The Rundown Slam: WWE SummerSlam 2023

08/18/2023 03:10:15 PM

Banner photo from WWE.com; obtained via Bleacher Report.

It's been close to three weeks since the Biggest Party of the Summer took place at the Motor City, and some of my friends would actually say this year's SummerSlam was even bigger than its WrestleMania counterpart.

But did it, really?

The Rundown Slam: WWE SummerSlam 2021

09/05/2021 05:43:15 PM

It's now a love triangle-like affair between Roman Reigns and Brock Lesnar, with Paul Heyman as the subject of the line. (Photo from WWE.com; obtained via Forbes)

WWE's biggest event of the summer just got bigger as they staged SummerSlam at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. Some remarked SummerSlam has become even more significant than this year's WrestleMania (yes, despite the latter being a two-day event).

The (Various) SummerSlam Watching Experience

08/22/2020 01:59:52 AM

It's a Holiday Monday in August 2017. My cab ride from my place in Marikina to BGC lasted for 20 minutes – faster by a whopping 55 percent compared to the usual travel time. As the clock ticked 6:21 AM, I rushed my way up to the second floor of Skinny Mike's Sports Bar and grabbed my ticket as the World Wrestling Entertainment's annual summer party is about to explode right before our very eyes.  

The Rundown Slam: WWE SummerSlam 2017

08/28/2017 10:43:45 PM

As part of the World Wrestling Entertainmet's big four, SummerSlam, dubbed as the “biggest party of the Summer” didn't turn out spectacular as they should've been. Just like the past three years, the set-up was nothing but an inch-higher than their usual PPV stages.

And worst: no pyros; probably one of the signs that this promotion has been on a 'cutting cost' phase and that includes axing some of their original WWE network programs. 

Luckily for us in Manila, though, this show falls on a holiday (Monday morning) so a lot actually had a great time on having this wrestling fix on either their respective homes or on that viewing party held at Skinny Mike's in BGC, Taguig City.

The Pre-take: WWE SummerSlam 2017 (Part 3)

08/20/2017 09:55:25 PM

Photo credit: WhatCultureWrestling

We may have been hours away from witnessing the second's biggest WWE pay-per-view event, the one they called “the biggest party of the summer,” and coinciding with an all-heavy music fetsival in the Philippines.

The 31st edition of SummerSlam is poised to take off on Sunday evening at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York (Monday morning Philippine time), their third-straight tiume in staging the event at the said venue.  And for over the decade, SummerSlam were only situated in two venues: Barclays Center and Staples Center in Los Angeles, California.

The Pre-take: WWE SummerSlam 2017 (Part 2)

08/20/17 09:55:25 PM

Photo credit: WhatCultureWrestling

We may have been hours away from witnessing the second's biggest WWE pay-per-view event, the one they called “the biggest party of the summer,” and coinciding with an all-heavy music fetsival in the Philippines.

The 31st edition of SummerSlam is poised to take off on Sunday evening at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York (Monday morning Philippine time), their third-straight tiume in staging the event at the said venue.  And for over the decade, SummerSlam were only situated in two venues: Barclays Center and Staples Center in Los Angeles, California.

The Pre-take: WWE SummerSlam 2017 (Part 1)

08/20/2017 09:55:25 PM

Photo credits: WhatCultureWrestling

We may have been hours away from witnessing the second's biggest WWE pay-per-view event, the one they called “the biggest party of the summer,” and coinciding with an all-heavy music fetsival in the Philippines.

The 31st edition of SummerSlam is poised to take off on Sunday evening at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York (Monday morning Philippine time), their third-straight tiume in staging the event at the said venue.  And for over the decade, SummerSlam were only situated in two venues: Barclay Center and Staples Center in Los Angeles, California.

The Rundown Slam: WWE SummerSlam 2016 (Part 4)

08/29/2016 05:04:17 PM

It's funny that the 6-tag team match for the women's division of SmackDown took place after the WWE World Championship match. It served like another bathroom break for those observers. While on the other hand, that's actually shows that the women were given a chance. Hence, placing them at the top of the SmackDown cards for SummerSlam made it appear like another result of those #GiveDivasAChance tweets. (Well, sorry, make it #GiveSmackDownWomenAChance.)

The Rundown Slam: WWE SummerSlam 2016 (Part 3)

08/29/2016 04:06:09 PM

I think the SummerSlam main event came too early when John Cena wrestled AJ Styles. Just too bad if you're a fan of the former, the SS losing skid continues for the Cenation leader. And I think he had done a great job of raising Styles' stock much further. 

The Rundown Slam: WWE SummerSlam 2016 (Part 1)

08/29/2016 02:06:22 PM

This might be one-week late or something, but as they say “it's better late than never.” that being said, here's my take on what just happened at the World Wrestling Entertainment's (WWE) 29th annual biggest party of the summer, SummerSlam!

So, things moved like the way WWE has been planning WrestleMania before, eh? There's a week of festivity that showcased them a three-night treat of live showmanship called NXT TakeOver Brooklyn II (Saturday), WWE SummerSlam (Sunday), and Monday Night RAW – all held at the Barclay's Center in New York City.

The Pre-Take: WWE SummerSlam 2016 - Beast vs. Viper

08/22/2016 07:21:44 AM

Photo credit: heavy.com

Brock Lesnar and Rany Orton. Fifteen years in the making. And after their first ever tussle in that SmackDown episode, things have shifted to a higher new gear. Barely a decade after becoming the youngest champions in the WWE, here they are: one is a former heavyweight champ in both WWE and UFC, the one they called the most decorated athlete in combat sports history; and another one is a hardworking star veteran in the WWE, earning both the WWE and World Heavyweight titles for 12 times. 

