By Wade Keller, PWTorch editor

KELLER'S WWE SUMMERSLAM REPORT
AUGUST 15, 2010
LOS ANGELES, CALIF. AT STAPLES CENTER
LIVE ON PAY-PER-VIEW

-The pre-show pitch men said the very future of WWE is at stake tonight. What's also at stake is your retirement fund as the $10 upcharge to go from standard definition to high definition is a real resentment-builder. It's bad enough they raised the price from $40 to $45, but really it's a $15 raise for those who watch most of their programming in HD and aren't used to paying a premium to get that HD quality for all of their other shows.

-A pre-show vignette aired with scenes of L.A. from above at night. "Change is in the air. It's all around. And tonight it's in here." They zoom into the Staples Center. Then a preview video aired with WWE clips hyping the top matches culminating with a focus on the Nexus invasion. "They must be stopped, but what if they succeed. Ohhh, if they succeed." The narrator sounded over the top.

-Michael Cole, Jerry Lawler, and Matt Striker introduced the show from ringside.

1 -- DOLPH ZIGGLER (w/Vickie Guerrero) vs. KOFI KINGSTON -- WWE IC Title Match

Kingston dove at Ziggler at ringside in the opening seconds, but he missed and landed hard on the floor and against the ring barrier. Vickie pulled Ziggler out of Kofi's path. Vickie pushed the ref to count him out. Cole wondered how Ziggler feels when people tell him he won because of his girlfriend. Lawler said: "If I went to eat a restaurant here in L.A. and Vickie came out to park my car, I'd go eat somewhere else." That was mean. Striker asked if Lawler only dates perfect 10s. Lawler said yes, but also some 11s and 12s. Drew continued on offense in the ring. Lawler and Striker bickered a bit early. Kofi teased a comeback at 5:00 and hit the Boom Drop. Kofi followed with a crossbody, but Ziggler rolled through for a near fall. Kofi small packaged Ziggler for a near fall as the pace really picked up. Ziggler followed up with a two count seconds later. At 6:00 Kingston went for the Trouble in Paradise kick, but Ziggler ducked and applied his signature sleeper. The Nexus Seven ran to the ring and attacked both men. The crowd booed as Nexus tossed Ziggler out of the ring and then surrounded Kingston. Kingston stood, but Nexus swarmed him. Cole was outraged, saying they want to prove their dominance and take control. Striker said this is what Team WWE must endure tonight.

WINNER: No contest in 7:00.

-Wade Barrett said this is a little taste of what they have in store for Team WWE tonight. He said Team WWE is searching for a seventh member, but it isn't going to make a shred of difference to the end result tonight. He said the roster is so divided and segmented with their own agendas and egos, they can't get together long enough to sign a birthday card, much less a cohesive unit like themselves. He said they are the most destructive force in the history of WWE. He reenforced that you're either the Nexus or you're against us.

-Backstage Chris Jericho approached The Miz - Cleveland's favorite hometown athlete - and asked if he just saw the chaos The Nexus just caused. Jericho said he's the only guy on the roster with the talent and uniqueness to help them. Uniqueness? The camera panned over and showed Edge chomping on a Slim Jim. He continued to make the pitch. Miz said he has a lot on his plate - holding up the Money in the Bank briefcase - and he's not sure he's going to make the Nexus a priority, but he'd let them know. He walked away. As Jericho asked Edge what he thought he'd do, Miz walked back and snatched Edge's Slim Jim away from him.

2 -- ALICIA FOX vs. MELINA -- WWE Divas Championship Match

Melina wore a costume befitting a Vegas Showgirl. Striker referenced Alunda Blaze and Bull Nakano as the first women's match at Summerslam in 1994. Lawler asked Striker if he saw the sign that said "Memory Lane is Closed." Cole noted that Melina never lost the title; she vacated it due to injury. Alicia controlled the action for a while as Melina sold a knee injury. At 5:00 Melina made a comeback and let out her signature primal scream and then dove onto Alicia as she leaned over the middle rope. She then face-planted her for the pin. A bit anticlimactic.

