Summer Slam - better than Wrestlemania

steelcityblues

I have noticed a pattern - despite having only about half the pre hype or outside media attention, nearly every Summerslam down through the years seems to end up being a better PPV than the Wrestlemania that preceeds it in March/April.

Maybe it is a case of lower expectations, but usually I have felt less short changed after watching a Summerslam, compared to a Wrestlemania.

For example, I consider SS 2002 to be superior to any Wrestlemania in history, and maybe any other PPV for that matter. Last year's was certainly better than WM26 for the record.

Also, Vince seems less obsessed with bringing in celebs for this show, unlike with Wrestlemania. Ventura in 1999 was a good move too, given his former wrestling association.

While I understand that Mania has that Super Bowl feel to it - as a wrestling fan - Summerslam has left more classic moments for me.

rovert

Not so sure about that.

There has a fair number of justanotherpayperview Summerslams in recent years.

Couldnt tell you what headlined Summerslam last year but I would take my chances on Cena vs Orton.

But yeah there is certainly more in ring action at Summerslam as you dont have too many celebrities or half hour entrances.

Edit It was Nexus vs Team WWE. I remember the show sucking except for the main event.

steelcityblues

rovert wrote: »

Not so sure about that.

There has a fair number of justanotherpayperview Summerslams in recent years.

Couldnt tell you what headlined Summerslam last year but I would take my chances on Cena vs Orton.

But yeah there is certainly more in ring action at Summerslam as you dont have too many celebrities or half hour entrances.

Edit It was Nexus vs Team WWE. I remember the show sucking except for the main event.

Well, Ziggler/Kingston and Sheamus/Orton were decent matches too - so it had a bit more overall than Mania 26.

2009 was a really good Summer Slam IMO - at least compared to the Mania 25 (taking away Michaels-Taker).

jaykhunter

I think it's fair to say Vince goes mental micromanaging and second-guessing himself at WrestleMania; sure for the last few years we've seen the card shuffled because it "leaked" and you gotta assume things like MITB winners were changed on a whim. eg since when has the Rumble winnner CURTAIN-JERKED WrestleMania!! Last year!

Slam '10 was muck, the last match was enjoyable but had completely the wrong outcome.
Slam 09 had Punk/Hardy TLC and Orton/Cena.
Slam 08 had Edge/Taker HIAC and Batista/Cena (on like a week's notice)
Slam 07 had Orton/Cena and Batista/Khali (pee-yew!)
Slam 06 had Edge/Cena and DX vs McMahons
Slam 05 was the last great SummerSlam imo (Edge/Hardy; Rey/Eddie Ladder Match; Angle battering Eugene, Orton/Taker, meh world title matches Cena/Y2J and Batty/JBL but Hogan/Michaels)

Whereas...

WM '10 (26) : Swagger wins MITB, Rey/Punk, Cena/Batty, Taker/Michaels II
WM '09 : Punk wins MITB, HHH/Orton, Taker/Michaels I, Cena/Edge/Show
WM '08 : Punk wins MITB, Shawn/Flair, Orton/Cena/HHH, Mayweather/Show, Taker/Edge
WM '07 : Kennedy wins MITB, Taker/Batty, Vince head shaved, Cena/Michaels
WM '06 : RVD wins MITB, Edge/Foley, Shawn/Vince, Rey/Angle/Orton, Cena/HHH
WM '05 : Edge wins MITB, Rey/Eddie, Taker/Orton, Angle/HBK, Cena/JBL, Batty/HHH.

To be honest, as a whole I'd say WM > SummerSlam thanks to big-match quality, regardless of celeb endorsement and spectacle. Overall in general i'm not blown away by the quality of either since 2005!!

steelcityblues

jaykhunter wrote: »

I think it's fair to say Vince goes mental micromanaging and second-guessing himself at WrestleMania; sure for the last few years we've seen the card shuffled because it "leaked" and you gotta assume things like MITB winners were changed on a whim. eg since when has the Rumble winnner CURTAIN-JERKED WrestleMania!! Last year!

