WWE SummerSlam Kickoff
#SummerSlam
Original Air Date: August 11, 2019
Event Date: August 11, 2019
aired live on the WWE Network
City: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Venue: Scotiabank Arena
Panel: Jonathan Coachman, Charly Caruso, Beth Phoenix, David Otunga, Jerry Lawler, Booker T
Ringside Panel: JBL, Sam Roberts
Commentary: Vic Joseph (1), Nigel McGuinness (1), Aiden English (1), Tom Phillips (2, 3), Byron Saxton (2, 3), Corey Graves (2, 3)
Ring Announcer: Greg Hamilton
Brand: Co-Branded
Panel
The panel goes over tonight’s matches.
Ringside
JBL and Sam Roberts are excited to be here.
Video
A look at how Dolph Ziggler ended up in a match against Goldberg tonight.
Panel
The Miz joins the panel. Miz is excited to see Ziggler lose to Goldberg, and he’s excited to pick up the pieces when he faces Ziggler Monday on RAW.
Video
A look at the title match between Randy Orton and Kofi Kingston.
Panel
The panel, with The Miz still there, talks about Kofi versus Orton. Beth feels for Kofi. Miz says you should blame yourself if you’re not where you want to be.
Ringside
Sam Roberts empathizes with Kofi, but JBL says his idea that Orton held him down is garbage.
Backstage
Kayla Braxton welcomes Charlotte Flair. Charlotte says it wasn’t women like Trish Stratus who started the women’s revolution, it was legitimate athletes like Charlotte. Tonight, Trish will bow down to the queen.
Panel
The Panel discusses the “dream match” between Charlotte and Trish Stratus.
Video
A package of the buildup to how Bray Wyatt crossed paths with Finn Balor.
Ringside
Sam Roberts gives Finn Balor a 0% chance of beating Bray Wyatt. JBL thinks Sam Roberts is wrong.
Panel
Mick Foley joins the panel and talks about feeling helpless when he was attacked by The Fiend during RAW Reunion. Foley also talks about how debilitating the Mandible Claw is, a move that Bray Wyatt has adopted.
Video
A look at the match between Shane McMahon and Kevin Owens.
Backstage
Kevin Owens tells Kayla Braxton that Shane McMahon has no integrity. Shane can say and do whatever he wants, and that’s why Owens put his career on the line. He wanted to guarantee that Shane would face him in the ring.
Ringside
Sam Roberts thinks Shane McMahon is great. JBL thinks Kevin Owens is misguided.
Panel
The panel discusses Shane and Owens.
Backstage
The OC greets Finn Balor in the locker room. The OC is excited about Styles’ match tonight. Styles doesn’t need luck to beat Ricochet, but Styles thinks Balor might need some luck to beat The Fiend. With that in mind The OC offers to watch Balor’s back. Balor thinks about it but doesn’t respond with a yes or no.
Video
A look at the US Title match between Styles and Ricochet.
Ringside
Sam Roberts takes credit of The OC coming together. JBL says Ricochet versus Styles is like Too Cold Scorpio versus Shawn Michaels.
Video
A look at the mysterious attacks on Roman Reigns, and the revelation that Rowan might be responsible.
Panel
The panel speculates about the attacks on Roman Reigns.
Match 1
Cruiserweight Title Match
Oney Lorcan vs Drew Gulak (Cruiserweight Champ)
(referee: Darryl Sharma)
Result: Drew Gulak wins via pinfall after the Cyclone Crash
Time: 8:48
Match Thoughts
Good match. I think it would have had more time on 205 Live, but it was a good match regardless. Lorcan eventually brought his hard, brawling style into the match, but Gulak was able to absorb punishment long enough to bait Lorcan into leaving himself vulnerable at least a couple of times. Gulak might have taken somewhat of a beating, but it felt like he was almost always in control and thinking a few steps ahead. This was a good start to tonight’s action.
Panel
Beth Phoenix and David Otunga have been replaced on the panel by Jerry Lawler and Booker T. Drake Maverick, shirtless, walks up. He hands out “wanted” posters with a picture of R-Truth on them. Drake asks the panel members to let him know if and when they see R-Truth. Meanwhile, R-Truth and Carmella are hiding in front of the panel’s desk in full view of the camera. After Drake leaves, R-Truth and Carmella emerge from hiding. Drake Maverick comes back and chases R-Truth with referee Drake Wuertz. Carmella helps R-Truth escape.
Video
A look at the feud between Becky Lynch and Natalya.
Backstage
Sarah Schreiber welcomes Natalya. Natalya says she’s gong to walk away as the RAW Women’s Champ tonight.
Panel
The panel discusses the submission match between Lynch and Natalya. Lawler would hate to be in another sharpshooter. Booker T thinks Natalya’s time has passed, and right now it’s Becky Lynch’s time.
Match 2
Apollo Crews vs Buddy Murphy
(referee: Danilo Anfibio)
Result: Buddy Murphy wins via DQ when Rowan appears and attacks him at ringside
Time: 4:41
Match Thoughts
The match was good, but it was cut very short when Rowan appeared and made his feelings clear about Murphy implicating him in the attacks on Reigns.
Ring Area
After the match, Rowan continues to attack Murphy. Daniel Bryan watches in the back without much of any expression.
Ring Area
In the ring, Elias sings a song about Toronto. After insulting Toronto a few times, Edge’s music plays, and Edge and heads to the ring! Edge hits Elias with a spear, then he celebrates.
Match 3
Women’s Tag Team Title Match
Nikki Cross & Alexa Bliss (Women’s Tag Champs) vs The IIconics
(referee: Darryl Sharma)
Result: Alexa Bliss pins Peyton Royce after Twisted Bliss
Time: 6:10
Match Thoughts
Good match. I’m still not happy about the titles being put on Bliss and Cross for no reason, but I did like the match. Bliss and Cross worked together more than their previous matches, though Cross still did most of the work. I think that definitely works for a story where Bliss is taking advantage of Cross, but that’s a story they’re apparently not telling right now.
Video
A look at the buildup for the Universal Title match between Lesnar and Rollins.
Panel
The panel discusses the Universal Title match.
Show Impressions
The kickoff show was too long, but I liked the matches and the cameos. It was a huge surprise to see Edge on the kickoff show and not the actual show, but it did make this show worth watching.
Match of the Night
Cruiserweight Title Match
It would have maybe been even better on 205 Live, but it was still quite good.
>> Read the Recap & Review for SummerSlam. >>