WINNER: Melina in 5:00.

STAR RATING: *

-Afterward, Josh Matthews interviewed Melina mid-ring to get her thoughts on her title win. Layla and Michelle McCool interrupted almost immediately with a sarcastic intention to congratulate her. In general the concept of a post-title-win interview is a good one, but they need to do this a few times in a row without immediate interruption to set the tone that title changes are important and the interview wasn't just a set-up for interruption. They entered the ring and Michelle said she had goosebumps all over. Layla said that's cellulite. Michelle said she didn't know what that was. Melina shoved and kicked them when she heard enough insults. LayCool eventually double-teamed Melina and beat her to the ground. Alicia returned to the ring to stomp on Melina, but LayCool knocked her to the floor also, then threw Melina to the floor, also. They danced in celebration. McCool then gave Melina running knee to the side of her head. Melina leaned down and trash-talked her. Cole said that shot might make TMZ or another similar website.

-They showed more scenes of downtown Los Angeles. Then they showed Trace Adkins at ringside. Lawler hyped his album. He looked too cool for school. Marlon Wayans and his family was also shown at ringside. Striker said Michael Clark Duncan was also in attendance.

-Cole recapped the C.M. Punk-Big Show storylines. Striker commented over video clips.

3 -- THE BIG SHOW vs. C.M. PUNK & LUKE GALLOWS & MERCURY (w/Serena)

Lawler said he boxed Leon Spinks once. Show took off his taped fist as evidence that his hand was healed. Cole said that's a psychological advantage for Show. Regarding Serena, Striker said: "She had four adult drinks and made a few friend in 45 minutes; she's my kind of girl." Show easily knocked Mercury and Gallows out of the ring, leaving Punk to battle Show. The L.A. crowd chanted, "C.M. Punk! C.M. Punk!" The announcers had to decide whether to acknowledge the chant. They didn't. Show took Punk to the floor and went for a big slap to Punk's chest, but Punk moved and he hit the ringside steps instead. S.E.S. then triple-teamed Show. Show made a big comeback and let out a huge yell. Punk fired back with a crescent kick to the side of Show's head, then three running knees to the jaw in the corner. Striker wondered if Punk had a stuffed kneepad. Mercury went for the cover, but Show kicked out tossed Mercury out of the ring in the process. Punk jumped back on Show, working over his right hand and arm aggressively. Show lifted Punk onto his shoulders and dropped him over the top rope to the floor into Serena's arms. The retreated to the stage as Show chokeslammed Mercury onto Gallows mid-ring for the win. Cole said Punk had enough of Show.

WINNER: Show in 7:00.

STAR RATING: * -- Nothing special. It told it's story well enough for an undercard match.

-A Slim Jim commercial starring Edge aired.

-Kane slammed a casket shut backstage as he vowed to end Rey Mysterio's very existence. Sheamus walked into the picture. Kane asked what he wanted. Sheamus told him to relax, he just wanted to borrow his casket to drop Randy Orton into it and drive him out of WWE. Kane said no. Sheamus said that's too bad because together they'd be unstoppable. Sheamus said people are calling him the real Red Monster. Sheamus told Kane to stay out of his way. Kane maniacally laughed and said, "I like you. You've got guts. Most of which will be spilt out to the floor if you ever interrupt me again."

