-- 8/23 WWE Summerslam PPV Reax

Dan Duffy, Torch reader (6.5): I was at the Staples Center for Summerslam and give the PPV a rating of 6.5. One thing that happened in the Jericho/Big Show vs. Cryme Tyme match that they apparently didn't show on TV was that Big Show dropped Shad off the apron with a massive meathook just before Chris slapped the Walls of Jericho on JTG. Shad sold this especially well because he looked friggin' dead on the arena floor. Big Show cooled his heels on the retaining wall near the entrance ramp for a minute or so before delivering the knockout blow to JTG.

Adam Riemer of New York, N.Y. (7.0): Best: An actual good PPV from WWE. Worst: the ECW title match, no John Morrison, and no HBK heel turn. Okay, so I (along with everyone else who was hoping) was dreaming big time in regards to the HBK heel turn, so I am not too angry about that. In fact, it was great seeing DX actually being pushed to the limit by Legacy. I am interested to see the progress now between Orton and DiBiase considering I can only assume that Orton will care less about Legacy losing to DX and only care about beating John Cena and keeping his title. DX made two young guys look credible which was nice and very unexpected. If it wasn't for Shawn's reduced schedule I would assume (and welcome) a feud with Jericho & Show over who is the most dominant team in WWE. The rest of the show was for the most part done very nicely. Ziggler needed to lose this match. They need to build him up more and they are right on track with that. There is no reason to put the title on him so soon. His feud with Rey is just getting off the ground and it is wonderful to see a program being built around the IC Title again. If only Raw would do this with the U.S. Title, but that is more of a dream than an HBK heel turn. Kane-Khali was fine for what it was, but they snubbed some great young talent (and a U.S. Title match) for a program that could just be done on free TV. The ECW Title match was a slap in the face to the fans. Why couldn't they have this type of finish on free TV leading up to their match at Summerslam? We get the same exact beat down on Christian at a PPV that we got on a Tuesday night. Cena-Orton was very enjoyable and the constant re-starts were fine with me since it was at least a somewhat fresh angle to this overplayed feud. If WWE was smart they would now use the "fan" interference as a way to turn Cena heel, using the classic "the fans turned on me" angle that The Rock used years back. Cena always talks about how the fans don't like him outside the ring, well now they are getting involved (sort of) in his matches. Once again I am dreaming. Instead, I am sure Randy will tout that DiBiase II came to his aid when Legacy didn't and the seeds will be planted for Ted to turn face sooner than later.

Punk-Hardy was fantastic. No Matt Hardy heel turn, no twists and turns after a match that just had 200 of them, and just a great exciting match that we all come to expect out of these two. The right man won as C.M. Punk is WWE's biggest heel right now and deserves a very lengthy title run. Punk's "I'm morally better than all of you" attitude is something that just irks every fan. You want to see him get his ass kicked. He is a lot like Edge in that sense that cheering for him is not an easy thing to do because of how unlikable his character is, and that is how heels should be. Punk now should hold the title until at least Survivor Series and should have five-star matches against The Undertaker, who rarely disappoints when he feuds with wrestlers who are able to carry a match and a program (e.g. Edge and HBK). My only gripe with the end of the match is that Undertaker is now in the main event and John Morrison isn't.

We welcome your 0-10 score and comments on this show for a "WWE PPV Reax" feature in the Torch Feedback section of PWTorch.com. Just to add a twist to this feature, include not just your hometown, but also your occupation (mechanic, lawyer, stay-at-home-dad, college student, etc.) so readers get a flavor for what everyone does as "day jobs." To contribute your thoughts on the PPV, click here.

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