Review for WWE Summerslam 2013

Whoever designed this cover needs to be shot.

No, I'm serious. This is the stupidest thing I have ever seen since they put the statue of liberty on the box art of The Planet of the Apes DVD. Before anyone tries to object, I should say go back and look at the cover shot. And then take a trip back into how that shot came to be... Penny dropping yet? Yes, this is one of those reviews where I don't have to worry about spoiling match results because the stupid box cover does that for me!!!!

Now before anyone says that everyone knows the results, everyone knows what happened. Yes, but that is not the point. I shall take you back into my time machine to 1999. I was back into wrestling and buying all the back catalogue. I buy Survivor Series 1998. On the front of the box it describes a tournament to crown a new champion. Cool. I couldn't remember who won and so that would be a surprise. I turn the box over to see a picture of The Rock holding the belt. Well bang goes that surprise. I mean imagine showing this to someone who hadn't seen it.

Breathe Breathe Breathe

Summerslam is generally considered to be WWE's second biggest show (I believe that it is actually the Royal Rumble, but there we go). The matches often mean more, with more of a build and in the bygone era of only four PPVs this was certainly a highlight of the year. This year is fine. In fact, the actual PPV is pretty enjoyable all round with very little filler and some excellent matches. Of all the PPVs that WWE release, this is one of the few that I do purchase live and so I do expect a little more than one or two matches.

So what is there? I'll get through the worst first which of course is Alberto Del Rio against Christian, which could have been great if it had a different ending. Cody Rhodes against Damien Sandow is fine, but nothing special as too is Natalya against Brie Bella which was just eyecandy and totally unnecessary considering we had the Divas already covered with a pretty good mixed tag match between Big E Langston and AJ Lee against Kaitlyn and Dolph Ziggler. This match was fun, though could have been better.

Surprisingly good was the Ring of Fire match between Bray Wyatt and Kane. I don't know why this is, but I enjoyed it and I think if they had been allowed to go longer or more extreme or if the match had been about something (a title shot or something) it would have been even better.

Of course to decide which match was match of the night would be incredibly difficult. In one match we have The Best in the World CM Punk against The Beast Brock Lesnar in a simply phenomenal match that could rank up there with the best from either and certainly one of the best of the year. The other match we have the best technical wrestler Daniel Bryan against the most charismatic wrestler John Cena. Both put on a great match and if only the event hadn't ended the way it had done, this certainly would have gone down as one of the best Summerslam's ever.

HOWEVER... instead WWE decided to not allow us a day, JUST ONE DAY with Daniel Bryan as our champ. No instead Randy Orton cashes in the money in the bank and becomes the new champion. Why? Because it was shocking! No WWE! Bad WWE! It was shocking in 2006 when Edge did it the first time, now it is just dumb and just because it is shocking does not mean that it is entertaining. Of course I can spoil all this, because the box does that already. Stupid boxart!

Also included is the US Championship match between Dean Ambrose and Rob Van Dam. This is an excellent match and to be honest they could have cut out Rhodes/Sandow and Natalya/Bella and included this match and I would have been fine with it. Sadly, that is all the extras given which is a shame and they should have included a few TV spots or trailers to hype the event as they are usually entertaining for the event.

Summerslam 2013 is a so-so PPV made amazing by two incredible matches. It is just a shame that for anyone who hasn't seen it, they will not be allowed to experience what happened properly. Stupid boxart!