WWE SummerSlam 2021 Review: A Beast and A Man

SummerSlam 2021 is in the books! In front of over 51,000 members of the WWE Universe, superstars from RAW and SmackDown busted their humps to conclude one of the best weekends in professional wrestling in the last half decade. WWE Pay-Per-View’s (PPV) usually deliver with good wrestling, storytelling, comedy and shocking returns, and we got all that and more in Las Vegas Saturday night!

The Beast Incarnate

WWE billed the main event of the “Biggest Party of the Summer as, “The greatest of all time (Cena) vs the greatest of this generation (Reigns)”, and the two icons did not disappoint one bit. Michael Cole and Pat McAfee did a great job at telling the story of Cena’s ring rust. Cole mentioned Cena hadn’t wrestled on a WWE PPV until last night for 500 days while Reigns has had the most dominant run as champion of the modern era.

This match had Cena vs The Rock at Wrestlemania 28 vibes, but this time Cena was playing the role Dwyane Johnson played in 2012, and the champion was playing the role Cena once played. In 2012, The Rock came back to WWE from Hollywood to put an end to the Cena push as the new face of WWE. In 2021, Cena took a page out of Rock’s book and tried to come back from Hollywood to put an end to the push of the “Head of the Table”.

Unfortunately for Cena, he didn’t fully pull a 2012 Rock. While he did come out in a new t-shirt and hat, the Universal Champion dominated most of the match. At one point, it was so bad for Cena that Reigns jumped up on the steel steps and forced the Allegiant Stadium crowd to boo the hell out of him as Cena laid on the outside motionless. Reigns would also take time to look right in the camera multiple times throughout the bout and tell the movie executives that he was going to send a broken Cena back to the Hollywood sets. This was probably Reigns’ best trash-talking effort mid match during his 356 day title reign.

Cena didn’t quit though. He managed to put Reigns in the STF and give the “Tribal Chief” three Attitude Adjustments. The first one came in the middle of the squared circle. The second was through the announce table, and the third was off the top rope. Yet, Reigns wouldn’t die.

Frustrated that he wasn’t able to keep Reigns down for a three count after the Super AA off the top, the leader of the C-Nation mocked Reigns’ spear motion, and it cost him. Reigns would reverse Cena’s attempt at the Spear into two Superman Punches and a Spear of his own for the win. Apparently, Cena didn’t learn his lesson when he got Rock Bottomed at Wrestlemania nine years ago when he attempted to execute the People’s Elbow on the “People’s Champion”.

Reigns would celebrate in the ring, but all of a sudden, a familiar music would ring through Allegiant Stadium. The theme song of… Brock Lesnar!

The fans, Cole and McAfee went insane while Paul Heyman had a horrific look on his face, and the champion was in shock as a ponytailed “Beast Incarnate’’ made his way down to the ring and stared down SmackDown’s biggest star as SummerSlam faded to black.

I really wanted Lesnar to return prior to SummerSlam and challenge Lashley for the WWE Title, but this moment was special, and it made the wait worth it! There’s a legitimate story here with the fact that not only do Reigns and Lesnar have history, but obviously Heyman is also the advocate for Lesnar and now we get to see which side Heyman goes toward. Does he pick ol’ reliable Lesnar or does he choose the future of WWE?! I can’t wait to see how this plays out over the next several months.

Yes, I do think this lasts for several months, possibly Wrestlemania 38 in Dallas at Cowboys Stadium. There’s no way WWE is going to put Reigns vs Lesnar at Extreme Rules. They’re going to milk the tension between Lesnar and Reigns. Maybe they team up for a little bit as well (which would be epic)?!

Besides, Reigns has to finish his rivalry with Balor first.

My last take away from the match between Reigns and Cena is the “Head of the Table’’ pinned the “Doctor of Thuganomics” one, two, three in the middle of the ring with no interference from the Usos or anybody whatsoever. The “Tribal Chief” was dominant, and while I’m upset Cena’s going back to Hollywood after the Madison Square Garden show on Sept. 10, it was a hell of a two month run for Cena. His presence was missed on WWE television the last year and a half, and I can’t wait to see who he feuds with next.

The Man is Champion

Unfortunately, the rumors were correct. Sasha Banks was pulled from the SmackDown Women’s Championship match, but it was weird the way WWE went about the whole situation. They advertised Beliar vs Banks II all the way until the champion hit the ring, and then Greg Hamilton said Banks was unable to compete, and Carmella was replacing her. The crowd was not happy and neither was the EST. Her face just said “Really”? Vegas immediately starting chanting for Becky Lynch and when the “Man” made her way into the arena, Vegas exploded with excitement.