Slam '10 was muck, the last match was enjoyable but had completely the wrong outcome.
Slam 09 had Punk/Hardy TLC and Orton/Cena.
Slam 08 had Edge/Taker HIAC and Batista/Cena (on like a week's notice)
Slam 07 had Orton/Cena and Batista/Khali (pee-yew!)
Slam 06 had Edge/Cena and DX vs McMahons
Slam 05 was the last great SummerSlam imo (Edge/Hardy; Rey/Eddie Ladder Match; Angle battering Eugene, Orton/Taker, meh world title matches Cena/Y2J and Batty/JBL but Hogan/Michaels)

Whereas...

WM '10 (26) : Swagger wins MITB, Rey/Punk, Cena/Batty, Taker/Michaels II
WM '09 : Punk wins MITB, HHH/Orton, Taker/Michaels I, Cena/Edge/Show
WM '08 : Punk wins MITB, Shawn/Flair, Orton/Cena/HHH, Mayweather/Show, Taker/Edge
WM '07 : Kennedy wins MITB, Taker/Batty, Vince head shaved, Cena/Michaels
WM '06 : RVD wins MITB, Edge/Foley, Shawn/Vince, Rey/Angle/Orton, Cena/HHH
WM '05 : Edge wins MITB, Rey/Eddie, Taker/Orton, Angle/HBK, Cena/JBL, Batty/HHH.

To be honest, as a whole I'd say WM > SummerSlam thanks to big-match quality, regardless of celeb endorsement and spectacle. Overall in general i'm not blown away by the quality of either since 2005!!

The ones in bold I would consider not very good -or in some cases just awful. Majority of the ones highlighted were at Wrestlemania.

thebostoncrab

steelcityblues wrote: »

The ones in bold I would consider not very good -or in some cases just awful. Majority of the ones highlighted were at Wrestlemania.

But the majority of those Manias had more matches listed that SS, so the Manias had a larger number of great matches than SS.

rovert

Mayweather/Show was really good and well put together.

rossie1977

rovert wrote: »

Mayweather/Show was really good and well put together.

it had absolutely no right to be as good as it was, mayweather sold like a guy who had been in the business 10 years that night, not to mention he portrayed the cocky heel to perfection

steelcityblues

rovert wrote: »

Mayweather/Show was really good and well put together.

Even if it wasn't the worst of them, I simply don't like boxer vs wrestler matches. Same with the Akebono nonsense at 21.

rovert

rossie1977 wrote: »

it had absolutely no right to be as good as it was, mayweather sold like a guy who had been in the business 10 years that night, not to mention he portrayed the cocky heel to perfection

Best celebrity match ever. Way better than LT/Bam Bam. They worked the wrestler vs boxer, small man vs giant to perfection. Mayweather had great instincts. The set up angle was amazingly effective and strong.

jaykhunter

when i was looking down the cards of SummerSlam and Mania i generally only listed the great matches or title matches. If i've left out SSlam mates please post them.


Also guys, could you not quote large reams of text? just reply sorry to be a space (the area, not where stars are) nazi

parker kent

Space Nazis...I'm sending that screenplay to Michael Bay tonight :pac:

rossie1977

steelcityblues wrote: »

Even if it wasn't the worst of them, I simply don't like boxer vs wrestler matches. Same with the Akebono nonsense at 21.

comparing akebono and big show to big show and mayweather is like comparing apples to oranges, with regard to bono and show it was just a case of "we have a tall fat guy so lets find another tall fat guy for him at mania"

mayweather and show was a well thought out storyline and much of the praise must go to shane mcmahon for that, the first night of the storyline (no way out 2008) was imo one of the best bits of tv wwe have put together last 10 years, after that the storyline lost a bit of steam with the silly pretaped mayweather segments airing after big show matches but the last night where mayweather took a bump out of ring onto his handlers was again well done

jaykhunter

i think HHH took control & completely laid out that match move for move and coached Mayweather in it many times; making it such a success one of the rarities of me giving HHH big credit

2nd Row Donkey

Well this years SS could have hornswoggle VS Khali for the main event and it would still beat this years WM but overall WM is still the better PPV. Much move of a buzz about it even if SS has a more 'classic' feel abit it.

Personally I prefer survivor series to summer slam but thats for another thread.

MitchKoobski

Whatever Summerslam is this year, it's not gonna be hard to be better than Wrestlemania.