In this WWE SummerSlam 2013 review, we’ve got two huge main events with Brock Lesnar vs. CM Punk, and Daniel Bryan vs. John Cena.
Let’s dive in.
- Show: WWE SummerSlam 2013
- Date: August 18, 2013
- Location: Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA
– The Miz is the official host of SummerSlam, and he hypes up the two big main events with CM Punk vs. Brock Lesnar, and John Cena vs. Daniel Bryan with Triple H as the special guest referee. HERE COMES FANDANGO. Summer Rae is also with him. The crowd does a little Fandangoing, and then Miz welcomes us to SummerSlam.
– We get a video package of Bryan and Punk’s journeys to their respective matches.
– JoJo is out to sing the national anthem. I picked quite a week to go back and review this show since Bryan and Punk seem to be on their way to AEW, and JoJo and Bray Wyatt are both out of WWE. Just wild.
Kane vs. Bray Wyatt – Ring of Fire Match
Speaking of Wyatt, yes, here he is in a Ring of Fire Match. I don’t remember this match in the slightest, so this should be fun. Of course, Luke Harper and Erick Rowan are out with Wyatt, and they spend the first part of the match trying to put out the fire. Eventually, they smartly lace the ring steps near the apron and climb in over the fire. They destroy Kane as the crowd chants for The Undertaker, then Wyatt gets up and hits Sister Abigail on Kane to get the win.
- Blake’s Rating: This was a short match that’s interesting for the spectacle of fire around the ring, but that’s about it. Luckily, it didn’t overstay its welcome, and the right guy won. **
– After the match, Harper and Rowan grab the steps and do the conchairto style attack on Kane before carrying him to the back. – The SummerSlam kickoff panel consists of Josh Matthews, Shawn Michaels, Booker T, and Vickie Guerrero. What a group. – We see a SummerSlam kickoff interview with Paul Heyman. He’s talking about David vs. Goliath in comparison to Punk vs. Lesnar. Heyman is just the best. He then reveals it’ll be a No DQ Match.
Damien Sandow vs. Cody Rhodes
I loved Sandow’s character. Reminder he was the current Money in the Bank holder at this point, but that didn’t exactly turn out all that well for him. Sandow in complete control early on. Cody goes for the Cross Rhodes, but Sandow counters that and continues to keep the advantage. The momentum swings when Cody grabs Sandow from the top and hits a modified brainbuster. Missile dropkick from Cody, but a drop toe hold off the second rope gives Sandow a boost. But then Cody hits the disaster kick and Sandow kicks out at two and a half. Cody with the Cross Rhodes and that’s enough to get the pin for the victory.
- Blake’s Rating: Did you expect the MITB winner to actually win a match?! And the first guy to lose his MITB cash-in at that? In all seriousness, a solid back and forth match between two good workers. **1/2
– We get a video package of Christian in WWE and him questioning his future in wrestling. The setup is that this is one more match for him and perhaps his last shot at gold.
Christian vs. (c) Alberto Del Rio – World Heavyweight Championship
Christian defeated Rob Van Dam and Randy Orton in a triple threat match on SmackDown to earn the title shot. Del Rio’s eye looks BRUTAL, and Cole notes it came at the hands of Christian. So there’s some added motivation. Christian gets caught in the corner, so naturally, Del Rio kicks the shit out of him. One glaring difference between then and now is while there are some camera cuts, there aren’t 73 of them for a single move. Del Rio continues to work over Christian for a bit until Del Rio misses the knees to the head and goes flying through the ropes. Christian, noted high flyer, then leaps off the top onto Del Rio on the outside. Del Rio’s nose is bleeding, so he’s really taken a beating in this feud. It would be no match for Matt Hardy and Sammy Guevara many years later. Del Rio plays up the heel role and then hits the backstabber on Christian for a near fall. Lots of back and forth, including Christian hitting a hurricanrana off the top for two. Stiff kick to Christian’s head gives Del Rio another near fall. Spear from Christian, but Del Rio goes straight to the submission, and Christian is eventually forced to tap.
