WWE SummerSlam 2019: 5 things the company did right at the PPV

Depending on the type of wrestling you like and the Superstars you count as your favorites, SummerSlam either met your expectations or it fell short of them. For the most part, the matches were fine for what they were, but few really set the world on fire. None really seemed like they were PPV matches, but rather, matches that could have been seen on RAW or SmackDown.

That doesn't mean to say that no one performed above their usual standards. Ricochet continued to utilize his fantastic athleticism and creativity in his match with AJ Styles. And while there were a few messy moments in the Submission Match between Becky Lynch and Natalya, it was easily the best defense of Lynch's tenure as RAW Women's Champ.

The matches were uneven as Legends Trish Stratus and Goldberg had matches while WWE regulars Braun Strowman, Drew McIntyre, Sami Zayn, Rey Mysterio, and Andrade did not. The matches with Goldberg and Stratus were what you probably could have predicted going into the show with Goldberg picking up a quick squash win over Dolph Ziggler and Stratus providing Charlotte Flair with a great challenge in defeat. Here are five things that WWE did right with SummerSlam 2019.

---

#5 Giving the Women's Tag Team titles an actual PPV match

A lot of people wondered what the point of having the IIconics win the Women's Tag Team belts at WrestleMania was. They had rarely been used on TV and would only be shown in backstage segments or WWE Network exclusive segments.

A feud with the Kabuki Warriors had been teased but only happened off of TV. On the go-home RAW, however, they were finally allowed to appear to defend their titles. They lost of course as Alexa Bliss and her partner Nikki Cross became the third duo to hold the titles. Instead of going away again, the new Champs defended the titles on the pre-show against the former champs.

While it was still only a pre-show match, it marks one of the few times the titles have been defended and defended on a PPV. It's not the fault of the wrestlers so they cannot be blamed for the inconsistent appearances. It was still a step in the right direction to at least remember to book them like the rest of the title holders in the company.

#4 Kevin Owens wins

The only logical finish to this match was Owens coming out victorious. The method by which he won didn't necessarily matter just as long as Shane McMahon did not get another win over another top WWE Superstar. Although McMahon tried to stack the deck by having Elias be the guest enforcer, it didn't work out.

As the real referee's back was turned, Owens hit Shane with a low blow that eventually led to KO getting the pin. While it gives McMahon a reason to whine about how he lost, Owens had to win.

The uneven part of the whole thing was that nothing was at stake for Shane. Had it been something that went both ways, the match would have been more exciting, as would have every pin attempt. Owens winning was the right call because if you didn't see it, a fan had an "If Shane wins, we riot" sign. It's been getting that bad.

#3 Becky Lynch retains her title

I wasn't exactly looking forward to a Lynch/Natalya match for a title at SummerSlam. While WWE tried to build it up to the best that they possibly could, the problem was that the division wasn't left in the best position following the Superstar Shake-Up. Ember Moon and Bayley were moved to SmackDown while Nia Jax and Ronda Rousey were off of the brand dealing with injuries.

And up until the most recent episode of RAW, Sasha Banks was also missing in action. Had WWE waited to have Lacey Evans challenge for the title down the road, then things would have worked out better. Instead, her three matches for the title were a bit clunky as Evans is still new to both wrestling and the main roster.

They've even had competitors from other shows challenge for titles, so they could have had someone from SmackDown challenge Lynch. They even could have had a triple threat with Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross had they not planned things out the way they did with the tag titles.

Despite the event being in Canada, the crowd was going to be mixed between those cheering for Lynch and those cheering for Nattie. The finish was the right one as no one on RAW is really ready to run with the title the way the Man has.

#2 Everything involving the Fiend's presentation

Wow. Have you ever had chills while watching a pro wrestler's entrance? While the Undertaker's entrance is legendary, it has been going on for nearly 30 years. He's also been the same character albeit with the best gimmick ever.

That was until the Fiend was not only introduced to the WWE Universe but also as he had his highly-anticipated in-ring debut against Finn Balor at SummerSlam. Once the lights went out, the highlight of SummerSlam began. Not only was Wyatt's original theme brilliantly remixed to suit his new persona, but even the old lantern he brought to the ring got a facelift.

Instead of a simple lantern, Wyatt's old visage was now draped over it as if he had torn out his prior self and kept it as a reminder. His slow walk to the ring highlighted the creepiness of the Fiend as did the words "hurt" and "heal" as they were screamed in his new entrance theme.

As if those things weren't enough, so was the visual representation of how the Fiend would be wrestling in the ring. He kept the mask on, which is refreshing in today's WWE. Outside of the Luchadors in WWE, his mask is one of the few used in the promotion. And it should be given how fantastically crafted it is.

While he played the part and walked the walk, how would his new persona actually wrestle? It was reminiscent of his prior ring work with some new tweaks added. He "snapped" Balor's neck and also resorted to using the mandible claw as his finisher.

Wyatt also stood in the corner and listened to his hands before he ultimately put Balor out of his misery. It was truly a monumental moment for Wyatt and all of his hard work. Let's hope his booking is much better than it was before.

#1 Seth Rollins regains the Universal Championship

Although it provided a shocking moment, it feels a little like the Money in the Bank briefcase was used incorrectly. While it did give the Beast another excuse to have a run with the Universal Championship, did he really need one? Wouldn't it have been better to give it to a young, up-and-comer a rub instead of someone who doesn't need it?

Whatever your feelings were regarding the briefcase, he won it and we had to deal with it. He didn't necessarily need to successfully cash in, but WWE went ahead with it and Rollins' reign was over at the hands of Brock Lesnar. We were back with the same problem we had before with the Beast as Champ.

After immediately having AJ Styles challenge for the title at MITB, they had Rollins face Baron Corbin at three straight PPVs. No one wanted to see three-straight Baron Corbin matches for the title. Had they saved Styles for SummerSlam, they wouldn't have needed the whole Lesnar/briefcase scenario. And had Corbin been challenging at MITB instead of Styles, then they could have had two of the best performers steal the show at SummerSlam.

Instead, we got another Lesnar/Rollins match. While it was obviously better than the match at 'Mania, it was still another recycled match. The right outcome was having Rollins win thankfully, so that was something that needed to happen. Had Lesnar won, who else would have had a realistic shot of beating him for the title?