WWE SummerSlam 2018: Analysing and grading each match

#3 Kickoff show: The B-Team def. The Revival (Raw Tag Team Championships)

Match: The story of the match revolved around Bo Dallas’ right leg, which The Revival injured early on before taking Curtis Axel out with a Shatter Machine. When Axel was finally tagged in, he was pinned for a 4-count by Scott Dawson but the referee’s back was turned. Dash Wilder then inadvertently pushed Bo into the pinfall, which Axel reversed to pin Dawson for the 1-2-3.

Verdict: Really?! Sometimes WWE match finishes are amazing and sometimes they’re so absurd that all you can do is laugh. This belongs in the latter category. The Revival, in many fans’ eyes, are legitimately one of the best tag teams on the planet, but they were made to look more like 2013-era 3MB here. Not cool, WWE, not cool.

Grade: D-

#4 Seth Rollins def. Dolph Ziggler (Intercontinental Championship)

Match: After a back-and-forth 18 minutes, SummerSlam got its first “This is awesome!” chant when Seth Rollins landed an incredible top-rope inverted suplex on Dolph Ziggler before turning it into a modified sidewalk slam. It then looked like Dolph would win after a Drew McIntyre distraction, only for Dean Ambrose to hit the Scot with a Dirty Deeds, which led to Seth getting the victory with a Superkick followed by a Curb Stomp.

Verdict: This might be an unpopular opinion, but it felt like this match took way too long to get going. However, once it did, it was exceptional. The sequences towards the end made it feel like either guy could walk out as IC champ, while Ambrose and McIntyre were used well at ringside throughout the match.

Grade: A-