Then, the unthinkable happened. Lynch immediately discarded Carmella, then challenged Beliar for the championship! Beliar — not really knowing what was happening — accepted, thinking she was about to compete in a dream match with Lynch, and the bell rang. Before Beliar even knew it, Lynch punched her in the face, delivered a Manhandle Slam to the EST, pinned her shoulders to the mat, and the woman who was away for 16 months due to being pregnant returned to the ring and won the SmackDown Women’s Championship in the matter of seconds.

Ok then! I thought Lynch would return to the blue brand since her husband Seth Rollins is also there, but I thought she would ease back into the championship picture. Maybe the Banks situation forced WWE to change plans, but the fact is Lynch hasn’t wrestled a true match since Wrestlemania 36, and she is now the MAN (literally) on top of the SmackDown Women’s Division.

Beliar, who on SmackDown Friday said she was sick of being taken advantage of, was rightfully upset. This could lead to a Beliar heel turn, which makes sense. There’s not a ton of legitimate heels on the women’s side on Friday nights, and a heel Beliar could be just what the young lady needs to get her title back. It’ll be interesting to see what happens when Banks comes back. We could see a star-studded triple threat between the three soon.

Rollins got BROOD’ED

In my preview and predictions article, I predicted this match would steal the show, and man, I’m giving myself a pat on the back because I was right! These boys stole the show!

Starting with Edge’s entrance, I knew these boys were going to tear the roof off of the home of the Raiders! Edge came out to his old look when he was with the Brood (sunglasses and everything)! He quickly changed into the “Rated R Superstar”, and then it was go time! These two did everything they possibly could to destroy one another!

Rollins focused on Edge’s surgically repaired neck the whole match, and while Edge took punishment, he refused to let Rollins Curbstomp him, blocking every attempt the “Architect” tried. Edge delivered possibly the best spot of the night when he gave Rollins a swinging neckbreaker from the top rope, a spot that made me cringe watching Edge’s head and neck hit the mat! Edge would follow that up with a Spear to Rollins on the outside that made McAfee say, “HOLY WORDS I CAN’T SAY ON THE COCK”! (LOL!)

The climax of the match occurred when Rollins would go for the Phoenix Splash on Edge, but the “Master Manipulator” moved out of the way and hit the “Drip God” with a Spear. Somehow Rollins kicked out at 2.5! The “Ultimate Opportunist” wouldn’t let that detail him, however. He would lock Rollins in multiple crossfaces and eventually he forced Rollins to tap out with a vicious sleeper hold after slamming his head into the mat like a basketball at least 10 times.

I’ve said it once, but it needs to be said again: Every PPV match Edge has had since he returned at the 2020 Royal Rumble has been fantastic, and I’m not just saying that because he’s my favorite wrestler of all time. The storytelling Edge has done with Randy Orton, Reigns, Daniel Bryan and now Rollins has been out of this world. Edge wasn’t the best wrestler during his initial run before he was forced to retire in 2011, but he made up for it with storytelling. This is a different Edge, and I’m so glad I’m alive to see it! He’s never looked this good in the ring.

Let’s see if these two have another showdown at Extreme Rules because I’m here for it! Edge and Rollins could fight forever, and I wouldn’t complain. That was a masterclass in professional wrestling, folks!

Lashley Dominates Goldberg

After it took FOREVER for OLDBERG to finally get to the ring, the battle of the titans for the WWE Title took place, and OLDBERG must have been listening to the criticism of the internet because he actually did more than two moves in this match! He added a body slam and a mini World’s Strongest Slam! It’s a miracle!

I digress! This match was nothing special and besides a Spear on the outside by OLDBERG, Lashley was never really in trouble. MVP would hit OLDBERG in the back of the knee with his cain with the referee’s back turned, and OLDBERG never recovered. Lashley would lift OLDBERG on his shoulders and throw him into the ring post a few times. Then, he would focus on the knee, decimating it so bad that OLDBERG couldn’t stand, and the referee called for the bell.