-As the announcers talked about the upcoming WWE Title match, The Miz's music played. Miz walked to the ring as the announcers wondered if he was going to announce he was joining Team WWE. Cole implored Miz to do it and do what was right for WWE. Miz said, "So the question is, should I join Team WWE or not?" He asked the crowd what their opinion is. He got a mixed response. He said it's a good thing he couldn't care less what those people think. He said he's the missing link in the chain that will lead Team WWE to victory. Miz said Cena got down on his hands and knees and begged him to join his team. He claimed Cena said, "I am literally the only WWE Superstar who can see him." Bret Hart, a Hall of Famer, said I am the real excellence of execution, that I am the best there is, was, and ever will be." He said Jericho gave him his band CD "Fozzy." "I graciously accepted it, then threw it into the trash," he said. He said John Morrison admitted he is the Jannetty of their former team, "and I am the Shawn Michaels, only better." He said Edge offered him a year's supply of Slim Jims. He said R-Truth wrote him a crappy rap. He said everyone has begged him to join Team WWE except the fans. He said everyone must accept that he is WWE's fastest rising star and only hope. "I am the future," he said. "This face. I am the United States Champion and future WWE Champion." He said the people must realize that. He said his decision is bigger than the Pepsi Challenge or Arnold Schwarzenegger starring in "Terminator V" and even bigger than Lebron James's spectacle on ESPN "which will eventually lead to the Lakers losing the NBA Championship." The crowd booed. He then revealed his answer: "The answer is..." Long pause. "Yes. I will join Team WWE and I will lead them to victory." He said the WWE Universe will not be buzzing about The Nexus or looking up to their hero John Cena. He said they will be admitting to what he has been saying all along: "That I'm The Miz and I'm... " When they tried to finish his catch phrase, he insisted they not finish his catch phrase. He said if they want to speak they will raise their arm and wait to be called on. Until then, he insisted on absolute silence. Very funny. He then finished his catch phrase.

-Lawler said after hearing that tirade, he'd almost rather lose without Miz than win with him. Striker said too much is at stake and they have to accept Miz's help.

4 -- SHEAMUS vs. RANDY ORTON -- WWE Title match

A long video package before the match recapped the feud. Sheamus bragged after pushing Orton into the corner to start the match. Orton followed up with a clothesline out of the corner. Orton clotheslined Sheamus over the top rope to the floor. Cole almost by rote threw to a commercial break. Orton pursued Sheamus at ringside and they fought into the crowd. Sheamus reversed Orton shoulder-first into the ringside steps and took over offense at 5:00. Sheamus controlled for several minutes with some ringside brawling, armbars, and chinlocks. Orton came back with a backbreaker at 11:00 after avoiding a charge into the corner. Orton continued to favor his shoulder. Orton clotheslined Sheamus twice and then hit a snap powerslam to pop the crowd. He showed fire as Cole said he was shifting into a higher gear. Sheamus reversed Orton into the corner and charged shoulder-first, but Orton moved, and Sheamus hit the ringpost. Lawler said both warriors have shoulder problems. Orton superplexed Sheamus and scored a near fall. Sheamus made another comeback at 14:00. He pounded his chest and jumped in place in anticipation of Orton rising to his feet. He went for a big thrust kick, but Orton ducked and Sheamus tumbled to the floor.

Orton pounded the mat as Sheamus returned to the ring. He hit the DDT off the second rope and then played to the crowd some more. The crowd popped and some feared he was going to pop his shoulder out again. He went for the RKO, but Sheamus blocked it. Cole mis-called it and declared that Orton hit it before realizing he didn't. From a certain angle it definitely looked like a typical RKO, but Sheamus did push him off. Sheamus went for a quick pin and got a near fall. He set up the High Cross, but Orton escaped. Orton went for an RKO again, but Sheamus escaped and thrust kick him in the face. Orton kicked out. Sheamus threw a fit as Lawler exclaimed, "What?! How did Randy Orton survive that?"

Sheamus grabbed a chair from ringside as Lawler wondered if Sheamus wondered if he beat Orton. The ref tried to yank the chair from Sheamus. Sheamus yanked it back and sent the ref tumbling to the floor. The ref called for the bell and DQ'd Sheamus. Sheamus smiled.

WINNER: Orton via DQ in 18:00.

