ironhorse_iv
This is one of the most famous Summerslam that WWE has ever produced in my opinion. I have always love this on WWE DVD Collection. The DVD is worth it. There's plenty of good stuff on the extras section of this DVD. On top of plethora of post-match interviews, there's some pretty good training videos featuring The Rock and Brock Lesnar. I have to say, Brock Lesnar's training might be a bit over the top. You do get a bonus match with Brock Lesnar Vs Hulk Hogan from Smackdown that year. The DVD also has tons of stuff from Shawn Michaels such as interviews and video montages. Now to the venue, the New Yorkers crowd was really getting into the matches and one of the loudest. I love all their chants. The PPV and the wrestlers roster at the time was divide by two brands at the time: Smackdown show, and the Raw show. It was supposed to help boost WWE, by having two leagues like NFL does. It didn't work, and WWE cut the idea years later. The first match on the card is Kurt Angle vs. Rey Mysterio. This would be Rey's first WWE pay-per-view appearance. This match was pretty good for the opening. I do have to say Olympic Hero, Kurt Angle's attire looks really awful. He looks like a candy cane. Hard to take him for a badass with an attire like that. There was a pretty good spot to check out where the referee blocks a dive so Mysterio sentons jump over the ref out onto Angle! Overall: The fast-paced match got the crowd into it. Plus, Kurt Angle was great as the villain. Ric Flair vs. Chris Jericho was another great match. They did a bit of violent feud leading to this match. We see video clips of the two taking shots at each other and Flair destroying Jericho's band Fozzy's equipment before this match. This was Ric Flair's first-ever Summerslam appearance, believe it or not. Both did a pretty good job in my opinion. Edge vs. Eddie Guerrero is the third match on the card. Honestly, I don't know what the feud was about. It had little build up. Watching Guerrero and Edge work is a joy to watch. The fourth match is probably the worst match of the night. World Tag Team Championship: The Un-Americans (Lance Storm and Christian) vs. Booker T and Goldust. I have always thought of the 2002's Un-Americans as the lame heels group that try too hard to be the 1997's Hart Foundation with their anti-Americans views. Booker and Goldust had got ridiculously over as a team due to their comedy skits backstage. This was the Daniel Bryan and Kane of its days. Interpromotional Match for the WWE Intercontinental Championship: Chris Benoit vs. Rob Van Dam was next. Another fantastic match. Van Dam worked really hard and had one of his best WWE matches but Benoit was just brilliant throughout, controlling the match and working the shoulder. They used some nice psychology and eventually won the crowd over. Big thumbs for this match. Undertaker vs. Test is the second worst match of the night. Taker was coming off the back of a not-so-successful heel run, and Test was a member of the Un-Americans so this was a natural fit really. Undertaker was the American hero, as Test is the Canadian threat. Both were pretty good, but the match was so slow due to their height and weight. Plus, the buildup was pretty lame. The next match was the Unsanctioned match between Triple H VS Shawn Michaels. This was Shawn Michaels first match since 1998's WrestleMania XIV. We see a fantastic video montage showcasing the Triple H-Shawn Michaels violent feud. The whole feud last for years after this, until 2006. Unsanctioned Match: Shawn Michaels vs. Triple H was a gem. Lot of weapons, blood and violent. This was Shawn Michaels return to wrestling since the crippling back injury that nearly end Shawn's career. I love this match. If there was any doubt as to whether or not Michaels could still "go", this would put an end to them. Triple H was looking as good and as crisp as he did prior to his first quad injury. This was need for both men. The main event is next. We get a video montage of Brock Lesnar's rise to the top, and The Rock winning the WWE Championship at Vengeance follow with training. It was intense. WWE Championship: The Rock vs. Brock Lesnar was great. Brock had had something of a meteoric rise, winning the King of the Ring and beating Hulk Hogan on his way to this match. Rock was on his way to Hollywood full-time so there wasn't much doubt as to the outcome here. The Rock would take a sixth month hiatus from WWE and would not return until late February 2003, when Vince McMahon booked him in a WrestleMania X8 rematch with Hulk Hogan at No Way Out. The crowd was really on Brock here. Explosive match, electric crowd. It was the match worth to end the night. Overall: great PPV. Probably my favorite Summerslam. Without giving out too much away, just check out the PPV.
