August 16, 2016
Episode 887
(aired live)
#SDLive
City: Austin, TX
Venue: Frank Erwin Center
Commentary: Mauro Ranallo, JBL, David Otunga
Ring Announcer: Greg Hamilton
Backstage
Shane McMahon and Daniel Bryan have Randy Orton sign the contract for his Summer Slam match. Heath Slater walks in with a fruit basket. He realized that Shane and Daniel had a contract ready for him and wants to make amends. Shane and Daniel aren’t interested, but Orton has an idea…
Intro Video
“Take a Chance” by CFO$
Ring Area
#SummerSlam
Maryse, who is already in the ring, introduces The Miz (who is also already in the ring. The Miz starts to introduce Miz TV when Dean Ambrose quickly interrupts and heads to the ring. Ambrose starts to speak when Dolph Ziggler interrupts and heads to the ring. Ziggler and Miz get face-to-face, but Miz stops them from fighting.
The Miz talks about Ziggler’s career resurgence, but wonders what will happen if he fails. Ziggler isn’t worried about what comes after Summer Slam, he’s only worried about winning the title. Ambrose isn’t buying Ziggler’s attitude. Ziggler doesn’t like what Ambrose has been saying and says that Ambrose will have to admit that he’s been fueling Ziggler’s desire to win after he becomes the new champ. Ambrose says that Ziggler isn’t ready for the pressure of being champ. He doesn’t want it bad enough. Ziggler says that Ambrose doesn’t have enough to beat him, and as he’s talking he superkicks the champ.
Ring Area
During the commercial break, Apollo Crews attacked The Miz when he kept calling him “Apollo Creed.”
Match 1
The Usos & American Alpha & Hype Bros vs The Vaudevillains & The Ascension & Breezango
(referee: Jason Ayers)
#12ManTag
Result: Chad Gable pins Aiden English after Grand Amplitude
Time: 3:05 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
An okay, yet pretty fun match. As expected, it quickly broke down and turned into a parade of big moves traded by the teams as people rolled in and out of the ring.
Ring Area
Naomi heads to the ring with a fun, new black-light entrance. Eva Marie is introduced, but the announcer says that she has been delayed because of traffic. She can’t compete again this week.
** It seems like a huge waste for Naomi to debut her new entrance when she doesn’t even compete. **
Backstage
AJ Styles is a little jealous of Alberto Del Rio tonight because he gets to beat up John Cena. Del Rio isn’t interested in Styles’ pep talk.
Curt Hawkins Facts
Curt Hawkins has counted to infinity. Twice.
Curt Hawkins can slam a revolving door.
Curt Hawkins doesn’t flush the toilet, he scares the crap out of it.
Match 2
Randy Orton vs Heath Slater
(referee: Mike Chioda)
Result: Heath Slater wins via DQ when Orton won’t let Slater out of the corner
Time: 0:59
Match Thoughts
Not really a match. It was just Orton punching Slater until he got disqualified.
Ring Area
After the match, Orton continues the attack and DDTs Slater on the floor. He also German suplexes Slater in the ring before giving him an RKO.
Backstage
Heath Slater is being looked at by the trainer when Shane and Daniel tell him that he won. Slater is out of it after the beating he took and mistakes Daniel and Shane for Foley and Stephanie. Shane takes back the contract offer.
** Shane was getting some boos when he took back the offer. As he should. **
Match 3
Erick Rowan w/ Bray Wyatt vs Dean Ambrose (WWE Champ)
(referee: Dan Engler)
Result: Dean Ambrose wins via pinfall after Dirty Deeds
Time: 5:07
Match Thoughts
Pretty good match. Pretty straightforward. Rowan had some good offense here and there, but Ambrose is the champ, so, he was never really that much in trouble.
Ring Area
After the match, Bray Wyatt looks at Rowan’s sheep mask, tosses it into his rocking chair, and walks away leaving Rowan alone in the ring.
Match 4
Natalya & Alexa Bliss vs Carmella & Becky Lynch
(referee: Jason Ayers)
Result: Becky Lynch makes Natalya submit to the Disarm Her
Time: 4:13
Match Thoughts
Pretty good match. And as a bonus, it made Naomi’s new entrance make sense (she came out to chase Eva Marie when she finally showed up at the arena).
Backstage
Just like last week, Baron Corbin is found attacking Kalisto.
Video
The history of the Lesnar/Orton match.
Match 5
Alberto Del Rio vs John Cena
(referee: Ryan Tran; guest commentary: AJ Styles)
#CenavsDelRio
Result: John Cena wins via pinfall after an Attitude Adjustment
Time: 10:01 (2 breaks)
Match Thoughts
Good match. It seemed to end a little abruptly and Del Rio seemed to take a lot of time between moves at times, but it was still good.
Ring Area
After the match, Styles attacks Cena. He’s tired of hearing “the future goes through John Cena.” Styles’ time is now. Before Styles can leave, Cena hits him with an Attitude Adjustment. Cens then drags Styles to the floor and tosses him through the announce table.
Show Impressions
A pretty good show. I think it did well to build (or at least maintain) some interest in Summer Slam, specifically the big matches.
Match of the Night
Alberto Del Rio vs John Cena
It didn’t have a lot of great competition this week, but this was a solid match.