The Pre-take: WWE SummerSlam 2016 - Rollins vs. Balor (WWE Universal Championship)

08/22/2016 01:48:36 AM

It's a new era, and therefore it means a new championship for the WWE's flagship program Monday Night RAW. Since then, RAW Commissioner Stephanie McMahon and General Manager Mick Foley unleashed their new title that will represent the red brand – the WWE Universal Championship. 

Sounds pun, but it's really not. And while the first overall draft pick got the instant contender shot, the other one has to climb the way to success.

The Pre-Take: WWE SummerSlam 2016 - Ziggler vs. Ambrose (WWE World Championship)

08/22/2016 12:53:44 AM

Photo credits: Twitter

Perhaps it was kinda surprising to see Dolph Ziggler once again emerged into the major title picture of the WWE right now, eh?

Look: the former world champion has been away from the limelight for over two years and has barely made it to the main event scene of any pay-per-view gig. 

The Pre-Take: WWE SummerSlam 2016 (Part 2)

08/21/2016 11:45:09 PM

Photo credits: heavy.com

Looks like the World Wrestling Entertainment has been really serious in building SummerSlam as its second biggest show of the year, eh? Look at this: 13 matches in all, with ten of them happening at the four-hour main broadcast. Three main event matches: one that has been hyped despite controversies, and two title matches representing RAW and SmackDown brands.

Hey, it's even bigger than WrestleMania 32. And expect the live venue crowd's not large in numbers since it will be slated at the Barclays Center though we hope they will roll on a different stage design unlike the so-totally-generic ones they had for the past two years.

The Pre-take: WWE SummerSlam 2016 (Part 1)

08/21/2016 10:34:54 PM

SummerSlam banner (Photo credit: WWE)

Looks like the World Wrestling Entertainment has been really serious in building SummerSlam as its second biggest show of the year, eh? Look at this: 13 matches in all, with ten of them happening at the four-hour main broadcast. Three main event matches: one that has been hyped despite controversies, and two title matches representing RAW and SmackDown brands.

Hey, it's even bigger than WrestleMania 32. And expect the live venue crowd's not large in numbers since it will be slated at the Barclays Center though we hope they will roll on a different stage design unlike the so-totally-generic ones they had for the past two years.

The Pre-take: WWE SummerSlam 2016 (Pre-show)

08/21/2016 08:48:34 PM

SummerSlam 2016 banner (photo credit: heavy.com)

Looks like the World Wrestling Entertainment has been really serious in building SummerSlam as its second biggest show of the year, eh? Look at this: 13 matches in all, with ten of them happening at the four-hour main broadcast. Three main event matches: one that has been hyped despite controversies, and two title matches representing RAW and SmackDown brands.

Hey, it's even bigger than WrestleMania 32. And expect the live venue crowd's not large in numbers since it will be slated at the Barclays Center though we hope they will roll on a different stage design unlike the so-totally-generic ones they had for the past two years.

The Rundown Slam: WWE SummerSlam 2015

8/31/2015 6:16:56 PM

PWMania.com

Say, SummerSlam just got better, as what the World Wrestling Entertainment claimed a few weeks ago? Well, they had packed cards (10 matches to be exact) on their four-hour schedule; ditching the preshow with mostly talks and bunch of trashtalks in the process. Perhaps they are telling a narrative prior to the game itself—in such a typical manner.

The Rundown Slam: WWE SummerSlam 2014

8/19/2014 4:41:28 PM

Devianart / Facebook

It’s the 27th annual summer tradition in the pro wrestling world once again, as the World Wrestling Entertainment staged their sixth straight (and final of the stretch) SummerSlam at Los Angeles Sunday evening (Monday morning Manila time).

A nine-card pay-per-view event was said to be the best so far in 2014, according to several fans and observers. Well, I beg to disagree even though I gave a high rating for this one, too. If you wanna know why, let me tell you the story as you go along with this post.

The Pre-Take: WWE SummerSlam 2014

8/17/2014 3:57:27 PM

So, since I just put my hands on which side will prevail on John Cena and Brock Lesnar feud for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship, might as well give my take on the upcoming pay-per-view itself, SummerSlam!

Yes, the next biggest pay-per-view offering after Wrestlemania.

Blockbuster cards are expected to pile up patrons inside the Staples Center in Los Angeles for the sixth straight time. However, some fans have been sickening of SummerSlam considering the outcome last year.

Nah, I might foresee another “shades of SS ’13” here in case.

The Pre-Take: Champ Vs. Beast

8/10/2014 11:44:02 AM

This is one rhetorical question that is plaguing my mind right now: Is the Champion-versus-Beast match “best for business”?

Photo credits: YouTube

Yes, since Plan A was not working at all (for almost all times, perennial authority pet Randy Orton just have been ambushed by Roman Reigns when it comes to title hopes), and since Plan B has yet to occur (Seth Rollins may have been holding the Money in the Bank, but former ally and friend Dean Ambrose has been standing on his way), the Authority unleashed its dangerous resort ­­—and that’s Plan C for you: Brock Lesnar challenges the current WWE World Heavyweight title-holder John Cena in the World Wrestling Entertainment’s biggest summer extravaganza SummerSlam this Sunday evening, August 17 (Monday morning, August 18, Manila time). And yes, it’s for that prized championship.