- Blake’s Rating: These two had great chemistry and put together a hard-hitting match with several moments where the crowd thought Christian might win. ***1/2
– Del Rio in the ring with Renee Young, and boy does the crowd hate them some Del Rio. He talks about being a true role model for Latinos. I wasn’t always the biggest fan of Del Rio, but he was impressive both with the match and this promo.
– Miz with Maria Menounos, who wrestled in the SummerSlam kickoff special. HERE COMES FANDANGO AGAIN. Summer Rae too. Miz then dances with Maria.
Natalya (w/The Funkadactyls) vs. Brie Bella (w/Nikki Bella and Eva Marie)
The Funkadactyls. What a gimmick. Of course, those two were Naomi and Cameron. Cole lets us know that Total Divas is the highest-rated show on E! Listen, I didn’t watch it, but the show was a hit. Slapping contest early in the match, then we get shenanigans from Nikki and Eva. The crowd is riveted, so they start chanting for JBL, Cole, and Lawler. Ah yes, the crowd taking over matches era. That was fun. The crowd also wants tables. Natalya hits a stunner and goes for the Sharpshooter, but Brie reverses it and throws her into the corner. We’ve got a BROUHAHA on the outside between the other four women, and after a little back and forth, Natalya locks in the Sharpshooter again to earn the win.
- Blake’s Rating: It wasn’t exactly a masterpiece, but this was fine for what it was. **
– Ryback is in catering, and the man is PISSED at the food. Even the soup is cold! The catering worker tells him it’s supposed to be cold, so Ryback bullies him and says THE BIG GUY DOESN’T LIKE COLD SOUP. Ryback pours the soup down his shirt and then on his head in a segment that likely made Vince McMahon very proud.
– We get a terrific video package hyping the story behind Punk vs. Lesnar and Heyman turning on Punk at Money in the Bank.
Brock Lesnar (w/Paul Heyman) vs. CM Punk – No DQ Match
Cult of Personality is still the GOAT. It’s been a while since I watched this match, but I remember absolutely loving it. My guess is that probably won’t change. What I always enjoy is when match with a bitter feud starts with an actual fight instead of wrestling holds. It makes no sense otherwise. Great sequence early with Brock beating down Punk, only for Punk to fight back and hit a tope suicida on Brock on the outside. The story is Punk doing everything he can to keep Lesnar down, which includes flying off the top rope, the announce table, etc. Punk makes a mistake going after Heyman, and Brock beats his ass for it by destroying him with the announce table.
More great psychology with Punk going after Brock’s legs, but Brock’s power is too much. Each time Punk looks to gain the advantage, Brock’s strength overwhelms him. However, when in doubt, bite a man’s head. That’s what Punk does, and it turns the tide. Punk hits the roundhouse kick to send Brock down, then hits the elbow off the top for a near fall. Punk tries to finish things off, but Brock reverses into the Kimura Lock, only for Punk to counter that into his own submission. The crowd is JACKED. Punk holds the triangle but Brock won’t tap. Instead, he picks Punk up into the corner and hits a brutal powerbomb for two.
Brock takes Punk to Suplex City (before Suplex City was a thing) and gets a dastardly look in his eye. Brock grabs a chair, but Punk flies off the top into the chair. Punk hauls off on him, and Brock goes to return the favor, but Punk hits a low blow. And now it’s Punk up top, where he comes off with the chair onto Brock’s face. That damn Brock kicks out at two and a half though. Heyman hops on the apron as Brock gets Punk up for the F5, but Punk grabs Heyman’s tie for leverage. That leads to bickering with Brock and Heyman, which allows Punk to reverse into the GTS for a dramatic pin attempt before Heyman breaks it up at two and a half.
Lesnar goes for the F5, but Punk counters into a DDT for another near fall. Anaconda Vice as Heyman comes in with a chair. Punk punches Heyman and puts the vice on him. Lesnar absolutely WALLOPS Punk with multiple chairshots and hits the F5 on the chair to get the pin for the win.