Spawn Devil
~Spoiler~Match 1: Kurt Angle vs Rey Mysterio Rey started immediately with a hurracanrana and monkey flip. Angle regained control and unsuccessfully attempted to apply his ankle lock. Mysterio then attempted the 619, but Angle escaped. Angle then slowed down the pace and started to wear the young Mexican down. Mysterio attempted a few comebacks, but Angle used his superior strength to wear down his foe. Eventually, Angle applied a half crab which Mysterio countered by rolling up the Olympic hero. Angle escaped at 2 and continued to wear down Mysterio while the sold out crowd chanted "Angle Sucks!" over and over again. An irate Angle attempted and Angle Slam, but Rey slid off his shoulders and started to get some offense in, including a vicious leg drop off the top rope, a 619 and a Huracanrana. Angle withstood Mysterio's assault, and a minute later applied the ankle lock. A few seconds later Mysterio tapped out. Winner: Kurt AngleMatch 2: Ric Flair vs Chris Jericho Ric Flair started the match with a few "whooos" and a couple of slaps to Jericho's face. Jericho countered with some vicious punches and a suplex. A few chops by Flair had little effect on Fozzy's lead singer, and Jericho continued his assault, eventually clotheslining Flair outside the ring and slamming Flair into the security wall. Jericho then tossed Flair back in the ring and continued to pound the 16 time World Champion. Somehow the legendary Flair gathered some strength and hit Jericho with his trademark knife edge chops. After being initially stunned, Jericho gathered himself and once again started to beat down on Flair. Jericho then charged Flair in the corner, but missed. Flair took control with some more chops and an assault on Jericho's lower back. Slowly Jericho fought his way back though, and both men exchanged offense for a few minutes. Jericho managed to get Flair in the Figure Four. Flair reached down deep and made it to the ropes before Jericho could break his leg. A distracted Charles Robinson missed Flair hit Jericho below the belt. Flair applied the Figure Four, and Jericho submitted. Winner: Ric FlairMatch 3: Edge vs Eddie Guerrero Edge took early control of the match, but Eddie fought back quickly with a series of kicks and elbows. Edge fought back with a power slam and went for the first cover but only managed a two count. Eddie then took the action outside the ring and attacked the young Canadian like a rabid dog. Edge's shoulder appeared injured and Eddie went after it like a savage sensing the final kill. Edge remained on the defensive for several minutes, his shoulder being continuously wrenched by the hyper aggressive Latino Heat. Several times, Edge fought back, but each time Guerrero had an answer. Eddie finally attempted the 5 star frog splash, but Edge got his knees up. Edge then Edgecuted Eddie, but Eddie kicked out. Eddie then hit the 5 Star on Edge's shoulder, but Edge kicked out. Edge then hit spear with everything he had and pinned Latino Heat. Winner: EdgeMatch 4: Tag Team Championship - Booker T and Goldust vs Christian and Lance Storm The Un-Americans came to the ring disrespecting the U.S. by carrying an upside down American flag. JR and the King voiced their disgust. Goldust and Booker T gained an early advantage over the Un- Americans and it appeared that they might make short work of their opponents. Storm and Christian battled back, though, and after a series of cheap shots gained control of the match. Goldust was being hammered by the American haters and could not make the tag to his partner. After several near falls, Goldust finally made the tag, but referee Nick Patrick missed the tag and Storm and Christian continued to wear out Goldust. With everything he had left, Goldust fought back and he and Christian clotheslined each other at the same time, knocking each other out. Christian was the first to get up and Storm and Christian tried a concerto as a helpless Booker T looked on. Goldust ducked and made the tag to Booker T who proceeded to clean house on both Un-Americans. Lance Storm, trying to help Christian, Mistakenly knocked out Patrick. Booker T then hit Christian with a superkick and went for the cover. Patrick was still out though and no count was made. Test then interfered by big booting Booker T. Patrick by this time was revived and counted one, two, three. Winners: Christian and Lance StormMatch 5: Intercontinental Championship - Rob Van Dam vs Chris Benoit RVD sent an early message with a bunch of hard kicks to the Rabid Wolverine who was forced to regroup outside the ring. And regroup he did, driving RVD to the mat and using a series of holds to wear down RVD. After a vicious suplex by Benoit, referee Earl Hebner asked RVD if he could continue. RVD said, "yes" and suffered for a few more minutes at the hands of the reigning champ. An inside cradle by RVD seemed to inspire him for a moment, but just as soon, Benoit took control with a few knife edge chops. A split legged moonsault then went awry for the SoCal high-flyer, and Benoit attempted the high-risk flying head butt off the top rope and missed. Van Dam countered with the 5-Star, but Benoit rolled away and applied the Crippler Crossface to a hurt RVD. RVD managed to find the ropes, and the match continued with Benoit in control. Several minutes later, Benoit cinched in the Crossface again., RVD, broke free! Nevertheless, Benoit continued his relentless assault including three German Suplexes and another Crossface which RVD escaped from. Finally, RVD got some offense in with a springboard, near fall, Rolling Thunder, and another near fall. Benoit fought back and went for a suplex off the top rope and RVD countered in the air and turned it into a body slam. With Benoit prone on the mat RVD went for the 5 Star and hit it. One-two- three. RVD is the new Intercontinental Champion. Winner: RVD New Intercontinental ChampionMatch 6: Undertaker