Here’s how to watch SummerSlam 2018, and 5 reasons to do so
Hey look, a space where we don’t have to focus on how Brock Lesnar vs. Roman Reigns is happening again.
WWE SummerSlam 2018 is finally here — or, at least, it will be in a few hours. This is a preview, after all. Here’s how you can watch, and after that, we’ll get into why you should watch.
There will be 10 matches on the main card, main evented by the latest Roman Reigns challenge against Brock Lesnar for the WWE Universal Championship, as well as one promised concert by Elias. In addition, there will also be three matches on SummerSlam’s kickoff show, which begins at 5 p.m. ET and can be found on the WWE Network. `
Event info, plus how to watch on TV and stream
When: Sunday, 8/19, at 7 p.m. ET
Where: Barclays Arena, Brooklyn, NY
Watch: WWE Network.
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And now, here are the five reasons why you should watch SummerSlam 2018.
We’re finally getting Daniel Bryan vs. Miz
The feud that made SmackDown Live must-watch television, but also the feud that was never supposed to play out in a ring given Daniel Bryan’s medical history. Bryan has recovered from his frightening concussion issues that sent him into early retirement, though, and now, we get to see the Miz — who constantly started shit with Bryan while under the impression he would never get comeuppance for it — against Bryan, who is no longer the general manager of SmackDown, but is instead the force to be reckoned with that he used to be before injuries interrupted that and forced him into an authority role.
Bryan has mostly spent his comeback facing low-level enemies, and powering through them without too much of an issue. Miz is the first serious challenge to Bryan in his return to the ring, and it’s one we’ve been waiting to see for years now... it still doesn’t feel like we’re really getting it. So yes, obviously, this is the highlight of SummerSlam as far as anticipated matches go. It’s two former main eventers working their way back to a main event that sorely needs the injection of change either could bring, facing off against each other for reasons other than that desire to be back in the main event, but instead because of hugely personal and deserved grudges against the other.
Yeah, I wish Miz or Bryan were wrestling for the WWE Championship or the Universal title, too, but a feud between the two of them culminating in a match or matches is the step they need to get closer to that kind of opportunity, too. Plus, this is going to rule in the present, just like Miz vs. Daniel Bryan has always ruled.
Seth Rollins vs. Dolph Ziggler for the Intercontinental Championship
Seth Rollins vs. Dolph Ziggler in an Iron Man match for the Intercontinental Championship was so, so good the last time we got it at a pay-per-view. The match was good, the story it told was good, and now we’re getting the next logical step in that feud. Ziggler was able to win the Iron Man bout because he had Drew McIntyre in his corner, and Drew put a serious beating on Rollins, and then interfered again as the match restarted late, to help Ziggler retain.
Now, though, Dean Ambrose, Shield-mate and tag team partner of Rollins, is back and healthy and ready to kick some ass: he’s the counter to McIntyre, and with a counter, Ziggler might not stand a real chance against Rollins.
This should be a show-stealer with plenty of excitement in and outside of the ring. The new-look, much swoler Ambrose will get an opportunity to show off what he’s capable of. McIntyre and Ziggler might begin to show some cracks if McIntyre can’t get the job of doing Dolph’s work for done like he’s been able to in the past. Or, if Ambrose isn’t enough to stop McIntyre, then maybe we’ll see renewed tensions between Rollins and Dean. There’s so much possibility here, even outside of the possibility for some dope wrestling.
SmackDown Women’s Champion Carmella vs. Charlotte Flair vs. Becky Lynch
So, yes, obviously, I would prefer if this were just Becky Lynch challenging Carmella for the SmackDown Women’s Championship: this was Becky’s story, her rise back to the top, and to the championship she first won when it was introduced on SmackDown in the first place. And then Charlotte had to go and get involved and now it’s a three-way match where she could win the title that should be Becky’s.
However, I’m also 100 percent here for future issues between friends Charlotte and Becky over the title: if this is the prelude to something serious between the two of them, I. Am. Here. For. That. Give me Charlotte vs. Becky for the next few months, once business with Carmella is wrapped up, let’s do this.
On the other hand, if this is just a way for Carmella to retain because Charlotte and Becky go at each other and Carmella finds a way to capitalize on that, well... it feels like it’ll be a lost opportunity. Carmella was supposed to be cornered, Ellsworth-less, and facing the opponent who has been waiting the longest to get their hands on her. Now that’s not the case.
This should be real good, and is absolutely worth watching, but I have concern for the result here. But maybe that’s just my Becky stanning talking.
Ronda Rousey vs. Alexa Bliss for the RAW Women’s Championship
Ronda Rousey’s suspension is over, and it’s back to having matches for her. Since Alexa Bliss cost her a chance at the RAW Women’s Championship back at Money in the Bank, now she gets a chance to take that title from Bliss in her first pay-per-view action since Bliss interrupted Rousey against Nia Jax.
Rousey’s matches have been fantastic so far, and it’s going to be fascinating to see how she pairs up with Bliss. Alexa Bliss isn’t the biggest or strongest competitor in RAW’s women’s division, but she’s one of the smartest and most cunning, which is how she’s managed to beat so many opponents who should have defeated her. Will Rousey somehow be outmaneuvered by Bliss in a similar way? Or will this go how Nia Jax vs. Bliss did at WrestleMania, where Bliss’ ability to fend off the more dangerous opponent can only take her so far?
It’s a real test for Bliss in-story, and a real test for Rousey in terms of how well she can match up with wrestlers of all types in a WWE ring. There aren’t many opponents like Bliss, in the same way there aren’t many like Jax, and if we get anything close to how good Rousey vs. Jax was, well, we’re in for a real treat here.
Braun Strowman vs. Kevin Owens for the Money in the Bank briefcase
Strowman won the Money in the Bank match back in June, and it helped kick off a feud between himself and Owens, as Owens was the one orchestrating the plan to have everyone else take down Braun in order to open up the field for a different Money in the Bank winner. Strowman did not take kindly to that plan, and destroyed Owens at Extreme Rules, in such a way that Owens should have let things go there. He didn’t let them go, though, and instead they’ve escalated, but in a way that could benefit Owens.
The Money in the Bank briefcase is up for grabs here, as the winner will have possession of it and the championship contract inside. However, Strowman can lose the case and its contract if he’s disqualified: given his penchant for destruction and, we’ll say, going overboard, there is a real chance that Owens needs a hospital stay at the end of this match, but is also now in control of the case.
Or, Strowman will show he’s more than just a monster among men, and that he’s fully capable of respecting the rules of a match when necessary in order to retain. And if Strowman does retain, well, it might not matter who wins Brock Lesnar vs. Roman Reigns in the evening’s main event... because Strowman is going to be there with his briefcase, ready to challenge the winner for the WWE Universal Championship.
If there’s one way to keep the crowd from leaving the arena furious with the existence of Brock vs. Roman happening again, it’s that possibility of Strowman’s theme hitting the speakers as he confidently strolls to the ring, briefcase in hand.