STAR RATING: **3/4

-Afterward Sheamus held the chair and waited for Orton to stand. Orton ducked a swing and kicked Sheamus between his legs. Orton then picked up the chair. He yanked Sheamus to the floor, cleared the announce table, and then set up Sheamusf for a RKO on the table. The table didn't collapse. Sheamus tumbled to the floor as Orton huffed and puffed.

-A commercial aired for John Cena's upcoming movie.

-They showed Devon Graye from "Legendary" at ringside.

-The announcers thanked Jet for the "Rip It Up" theme song for Summerslam. Sounds like they're influenced by Supergrass on that song.

-This is definitely building toward at best, a one-match show. The main event better be good as this has been mediocre throughout so far.

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5 -- KANE vs. REY MYSTERIO -- World Title Match

Rey, as he usually does, outmaneuvered and out-quicked Kane in the opening minutes to gain an early advantage. Kane regrouped at ringside, but Rey leaped off the ring apron onto Kane. Back in the ring Kane knocked Rey off the top rope and Rey took a dangerous head-first tumble to the mat. He the whipped Rey into the corner post and slidekicked to add more force. Kane rammed Rey back-first into the ringpost and then into the ring. Kane went on sustained offense until 8:00. Rey flew at Kane off the top rope using his head as a battering ram. Cool move. Kane came back with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Rey went for a hurcanrana off the top rope, but Kane held position and Rey tumbled to the mat. Kane flew off the top rope at Rey, but Rey moved. Rey charged at Kane and hit a modified Slop Drop, as ID'd by Striker. Rey looked at the casket at ringside, then climbed to the top and dove at Kane with a seated senton. Kane moved and then lifted Rey. Rey countered with a tilt-a-whirl DDT for a near fall. At 13:00 Rey set up the 619 three times, and on the third try he hit the 619. He followed with a top rope move, but Kane lifted his boot. Kane countered and avoided Kane's boot and then went for a leverage pin for a believable near fall. Kane gave Rey a big boot. Cole said that may be it for Rey's rally. Kane chokeslammed Rey and scored the pin clean.

WINNER: Kane in 14:00.

STAR RATING: ***1/4 -- Actually the best match of the night so far. The clean finish is refreshing, and the action was the most energized and dynamic of the night, which is really saying something about this night so far for a match with Kane involved.

-Kane then told Rey he is going to make Rey pay for what he did to his brother, the Undertaker. He opened the casket and bent over to grab Rey. Rey kicked Kane in self-defense. Kane chokeslammed Rey again, held on, and chokeslammed him a second time in a row. Then executed a Tombstone. When Kane opened the casket again, inside was the Undertaker. "The Dead Man is back!" exclaimed Striker. Taker stood and entered the ring slowly as Kane stepped back in disbelief and fear. Kane blinked nervously and then tried to charm Taker. Taker bent down and looked at Rey in the corner. "Have you ever heard of an eye-for-an-eye and a tooth-for-a-tooth? Before I make things right, why, why'd you do it Rey?" Rey swore his innocence. Taker said, "I believe you." He grabbed Rey by his throat and lifted him to his feet.

Kane smiled from mid-ring, anticipating Taker chokeslamming Rey. Instead, Taker made the throat-slice gesture and turned to Kane. The crowd popped. Kane gulped and shook his head no nervously. He pointed at Kane, grabbed his throat, and held him. Striker said he is guilty as charged. Kane grabbed Taker's throat in return. Kane overpowered Taker and then gave him a Tombstone. Striker said Taker is weakened from being in a vegetative state. Striker said, "The Brothers of Destruction are no more." This show needed something newsworthy as the first two hour hours felt like a below-average off-brand PPV. Lawler said we now know who attacked Undertaker, but now the question is why. Striker said it was all about the WWE Championship.

-A commercial aired hyping Smackdown moving to SyFy. The motto "Unleash Imagination" was cited as Rey swung around the ringpost and hit Cody Rhodes with a swinging kick. They also featured Kofi Kingston in the ad. They used cool special effects that definitely caught my eye with cool background music that's different from the harder rock songs that have dominated WWE's themes for 15 years. It'd be refreshing if Smackdown's intro theme broke from that just for the sake of change.

