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To us at Sportskeeda Wrestling, SummerSlam 2017 was a show of two parts, really. The first half was not very interesting, as WWE crammed most of the undercard into the first half of the show, leaving the big guns for later — a strategy they don't often employ. Usually, they use some of the more 'lacklustre' matches to cool down between the bigger moments of any given night. The main event of the evening was absolutely off the hook though, and by the time the pay-per-view concluded, we were gasping for air. In a good way, of course.
We chronicle our best and worst experiences from SummerSlam 2017, an experience that lasted a duration of six hours. Here are our favourite and least favourite moments from what went down at the Barclays Center.
#1 Best: Passing of the torch?
It is difficult to sit through six hours of anything, no matter how much you love it. WWE rewarded us for our patience and fandom, with a great main event on this occasion. One that should be in contention for 'Match of the Year' in 2017. One where Brock Lesnar helped create a brand new star, who could dominate the company.
Lesnar allowed himself to be rag-dolled by Braun Strowman. Strowman put him through two tables and also toppled another one on top of The Beast. He looked like a creature from the fiery depths of Hell, creating chaos and hell inside a sports entertainment ring.
Even though Lesnar won the match, he allowed a new star to be born and take his place as the unbeatable monster of the company. Much like he did with Joe. Few consider Lesnar to really be a team player, but time and again, he's proved that he will do business when the time is right.
#1 Worst: SmackDown's main event paled in comparison
Yes, the superstars on Raw had a lot more freedom than Nakamura and Mahal did, but at the same time, their title match just felt like a lesser deal than the Fatal Four Way. In many ways, it proved that SmackDown Live is still the B-Show. It did not help that Mahal finished the match in much the same way as all his other matches, with the help of the Singh Brothers. It also did not help that he botched his own finishing move. The best thing about the match was Nakamura's special entrance!
We've received information that Mahal is likely to hold the championship until Hell in a Cell. This does not bode well for the WWE Universe as his matches have been, at best, quite ordinary.
#2 Best: A feel good moment
Many fans consider The Shield to be the best WWE product from the modern era. While the trio may be a memory from the past, we were glad to see Ambrose and Rollins team up and bag the top prize on Raw. Not only do they have amazing chemistry with one another, but they also put on a fantastic match with Cesaro and Sheamus.
It must be mentioned that the absolute highlight of the match for us was when Cesaro stepped into the crowd, where a beach ball was being tossed around and ripped it to shreds. It is disrespectful to not focus on the match at hand, when performers are laying their life and limb on the line, for you. Thankfully, the majority of the crowd in the arena was in agreement with Cesaro!
#2 Worst: Rusev crushed
We understand why Randy Orton had to win this match, after suffering a string of losses to put Jinder Mahal over. Did he have to defeat Rusev in well under a minute, in what was, in many ways, even worse than a squash match though? Yes, it got the message across that an RKO can strike out of nowhere, but also did nothing to elevate Rusev. This could have been a stage for Rusev to display his dominance and put on a long and compelling match with Orton.
Was the show booked in such a packed and stacked manner because it would have gone into overtime, had this not been the case? For now, we can only guess.
#3 Best: A battle of mind games
There weren't enough special entrances for such a big pay-per-view event. However, the entrance of the Demon King was a treat to watch. Balor wrestled like a man possessed when the paint came on, and even no-sold a few blows from Wyatt. It was great to see Wyatt as the hunted and not the hunter for a change in this particular match. We haven't seen The Demon King since SummerSlam last year, and one year later, the sight is still sublime.
We look to see more appearances by The Demon King in the near future. The crowd seems far more invested in Balor, when he's The Demon. Let's hope he taps into his dark side for every single pay-per-view event.
#3 Worst: Big Show vs. Big Cass
Yes, The Big Show had incredible chemistry with Strowman when they wrestled a few months ago in the Raw main event. Unfortunately, he has absolutely no chemistry with Big Cass. The crowd chanted 'boring' during the contest, and it just seemed like a match that did not belong on a card that was relatively stacked. We do not know what's next for either Enzo or Cass, but we do hope that it is not a program against each other. This feud is simply not working.
#4 Worst: Botched finisher
During his match with Shinsuke Nakamura, we saw Mahal pick up the win with the help of the Singh Brothers again. However, he botched his own finisher in the process, making it look very awkward. The Khallas was never a graceful move, but the execution, even so, was far from perfect. Very disappointing indeed.
As were Roman Reigns' spears surprisingly. They lacked the aggression that accompanies the fury he usually delivers them with. While not a botch, they just looked underwhelming.
Michael Cole, as usual, makes it to our botch list this time as well. He referred to a Slingblade as a Blockbuster.
#4 Best: Many titles changed hands
Several titles changed hands at SummerSlam, and this will definitely have repercussions on Raw and SmackDown Live. When all is said and done, this may not have been as interesting a show as NXT Takeover: Brooklyn III, but it was definitely a far more important show in many respects.
This woman could play a part in the events that unfold on SmackDown Live, next week. Join us for more live coverage as well as a 'Best and Worst' list, following the two shows. Ooooaaaaa!
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