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

Still to come: Cena vs. Bryan for the WWE Title and the mixed tag match.

Hour Three Results

In-ring: Dolph Ziggler's music brought out Ziggler and Kaitlyn for the mixed tag buffer match in-between Punk-Lesnar and the WWE Title match. A.J. Lee, then Big E. Langston came out as the opposition for the Match That Doesn't Matter Since The Heels Got Their Comeuppance From The Oddities On Raw.

6 -- DOLPH ZIGGLER & KAITLYN vs. BIG E. LANGSTON & Divas champion A.J. LEE -- mixed tag match

Ziggler and Big E. quickly got at it, not wasting any time getting the match started. Big E. dominated early, but Ziggler fought back with a dropkick before tagging in Kaitlyn. This brought in A.J. Lee, who dominated Kaitlyn. WWE cut to a shot of the Doritos Jacked winner munching on some Doritos while sitting in front of the announce table.

Ziggler finally re-entered and delivered the Ten Elbows to Big E.'s chest for a two count. Ziggler then walked into a shoulderbreaker across Big E.'s knee for a two count when Kaitlyn broke up the pin. This brought over A.J. to dropkick Kaitlyn out of the ring. Chaos broke out in and out of the ring, then Big E. scored a nearfall with a hard clothesline to Ziggler.

Big E. dropped the strap to set up for the Big Ending, but Ziggler slipped out and nailed the Zig-Zag. Ziggler covered and it was good for the pin and the win. Cole said they got a little bit of revenge on A.J. and Big E. tonight.

WINNERS: Ziggler & Kaitlyn at 6:45. Team Zigs had to get this win after Natalya & Khali beat A.J. & Big E. Monday on Raw. But, Kaitlyn remains on the chase for A.J. since Ziggler got the pin in this match.

After the match, the next WWE 2K14 video game plug spotlighted The Rock.

Backstage: The Miz tried to recap the event, but Fandango's music interrupted again. Fandango tried to introduce himself, but Miz left-arm clotheslined him. Miz then paraded over Fandango to close the bit.

Announcers: Cole reset the show before showing some actor ringside. Apparently the guy is an actor in "Christmas Bounty," which stars Miz and premieres November 26 on ABC Family.

Studio: Back to Mathews and Co. to hype the WWE Title main event up next. Shawn Michaels said he's picking Daniel Bryan for the WWE Title tonight, Booker wants to know if Cena is still hungry, and Vickie backed Bryan. Michaels thanked Lesnar and Punk for their effort tonight before Mathews fed to a hype video for Cena vs. Bryan with Triple H as special referee.

Back live in the arena, Justin Roberts introduced the referee for the main event, Triple H. A subdued Hunter walked to the ring and tossed his trademark water bottle into the crowd before taking his place in the ring. Hunter, wearing cargo pants and DX combat boots, surveyed the arena before Daniel Bryan's music suddenly played. The crowd erupted in loud "Yes!" chants as Bryan smiled on-stage. Bryan then marched down to the ring and smiled once he hit the ringside area. JBL asked if tonight is Bryan's night before the crowd burst into loud boos anticipating John Cena's arrival.

After a pause, Cena's music played to loud boos mixed with Cena Fans cheering. On-stage, Cena surveyed the Summerslam logo on the stage before soaking in the crowd. Cena, sporting a heavy left elbow pad to cover his injury, marched down to the ring. Cena favored his left elbow doing his entrance routine before staring down Bryan and completing his entrance.

Once everyone was assembled, Roberts handled formal ring intros as Hunter stood in the corner. Loud cheers for Bryan, then loud boos for Cena, who smirked to the hard camera in acknowledgement of the crowd reception. The bell sounded at 10:18 p.m. EST, giving them plenty of time for whatever is set to play out. And, the Big Question: What are their girlfriends thinking right now? Total Divas Moment out of the way.