-A video package aired on the Summerslam Week festivities in Los Angeles including Fan Axxess.

6 -- TEAM WWE vs. THE NEXUS

The Nexus came out first. Then John Cena, John Morrison, R-Truth, Bret Hart, Chris Jericho, and Edge. When Miz's music played, Cena said not so fast, they couldn't wait for his answer, and the seventh member of their team is Daniel Bryan. A moderate crowd pop followed as Bryan walked out. Cole threw a fit and said he can't be trusted. Striker agreed that's a risk, but said "The American Dragon" had returned.

The match began 21 minutes into the third hour of the PPV. Danielson vs. Darren Young started the match. Striker said, "Welcome to the big time," noting they were headlining Summersam. Cole said Bryan is a ten year veteran of the minor leagues and "apparently" has wrestled on multiple continents. Bryan made Young tap out in the opening seconds. Jericho and Justin Gabriel battled next. At 2:00 Michael Tarver and Truth tagged in. Tarver threw a barrage of punches at Truth, but then caught a boot to the face charging the corner. Morrison tagged in and attacked Tarver with rapid-fire offense. Morrison hit the Starship Pain for the win. That made it a 7-5 advantage for Team WWE.

Wade Barrett gave the remaining teammates a pep talk at ringside. Skip Sheffield said he could fix things. He entered the ring and overpowered Morrison. Striker ridiculously prematurely said he sensed a momentum change. Cole wisely disagreed and said the Nexus need to eliminate someone before that happens. Cole touted that 17,463 were watching live at Staples Center. The crow chanted "We Want Bret." At 7:00 Morrison began a comeback, but Gabriel kicked Morrison in the back of his head from the ring, which gave Sheffield a chance to surprise Morrison with a clothesline and score the pin. It became 6-5. Truth tagged in, but Sheffield nailed him with a quick clothesline for the instant pin.

Even at 5-5, Sheffield looked to his corner for approval. Jericho entered and hit Sheffield from the side and backed him into the corner. Sheffield reversed Jericho into the corner and then pressed and slammed Jericho. Wade Barrett finally tagged in and battled his former mentor, Jericho. At 10:00 Jericho crawled over and tagged in Bret Hart. The crowd popped. Bret punched away at Heath Slater, who also had just tagged in. Bret pounded on Slater in the corner and then rubbed his face against the top rope Mad Dog Vachon style. Bret punched Slater in the gut, then dropped an elbow to the back of his neck. He followed with a bodyslam and an elbow drop and an inverted atomic drop. He then dropped Slater with a right punch and applied the Sharpshooter. Someone slid a chair into the ring. Bret used it against Sheffield. The ref DQ'd Bret. Bret protested since Barrett slid it into the ring. The announcers argued the merits of the DQ given the circumstances. Since Bret is so limited, it makes sense they'd limit him to offense and not any selling.

Bret slapped hands on his way to the back as Jericho stalked Sheffield. He hit a Code Breaker and then tagged in Edge. Edge played to the crowd, a throwback to... well, early 2010. The crowd reacted with a mix of cheers and boos. He hit Sheffield with a spear for the pin. "We are all even 4-4!" exclaimed Cole.

Edge hit a charging Gabriel with a boot to the chin. Lawler said this is a great match. Cole acknowledged that it seemed momentum had shifted in Team WWE's favor. Gabriel fought back against Edge and tagged in a fresh Slater. Barrett kicked Edge in the head on the ring apron. Slater kicked Edge to the floor. As Barrett beat on Edge, Striker noted that Cena had yet to be in the contest. Is Cena going to turn heel here? The guy who doesn't tag into a match in these situations is usually the mole. I don't think there's a chance, but the stage is set. Edge battled David Otunga next and planted him with a DDT. Cena reached for a tag, but Edge tagged Jericho instead. Cena seemed a little upset. Jericho hit an actual decent looking Lionsault, then he played to the crowd. He put Otunga in the Walls of Jericho and got a tapout. That gave Team WWE a 4-3 advantage. Jericho went after Slater at ringside next. A chant of "Y2J! Y2J!" broke out. Jericho played to the crowd, then charged at Slater. Slater moved and Jericho knocked Cena off the ring apron. Cena looked upset. Slater caught Jericho from behind and scored a pin to make it 3-3.

