Re: Summerslam
Posted: Sat Aug 25, 2007 4:55 pm
From Dave Meltzer:
--Some thoughts on tomorrow night's SummerSlam:
*John Cena vs. Randy Orton - The positive is that these guys have gotten rave reviews for their house show match, which, aside from probably a more elaborate finish, will be the same match as tomorrow night. The feeling is this will be more than 20 minutes, better than ****, and the original plan was for a title change. Plus, being from East Rutherford, NJ, expect a dynamic crowd because all the guys who bought tickets when they were put on sale are going to cheering for Orton. The fact most of these tickets were sold months ago makes the pro-Orton crowd more likely, but Cena will always have his fans, and they'll be vocal.
*HHH vs. King Booker - HHH will get the huge pop for the long-awaited return. Reports have him in the 250 pound range, so he should be moving better than the last time he came back from a torn quad and was huge. One would expect a HHH win, but since they've done no TV angles for this involving the two, it also makes sense to come out of this with an angle and build a return.
*Great Khali vs. Batista for the World title - A lot depends on how much the crowd wants to see Batista win. I'm sure they'll have laid out a solid match and they've practiced it constantly the past few weeks, but any match with Khali on live TV is a risk. And if things go like the Kane match on Smackdown, there isn't much Batista can do to save it. They probably have it built around the claw, and at least that's a low risk move. We'll see how much people buy the claw.
*Rey Mysterio vs. Chavo Guerrero - This should be a Mysterio showcase. Probably not a long match, and definitely Mysterio should win. He hasn't had any problems on the road, but also hasn't had any matches where he's cut loose yet.
*Umaga vs. Mr. Kennedy vs. Carlito for the IC title. I could see Kennedy pinning Carlito. Umaga doesn't really fit as IC champ and this allows him to lose it without being pinned so early in his monster face run. Kennedy and Umaga both don't have current programs due to Lashley's injury and Jeff Hardy's suspension (by the way, Hardy should be back in one week).
*Divas Battle Royal for the top contender for the women's title. Best bets, based on recent TV pushes, are Michelle McCool, just to have a Smackdown vs. Raw match at the next PPV (although it's two people pushed as faces) or Beth Phoenix, who they seemed to focus on during Raw. Melina is always a possibility simply as the top heel woman persona.
*Kane vs. Finlay - Hornswoggle comedy spot, probably a Kane win.
They could always add a Raw tag title match (Cade & Murdoch vs. Cryme Tyme). At one point, there was a Deuce & Domino vs. MVP & Matt Hardy Odd Couple match talked about on the show, but that was a few weeks back and it would make no sense without a TV angle and it hasn't been talked about to my knowledge since.
On paper, unless I'm underestimating the power of the return of HHH, I don't see business close to the level of the past two years. Also, when looking at the show on paper, HHH vs. Booker and Mysterio vs. Guerrero have to deliver to make it a show the level of its billing as one of the big three of the year. The main event is likely to deliver big, but that's the only lock on the show. What's really scary is if HHH and Mysterio had to wait a few more weeks to come back, they'd have nothing. The injury bug has taken an incredible bite out of the quality of this show.
--Some thoughts on tomorrow night's SummerSlam:
*John Cena vs. Randy Orton - The positive is that these guys have gotten rave reviews for their house show match, which, aside from probably a more elaborate finish, will be the same match as tomorrow night. The feeling is this will be more than 20 minutes, better than ****, and the original plan was for a title change. Plus, being from East Rutherford, NJ, expect a dynamic crowd because all the guys who bought tickets when they were put on sale are going to cheering for Orton. The fact most of these tickets were sold months ago makes the pro-Orton crowd more likely, but Cena will always have his fans, and they'll be vocal.
*HHH vs. King Booker - HHH will get the huge pop for the long-awaited return. Reports have him in the 250 pound range, so he should be moving better than the last time he came back from a torn quad and was huge. One would expect a HHH win, but since they've done no TV angles for this involving the two, it also makes sense to come out of this with an angle and build a return.
*Great Khali vs. Batista for the World title - A lot depends on how much the crowd wants to see Batista win. I'm sure they'll have laid out a solid match and they've practiced it constantly the past few weeks, but any match with Khali on live TV is a risk. And if things go like the Kane match on Smackdown, there isn't much Batista can do to save it. They probably have it built around the claw, and at least that's a low risk move. We'll see how much people buy the claw.
*Rey Mysterio vs. Chavo Guerrero - This should be a Mysterio showcase. Probably not a long match, and definitely Mysterio should win. He hasn't had any problems on the road, but also hasn't had any matches where he's cut loose yet.
*Umaga vs. Mr. Kennedy vs. Carlito for the IC title. I could see Kennedy pinning Carlito. Umaga doesn't really fit as IC champ and this allows him to lose it without being pinned so early in his monster face run. Kennedy and Umaga both don't have current programs due to Lashley's injury and Jeff Hardy's suspension (by the way, Hardy should be back in one week).
*Divas Battle Royal for the top contender for the women's title. Best bets, based on recent TV pushes, are Michelle McCool, just to have a Smackdown vs. Raw match at the next PPV (although it's two people pushed as faces) or Beth Phoenix, who they seemed to focus on during Raw. Melina is always a possibility simply as the top heel woman persona.
*Kane vs. Finlay - Hornswoggle comedy spot, probably a Kane win.
They could always add a Raw tag title match (Cade & Murdoch vs. Cryme Tyme). At one point, there was a Deuce & Domino vs. MVP & Matt Hardy Odd Couple match talked about on the show, but that was a few weeks back and it would make no sense without a TV angle and it hasn't been talked about to my knowledge since.
On paper, unless I'm underestimating the power of the return of HHH, I don't see business close to the level of the past two years. Also, when looking at the show on paper, HHH vs. Booker and Mysterio vs. Guerrero have to deliver to make it a show the level of its billing as one of the big three of the year. The main event is likely to deliver big, but that's the only lock on the show. What's really scary is if HHH and Mysterio had to wait a few more weeks to come back, they'd have nothing. The injury bug has taken an incredible bite out of the quality of this show.