7 -- WWE champion JOHN CENA vs. DANIEL BRYAN -- WWE Title match -- Triple H special referee

Cena and Bryan started things off with a feeling-out process as Cole drew attention to Cena's left elbow injury. Cole then drew attention to the deal of Bryan being the wrestler and Cena being the entertainer in the match build-up. On cue, the crowd chanted, "You Can't Wrestle," which led to Cena asking if they were talking to him or Bryan. Cena followed with a takedown into a monkey flip, which Bryan reversed before flipping Cena across the ring. Bryan teased the No! Lock, but Cena slipped out of the ring to avoid. Cena then walked over to the ringside doctor to have a chat. Lawler got the word from Dr. Amman that Cena told Dr. Amman that his elbow is fine, drawing a chuckle from Lawler.

Back in the ring at 3:00, Cena applied a headlock before taking Bryan down to the mat. Bryan fought out, then Cena knocked Bryan to the ring apron before bouncing him hard off the apron into the announce table. Bryan sold pain on the floor, then Cena tried to follow up, but Bryan reversed a whip that sent Cena shoulder-first into the ring steps. Bryan wanted to capitalize with a suplex off the ring steps, but Cena blocked and suplexed Bryan off the ring steps to the padded floor below.

Back in the ring, Cena covered Bryan for a two count, as administered by Triple H. Cena stood up and adjusted his elbow pad before measuring Bryan for follow-up right hand strikes. Cena whipped Bryan hard into the corner turnbuckle before delivering a hard powerbomb for a close two count. Cena checked with Hunter on his count before slapping on a reverse chinlock.

Bryan fought out of the chinlock before driving Cena into the corner for consecutive Yes! kick strikes. The crowd got behind Bryan, who started to feel it, but Cena ducked a roundhouse kick and dropped Bryan to the mat. Cena then did the You Can't See Me handwave, but Bryan kicked him in the shoulder to block the Five Knuckle Shuffle. The two men countered each other before Cena hit a sit-out slam into the Shuffle.

At 10:00, Cena wanted the Attitude Adjustment, but Bryan countered into a kick to the head. Bryan then came off the top with a missile dropkick for a two count from Triple H. The two men reset and the camera focused on a shiner forming around Cena's left eye. Bryan then kicked Cena in the arm/injured elbow area. Bryan demanded Cena get up, then he kicked him again. Cena cried out in pain as Cole quietly said Cena is hurt.

Bryan began targeting the elbow as Triple H checked on Cena. Another kick strike from Bryan. And another. Cena tried to come back with the STF, but Bryan countered into the Yes! Lock. The crowd didn't buy this as a potential finish, though, and Bryan flowed into a German Suplex for a nearfall. And a second German for a nearfall. Cena blocked a third German and lifted Bryan into the air for the AA, but Bryan blocked and slid into the No! Lock. Cena managed to slide underneath Bryan's grip, but Bryan jumped on Cena with a front-face submission. Cena collapsed to the mat to sell the hold, but then powered to his feet and rammed Bryan into the corner looking for an escape route before ultimately suplexing Bryan onto the corner turnbuckle.

Reset at 15:45. Hunter checked on both men before Cena ducked underneath a charging Bryan to hit the AA, but Bryan kicked out. Loud "Yes!" chants from the crowd before they reset with Cena talking to himself and Bryan selling on the mat. At 16:45, Cena climbed to the top turnbuckle to boos, but Bryan blocked Cena. Bryan got a burst of energy to kick Cena in the head, then he suplexed Cena off the top turnbuckle and managed to hook his legs to the corner executing the move. Bryan, fired up, flipped to the top turnbuckle, then came off the top with a diving headbutt. Cover, but Cena kicked out in-time.

At 18:30, Bryan tried to fly through the ropes with a suicide dive, but Cena blocked with a forearm to the head. Cena then climbed to the top turnbuckle and nailed his top-rope guillotine to Bryan's neck, but Bryan kicked out of a pin attempt. Another reset as Cena tried to get feeling back in his hand. Cena then put Bryan on the top turnbuckle, climbed up the turnbuckle, wanted a backpack slam, but Bryan nailed Yes! elbow strikes to the neck/head region.

Up top, Bryan balanced Cena and tried a huracanrana, but Cena blocked and dropped Bryan on his head/neck with step one of the Styles Clash. Cena then found his balance on the mat and flowed into the STF. Bryan fought the hold, then Cena flowed into a choke-out of sorts. Hunter dropped Bryan's hand twice, then Bryan suddenly surprised Cena with the Yes! Lock. Cena tried to fight, then finally reached the bottom rope for a break.