vs Test Undertaker began the match with an adulterated assault on the Un-American. He went old School, put Test managed to pull the Deadman off balance and Taker fell on the ropes and suffered the consequences. Test took control and took Taker outside the ring and slammed him into the ring steps before rolling him back in the ring. Test then began to outpower his bigger opponent with a series of kicks and arm locks keeping Undertaker off his vertical base. The two then exchanged punches and Undertaker's soup bones gave him the advantage. This time he attempted Old School and hit it. Test attempted the Pump Handle Slam, Taker countered, Went for the Chokeslam. Test tried to counter, but Taker nailed it. Test kicked out, however, and Lance Storm and Christian both rushed the ring. They got Chokeslammed for their trouble. But, in the confusion, Test hit Taker with the Big Boot. He went for the cover, but Taker kicked out at two. Undertaker came back with the Tombstone Piledriver and pinned Test. Undertaker celebrated with the crowd by proudly carrying an American flag. Old Glory never looked better. Winner: UndertakerMatch 7: Unsanctioned Match - Triple H vs Shawn Michaels Shawn Michaels showed little ring rust early and shocked Triple H with a Reverse Plancha early. Michaels maintained control with a clothesline and then went under the ring and brought out some Hardcore artillery. Triple H countered with a knee to the gut, but Michaels withstood the knee and nailed Triple H in the head with a trash can. Michaels went for Sweet Chin Music, but Triple H ducked and responded with a brutal backbreaker. Triple H then dominated his former mentor for the next several minutes, hitting the smaller Michaels with a series of elbows and a hellacious shot to the back. Triple H went for the pin but Michaels somehow managed to not only kick out but attempt a pin of his own. The comeback was short, however, as Triple devastated Michaels with a DDT on a steel chair, before whipping him like a scalded dog with a leather belt. The Cerebral Assassin brought a sledgehammer into the ring. Michaels escaped, But Triple Ha put the former World Champion n an abdomen-able stretch. Another chair shot later and Michaels lay prone on the mat. Triple H then hit a back breaker onto a steel chair, but Michaels refused to be pinned. Triple H went for the Pedigree, but Michaels broke the hold with a shot to the groin. Triple H went for another chair shot, but Michaels countered wit Sweet Chin Music to the chair which blasted Triple H in the face. Triple was busted wide open. Michaels took the offensive and buoyed by the crowd began to repay his former protege with a Jason Giambi like chair shot to Triple H's bloody face. The Showstopper then brought out a ladder and used like a battering ram on Triple H's face and abdomen. Finally Michaels tossed him into the ring and went for the pin. He got a two-count before Triple H kicked out. Micheals then hit the Superplex but still couldn't pin The Game. After some more brutality by both competitors, Michaels brought out a table. With Hunter prone outside the ring, Michaels hit a flying body slam off the top turnbuckle and smashed Triple H through the table. Michaels brought the ladder in the ring and rolled Triple H on to the mat. He then hit an elbow smash off the top of the ladder. A bloodied and battered Triple blocked Sweet Chin Music and went for the Pedigree. Michaels countered with a roll-up and pinned Triple H. A furious Triple H nailed Michaels with a sledgehammer and knocked the winner of this unsanctioned match into oblivion. Winner: Shawn MichaelsMatch 8: Undisputed WWE Championship - Brock Lesnar vs The Rock The most anticipated World Championship match in recent history began with The Rock sprinting to the ring and getting right down to business with The Next Big Thing. Brock, however, was ready and took early control with a backbreaker and a series of shoulders To The Rock's ribs. The action quickly spilled outside the ring and Paul Heyman, Brock's agent, got in a few cheap shots before Brock continued to force the action. The Rock attempted a comeback, but Heyman was there once again to make sure that Lesnar stayed in control. Lesnar maintained control with a simple but brutal attack before The Rock sucked out of a shoulder charge and Lesner went shoulder first into the ring post. The Rock attempted several clotheslines before getting Lesnar off his feet. The Rock then went for the Sharpshooter, but Heyman interfered again. The Rock then got the Sharpshooter on Lesnar, but Lesnar refused to tap. Heyman then was brought in the ring the hard way, but the interference allowed Lesnar to recover and nail The Rock with a steel chair to the ribs. Brock tried to squeeze the life out of The Rock with a bear hug before turning into a suplex. Brock then used his amateur skills and rode The Rock for several minutes. The Rock appeared out of it and referee Mike Chioda counted one, two, but before he could get to three, The Rock fought back and broke Lesnar's vise grip. The Rock countered with a shot to the groin, but Lesnar then hit two straight shoulder into a prone Rock. On Lesnar's third attempt, Rock ducked and Lesnar hit the ring post with his exposed shoulder. The Rock then took the offensive and cleared the Spanish announce table of its monitors. Paul Heyman then felt what it's like to be on the receiving end of a Rock Bottom on the announce table. The Rock then hit the Rock Bottom on Lesnar, but Lesnar kicked out at two. Lesnar countered with a Rock Bottom of his own, bit only managed a two count. The Rock hit a Spinebuster and then went for the People's Elbow, but Lesnar got up and clotheslined the champion. Lesnar hits the F-5 and wins the Undisputed Champion! Winner and New Undisputed Champion, Brock LesnarOverall a pritty good PPV, I thought Vengeance was the PPV of the summer! Overall Mark= B
