WWE Summerslam PPV Results
August 18, 2013
Los Angeles, Calif.
Report by James Caldwell (@JCTorch), PWTorch assistant editor

The live one-hour pre-show started with a shot of an empty arena inside Staples Center as people began filling in.

At the NBA on TNT in-arena studio, Josh Mathews welcomed in the "Bearded Sportsman" Shawn Michaels, Booker T, and Vickie Guerrero. Michaels said he's most looking forward to Daniel Bryan challenging John Cena for the WWE Title, Booker T said the match he's most looking forward to Kane vs. Bray Wyatt, and SD GM Vickie said she's most looking forward to Alberto Del Rio vs. Christian for the World Title. Since she's the Smackdown GM, rubbing it in Booker's face. But, Booker no-sold.

To set up the Summerslam Pre-Show match, Josh Mathews recapped the set-up for Dean Ambrose vs. Rob Van Dam for the U.S. Title tonight.

To the Summerslam Lounge, where Renee Young plugged WWE's Summerslam social media push tonight.

Video Package: Paul Heyman, C.M. Punk, and Brock Lesnar.

Back to the NBA on TNT studio, Josh Mathews welcomed in Paul Heyman from the "locker room area." Heyman shot down the "David vs. Goliath" analogy for C.M. Punk vs. Brock Lesnar, then presented his own version that Lesnar will take Punk's best shot and lay waste to Punk to where Punk will never be seen again. Heyman then said both parties have agreed to a No DQ stipulation for tonight's match. Back to the studio, Mathews asked the panelists how the No DQ stipulation affects the match tonight.

Earlier Today: Tony Dawson interviewed two fans from Northern Ireland. Back live in the arena, WWE showed various fans filing into Staples Center, then WWE ran a hype video for "Total Divas."

Back to the Summerslam Lounge, Renee Young read off some Summerslam tweets following Bruce Mitchell's Rules For Having Your Tweets Or Touts Read On The Air.

Back to the Studio, where Josh Mathews fed to a video package documenting how WWE arrived at Cena vs. Bryan for the WWE Title tonight. Included were all of the negative adjectives used to describe Bryan during the PPV build-up. Still not clear is why Mr. McMahon doesn't want John Cena to be WWE champion.

Back to the Studio, Shawn Michaels talked up Daniel Bryan and Bryan's chances of winning the WWE Title tonight. Vickie said it's time for a new star on-top, then Booker T noted Cena has made a ton of money. "He's spoiled," Vickie said. Booker asked rhetorically if Cena is still hungry enough to keep himself on top, to which Michaels responded that Cena has earned everything he has earned in WWE. Cena said when you're on top of the mountain, everyone wants to knock you down. Booker added that Cena might be worn out from being on top for so long.

Earlier Today: Tony Dawson caught up with two fans at Summerslam from Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

Live in the arena, Michael Cole, Jerry Lawler, and JBL were shown sitting ringside half-hour into the pre-show. The trio broke down the main PPV card before they were interrupted by The Shield's music. Up in the concourse area, U.S. champion Dean Ambrose emerged alone. Ambrose, wearing a black Under Armour-style cut-off shirt instead of Shield's traditional flak jacket, hit the ring to loud cheers from the vocal males.

Rob Van Dam was then introduced to a loud cheer from his home-area crowd. After some posturing in the ring, the bell sounded to begin the U.S. Title match.

A -- U.S. champion DEAN AMBROSE vs. ROB VAN DAM -- U.S. Title match

The vocal males who filled up the arena at 4:30 p.m. local time were buzzing early on for this match. Ambrose and RVD did some posturing to set the tone for the match as JBL brought up Shield taking out The Undertaker a few months ago. RVD delivered some hard corner shots, but Ambrose fired back with a big boot to the face that put Van Dam on the defensive.

RVD tried to come back at 5:30 with a split-legged moonsault, but Ambrose got his knees up to block. Ambrose followed with a hard knock-down clothesline, but he only scored a two count on a pin. RVD came back with a Five-Star Frogsplash tease, but Shield's music suddenly played. Apparently the Shield Sympathizer in the Production Truck was in communication with Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns, who appeared through the crowd and came to ringside.

As RVD tried to figure out the situation, Mark Henry's music played to bring out Henry. Big Show also showed up to back up Henry. Shield regrouped on the outside before WWE cut to a "mid-match commercial."

[Break. WWE ran a "WWE 2K14" video game spot focusing on the Ultimate Warrior. Also highlighted was the Punk-Lesnar match tonight.]

Back to the pre-show match, Ambrose and RVD continued their match in the ring. Ambrose chucked RVD to the floor, drawing the outside participants to stand next to RVD, who recovered in the middle of the crowd. Ambrose then left the ring, yelled at Show and Henry, and took a suplex from RVD, who reversed. RVD then placed Ambrose on the guardrail and delivered a roundhouse leg smash from the ring apron.

Back in the ring, RVD wanted Rolling Thunder, but Reigns distracted him from the outside. It allowed Ambrose to regain control of the match. Ambrose wanted a top-rope move, but RVD moved and Ambrose crashed to the mat. RVD then wanted a Five-Star, but Rollins hopped on the ring apron to provide a distraction. Ambrose tried to follow with a roll-up, but RVD kicked out.

At 13:00, Ambrose and Van Dam traded bombs, then RVD delivered Rolling Thunder. RVD again wanted the Five-Star, and he connected center-ring. RVD tried to make the pin, but Reigns hit the ring and speared the heck out of RVD to cause a DQ. Afterward, the faces chased Shield out of the ring. Shield bailed through the crowd to the outside and taunted RVD, who recovered in the ring with Show and Henry.

WINNER: RVD via DQ at 13:38; Ambrose retained the U.S. Title. Solid pre-show match. But, Ambrose wasn't going to drop the title, so WWE went for a cheap finish route as Shield shifts more into a cowardly heel role.

Studio Panel: Booker T sold frustration with the outcome of the match. Michaels echoed Booker's comments, then Vickie plugged Smackdown as another opportunity for RVD to get his hands on The Shield.

Back to the Social Media Lounge, Renee Young plugged some Touts. All of the Touts were from people outside of Summerslam in Los Angeles.

Back live in the arena, WWE showed WWE's production team setting up the Ring of Fire match to begin the Summerslam PPV. Michael Cole confirmed PWTorch specialist Ben Tucker's report that the Fire Marshal has requested WWE push back fans on the floor seats for safety reasons.

After a video package documented the Kane vs. Bray Wyatt Ring of Fire match, WWE cut to a live shot of the fire whipping around the ringside area. A good visual on the free pre-show to try to entice PPV buys. Suddenly, the flames whipped. Michael Cole exclaimed: "That is warm!" underplaying the temperature. The pre-show signed off with flames circling the ring.

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