Reset at 22:20. Bryan flew at Cena with charging strikes in the corner, but Cena suddenly exploded out of the corner with a massive lariat that turned Bryan inside-out. The crowd popped as both men recovered on the mat. At 23:30, Cena recovered to his feet and punched Bryan in the face. Bryan responded and a "Yes! / No!" battle began. Suddenly, they each bounced off opposite ropes before colliding center-ring. Hunter checked on both men as they recovered.

At 24:45, Cena and Bryan came to their feet and traded bombs. Cena slapped around Bryan, wanting the best from the challenger. Suddenly, Slapfest '97 broke out, popping the crowd. Bryan tried his flip-over corner move, but Cena caught him in mid-air and flowed into an AA attempt, only to have Bryan counter with a fall-away DDT that seemed to take out both men. Bryan was the first man to his feet, then he climbed to the top turnbuckle as the announcers sold the importance of the WWE Title right here. Bryan wanted a top-rope splash, but Cena caught him in mid-air, said, "It's over," and wanted the AA, but Bryan countered into a small package for a two count.

After the nearfall, Bryan stood up and missed a kick, but nailed a second kick. Bryan led the crowd in "Yes!" chants, then destroyed Cena's face with a running knee smash to the face. Bryan covered, Hunter counted, and it was good for a three count. Bryan is the new WWE champion. If that knee smash was a tribute to the Knee Trembler delivered by William Regal, who helped get Bryan into WWE, that was a good moment.

WINNER: Bryan at 26:55 to capture the WWE Title. What a main event. Right there with Punk-Lesnar for Top Match honors of the night, as both men brought it and played up the TV build-up effectively. Bryan getting a clean victory over Cena was surprising, but necessary if they're going turn Bryan into a top-flight, 1b star to Cena's 1a. A satisfying victory for Bryan's Fans for the moment it existed... (****1/2)

Post-match, Hunter congratulated Bryan on the title victory, then handed him the WWE Title belt. Cena then woke up, stood up, and spun Bryan around. Cena shared a few words with Bryan, then congratulated him on the victory and exited the ring. Bryan took a long celebration, complete with confetti and fireworks as the announcers hyped Bryan's accomplishment. Hunter stayed in the ring for this, of note.

After a long celebration, Randy Orton's music suddenly played. Orton stood ringside with the MITB briefcase in-hand, then held up the briefcase as Cole wondered if Orton was going to ruin Bryan's moment. In the ring, Bryan threw down the belt and told Orton to come on down. But, Orton turned around and walked away. Orton then got half-way down the entrance ramp before turning around. The crowd sensed something coming, then Hunter spun Bryan around and dropped him with a Pedigree.

After a pause for the crowd to react with a big roar for something historic happening, Orton hit the ring and cashed in his MITB briefcase. Hunter handed it over to the timekeeper and called for the bell.

8 -- WWE champion DANIEL BRYAN vs. RANDY ORTON -- WWE Title match -- Triple H special referee

Once Hunter called for the bell, Orton pinned Bryan and Hunter counted a three count as the crowd sold with a mix of silence and they popped for (a) Orton turning heel and (b) a sudden title change. The crowd then drew quiet as reality set in when Orton was awarded the WWE Title and he stood tall with Hunter in the ring.

Hunter and Orton let the crowd react a bit while the announcers tried to figure out what was happening. Lawler noted that Mr. McMahon (not pictured during Summerslam) got his wish by having neither Cena nor Bryan be champion after Summerslam, and Cole said but it was because of Hunter. "What is he doing?" Cole asked. After a replay of Hunter's heel turn, Hunter mocked Bryan's "Yes!" chants and stood tall with Orton as Summerslam signed off at 9:52 p.m.

WINNER: Orton at 0:08 to capture the WWE Title. This year's WrestleMania Season interaction between Hunter and Shawn Michaels will look much different after Hunter screwed over HBK's student, Daniel Bryan. The fall-out from this will be important on Monday's Raw and going forward this fall season as WWE begins to set the foundation for WrestleMania Season. Also interesting will be where McMahon fits in - will he be upset that Hunter one-upped him or was he be in cahoots with Hunter?

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