. Jericho goes for a potential clothesline and comes off the ropes into a big clothesline from Cena who has both men down. Cena now goes into his comeback and the crowd sounds like they are booing Cena. The setup for the five knuckle shuffle happens but Jericho locks in the Walls of Jericho to a LOUD POP! I guess the crowd is split on Cena starting in 2005 WORD? Cena never gives up and we have Cena go for a “FU” off the top rope and for Jericho to get a near fall. The crowd boo’s the two count and chants “that was three” Cena hits the “FU” and the crowd erupts. Well most of the crowd erupts.
Batista vs. JBL (World Title Match): JBL the wrestling GAWD is out in the limo yet again and this character could really work in today’s society. I mean can you think of a character who has power, money and says outlandish idiotic things? Money falls from the rafters as JBL enters. Batista starts his entrance and before his pyro can go off completely JBL attack Batista. Well he tries to but Batista gets the upperhand to start. The crowd is behind the hometown guy Batista and they brawl through the crowd and break through the barricade to end up around ringside. This match doesn’t appear very long but they are bringing little wasted movement and lots of action. JBL starts choking Batista with his belt screaming “No holds barred”. JBL starts to get frustrated as it seems like nothing will keep Batista down. He goes outside and get some stairs and brings them in the ring. He stats clubbing Batista with some stiff shots and brings Batista over to the steps and starts for a powerbomb but is reversed. Batista hits the Batista bomb and then once more onto the steps for the win.
Shawn Michaels vs. Hulk Hogan: What is it with Shawn Michaels and infamous matches? The crowd is on their feet as they are awaiting the entrances. A loud “Hogan” chant begins and HBK music hits to an initial pop and then boos.It’s truly amazing that in 2005 almost twenty years from the first Summerslam Hogan is still mega over brother. Man I feel like i’m watching a better produced version of an early Summerslam with Hulkamania running wild. Before they even touch the crowd is going crazy and this feels like a mega match. We get HBK’s first oversell of the night. Michaels’s starts wrestling Hogan and grounding him and Michaels ends up taking a shoulder block from Hogan and has his second oversell of the night. HBK now gets the upper hand of the match and starts with the chops in the corner. We get some back and forth and we get HBK oversell number three. Michaels regains control and now they end up back outside and Michaels hits the ring post like he was shot out of a cannon. This match is absolutely ridiculous and kind of sucks that the backstage politics turned what could have been a match to remember to an infamous match we remember. Hogan gets busted open and Michaels is in full control and hits his patented offense and the crowd is booing. Hogan moves from the big elbow and the crowd goes wild when Hogan hulks up. We get a ref bump and everyone is down. Michaels locks in the sharpshooter an awful version of it Rock levels of bad version of it. We get another referee bump and Michaels grabs a chair and hits a homerun across Hogan’s head. HBK now climbs back to the top for another attempt at the elbow this time he hits it and starts to tune up the band. He hits Sweet Chin Music to a two count only when Hogan hulks up again to another thunderous ovation. You know what’s coming now three punches the big boot and the leg drop. Hogan wins Hogan poses and Summerslam is over.
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Another meh Summerslam nothing great or awful about it. I’ve been kind of lulled to sleep after the last two. For the match of the night i’m going to go with Rey Mysterio and Eddie Guerrero although the storyline was shit the match was very good. They definitely won’t be in my top five and this may be the weakest match of the night of any Summerslam ever.Well I hope you all say your prayers and eat your vitamins tonight and until next time be awesome.