Yes, you read that right. Lashley retained the title by referee stoppage. After the referee stopped the match, MVP tossed a steel chair into the ring, and the “All Mighty” would continue targeting OLDBERG’S injured knee. OLDBERG’S son Gage would enter the ring and jump on Lashley’s back, but Lashley ragdolled him into the Hurt Lock, and the 16-year-old passed out in a matter of seconds. MVP grabbed a microphone and told OLDBERG Lashley didn’t know it was Gage, and OLDBERG yelled he was gonna hurt the “All Mighty” to end the segment.

Clearly, this was Vince McMahon’s way of trying to get some sympathy for OLDBERG, but NOBODY bought it. The entire Vegas crowd was CHEERING when Lashley attacked OLDBERG and his son once the official called for the bell. It looks like OLDBERG isn’t going away (sadly), and these two are going to throw down one more time at Extreme Rules.

Here’s to Lashley sending OLDBERG into retirement!

RK-BROOOOOO

RK-BRO kicked off the night by winning the RAW Tag Team Titles in a fun bout which saw Riddle jump on the back of Omos and send him into the ring post as Randy Orton delivered an RKO to the “Phenomenal One”. This match didn’t go as long as I expected, and I am a little disappointed that Omos didn’t get RKO’d, but this was still a great way to kick off SummerSlam and seeing Orton and Riddle do the Orton pose with the belts got a pop out of me!

Later in the night backstage, Riddle said he has a surprise for Orton on RAW Monday, and I hope it’s his own scooter! I can’t wait to see what this duo does with the belts. I’m curious as to who challenges them after Styles and Omos get their rematch because there’s barely any heel teams on RAW. In my SmackDown review Friday, I called for the Alpha Academy to jump to RAW in the draft. We’ll see if it happens.

The Queen is Back on her Throne

Just like I predicted, Charlotte Flair made Nikki A.S.H. tap out to the Figure Eight. The superhero gimmick might have been Nikki’s idea, but it’s not working. The crowd isn’t into it, and they roared when Nikki tapped out.

Everybody may have gotten their little spot in this match, but RAW is the “Queen’s” division now. Hopefully, Flair is done fighting with Nikki and Ripley for now and moves on to a new challenger. I’m sooooooo over Flair and Ripley fighting. Give us something new RAW writing team!

The Usos Defeat The Mysterio’s

I was a little surprised WWE didn’t tease more of the descention between Rey and Dominik by having Dominik eat the pin but maybe this is their way of slowly building towards their split, so I’m willing to wait it out. This match wasn’t as good as their Money in the Bank encounter and maybe that has to do with the fact the two matches before this match were the calm-down matches of the night, so the crowd wasn’t hot at the time, but it was still a good match. Rey kicked out of a Superkick and splash by Jimmy Uso, but he couldn’t survive a double Superkick and another splash.

This feud looks over. Who’s next to step up to the Usos, and in a way, the “Tribal Chief”? The Street Profits come to mind as the only other face team on the blue brand, and those matches could be a lot of fun.

Drew McIntyre Defeats Jinder Mahal

A beatdown is what I expected, and a beatdown is what we got. McIntyre beat the hell of Mahal and Claymored some respect into him. Let’s hope the “Scottish Warrior” moves on to bigger and better things, but I have a feeling he’s in a holding pattern until he gets moved to FOX in the draft.

Damian Priest is United States Champion

A good match between the two that ended when Priest ripped of Sheamus’ protective mask and hit the Reckoning to win his first singles gold in WWE. I just hope his reign is better than the “Celtic Warriors’” was.

Alexa Bliss Defeats Eva Marie

Marie got distracted by Lily. Bliss hit a DDT for the win. DuDrop said the loser of the match was Marie, and then she walked away with Marie’s robe, pissing Marie off.

Will the Fiendish character end for Bliss? Hopefully. As I said in my preview, I miss the “Goddess”.

Big E Defeats Baron Corbin (Kickoff Show)

Big E got his briefcase back (sadly), and Corbin still stinks! I was hoping Corbin would try to get the contract back before Big E beat the hell out of him. Who knows, maybe he still does?!

Other:

• Rick BOOGSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS and King NAKAMURAAAAAAAAAAAAA performed at “halftime” with McAfee. It was one of the best halftime shows in the history of SummerSlam (and maybe the only one)!
• Miz and John Morrison did a segment where they were going to spray people with a giant water gun, but Xavier Woods stole it and sprayed them with it. A fun way to get Miz, Morrison and Woods on the show.

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SummerSlam felt like Wrestlemania this year! It was a great show with a little bit of everything! What a perfect way to end Summer 2021!

GRADE: A