Edge told Cena to calm down. As they argued, Daniel pleaded with them to make peace. Slater then schoolboyed Edge from behind. Edge then intentionally speared Cena right off the ring apron. Jericho and Edge attacked Cena at ringside, then walked to the back. Daniel checked on Cena at ringside. Slater yelled at Daniel to get Cena into the ring. Daniel threw Cena into the ring. Cole said nobody wanted to listen to him, but Miz should have been Team WWE's choice. He called Daniel a "twerp." (I'm not sure in 23 years of covering pro wrestling I've ever typed "twerp" before as part of my job.) Barrett beat up Cena, the legal man, as Bryan looked on nervously from the ring apron. Cole got increasingly agitated with the circumstances and called Bryan more demeaning names. He said it'll take Nexus all of 30 seconds to finish of Bryan, so for now they're concentrating on Cena.

Barrett thwarted a Cena comeback with a clothesline, then tagged in Gabriel. Striker said, "Look at everyone standing in the Staples Center." Some sections were standing, some weren't. As Barrett tagged in against Cena again, the crowd alternated between "Let's Go Cena" and "Cena Sucks." Barrett side-slammed Cena. Who would have thought a year ago the final minutes of Summerslam would feature four of these five wrestlers (Bryan, Gabriel, Slater, Barrett). Cena reached to tag Bryan, but Slater cut him off. The crowd quieted as the pace slowed with a methodical Cena beatdown. Bryan tried to rally the crowd, although they didn't respond all that well. Cena finally hot-tagged Bryan at 27:00. He hit Slater with a running dropkick. Striker called for Cattle Mutilation. Bran attacked Slater and let out a yell. He bakflipped over a charging Slater and then hit a running forearm. Slater bailed out to ringside. Brian dove through the ropes and tackled Slater, although he caught his heel on the top rope which slowed him a bit. A "Daniel Bran" chant began. He hit a missile dropkick on Slater, then dropkicked both Barrett and Gabriel off the ring apron. He was winning over the fans who didn't know him. Slater ducked a kick and went for a schoolboy, but Bryan kicked out. Bryan shifted into a crossface and got a tapout win, making it 2-2.

As Bryan awaited a new Nexus member to enter, Miz hit Bryan from behind with the Money in the Bank briefcase. The ref was checking on Slater and didn't see it. Barrett made the pin at 29:00. Gabriel entered against Cena. Cena rallied against Gabriel and signaled for the "You Can't See Me" routine. He waved hi shand and dropped a Five Knuckle Shuffle. When he lifted Gabriel for an Attitude Adjustmet, Barrett tagged Barrett's back to make himself official in the match. Barrett attacked Cena and pounded on him. Barrett and Gabriel took Cena to ringside. They cleared the mats of the floor and then Barrett DDT'd Cena on the cement. Barrett winced as he got up, then rolled Cena into the ring. The crowd fell silent as the odds seemed stacked against Cena. Barrett tagged in Gabriel so he could hit his 450 splash. Cena moved and covered Gabriel for the win. That made it 1 on 1.

Barrett quickly entered. Cena surprised Barrett with an STF. Barrett had nowhere to go mid-ring. He thought about it and tapped out. Striker declared victory and said it's time to party tonight.

WINNER: Team WWE in 34:00.

STAR RATING: **** -- Good main-event worthy PPV main event. It's surprising to see Team WWE prevail over Nexus in their first big PPV match. There must be something planned for Nexus to get their heat back.

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