- Blake’s Rating: Yeah, this was as good as I remember it being. The hatred between Brock and Punk was on display from the start, and they continued to up it throughout the match. They had the crowd in the palm of their hand, with Punk doing everything he could to slay the beast. He took risks and tried to outsmart Brock at every turn, but it simply wasn’t to be. These two put on a classic, and it’s one of the greatest matches in SummerSlam history. ****3/4
– We get highlights of the Doritos Jacked Bold Fan getting splashed by Mark Henry. He and his friends are sitting in front of the announce table for the next match.
Dolph Ziggler and Kaitlyn vs. Big E Langston and AJ Lee
Now, this is a fun foursome. The Big E/Ziggler/AJ trio was entertaining. What really stands out going back and watching this era is how fantastic AJ was in her role. Just an absolute star with her facial expressions and mannerisms. I thought Kaitlyn was also very underrated. The Doritos guy seems to be enjoying the action, so good for him. Kaitlyn breaks up a pin, which leads to a staredown between her and Big E. The action picks up with Kaitlyn spearing AJ on the outside, while Big E goes for the Big Ending. However, Ziggler counters with the Zig Zag for the victory.
- Blake’s Rating: Short match that simply served as a buffer between the two main events. But it was good action, and again, an entertaining group of talent. **1/2
– Miz is backstage, and he finally clocks Fandango after he comes dancing in to interrupt him. – The kickoff panel makes their picks for the main event.
– Another great video package recapping the build to John Cena vs. Daniel Bryan, including Vince McMahon and Brad Maddox running down Bryan’s talents. I forgot about all the hilarious Bryan makeover stuff. We also see the events leading to Triple H being named the special guest referee.
Daniel Bryan vs. (c) John Cena – WWE Title (Special Guest Referee: Triple H)
I really should’ve gotten one of those The Beard Is Here shirts. The story early is Cena trying to showcase his own technical skill, but Bryan counters and sends Cena to the outside. The “you can’t wrestle” begin for Cena, so he proceeds to suplex Bryan off the steel steps to the floor. They continue the theme of Cena proving he can actually wrestle, with a variety of reversals and counters, much to the crowd’s displeasure.
Cena goes for the AA, but Bryan reverses and gains the momentum with the announcers playing up Cena’s elbow issues. Bryan adds insult to injury by locking the STF on Cena, though Cena gets out before Bryan goes for the Yes Lock. Cena fights out, but Bryan goes back to the submission. Cena eventually gets out and hits the AA on Bryan, and he kicks out at two. Bryan regains control and hits the headbutt off the top for a near fall.
These two are going at it, and just like with Brock/Punk, the crowd is eating it up with a spoon. Cena counters Bryan’s hurricanrana attempt off the top with a ridiculous feat of strength, then locks in the STF. However, Bryan finds a way to counter to the Yes Lock, but Cena fights out. Bryan hits a flurry of clotheslines to Cena in the corner, which leads to Cena countering the third with a vicious clothesline of his own.
Both men down after flying forearm attempts. Now they’re slapping the shit out of each other. This is great. Cena gets a little cocky calling for the AA, which allows Bryan to hit a roundhouse kick and take his head off with the running knee to win the title.
- Blake’s Rating: In all honesty, this is even better than I remember it being the first several times I watched it. And on this particular rewatch, I think I may give it the slight nod over Brock/Punk. It’s not easy to pull off a babyface vs. babyface match (though, you could certainly argue Cena was a tweener), but they did it to near perfection. It’s likely Cena’s second-best match ever behind the one with Punk at Money in the Bank 2011, as he brought it from start to finish. Meanwhile, since I’m reviewing this in 2021, the argument for Bryan being a top-five wrestler in history could very well be a legitimate one. And for him to beat Cena clean was HUGE. Something else I liked was that Triple H was a complete non-factor in the match itself, which diverted any suspicion of him getting involved. Until, of course, he does. ****3/4Â
– Bryan celebrates his victory, and I can recall thinking that “you know, Triple H is still in the ring during the Bryan/Cena handshake, so something is up.” Triple H also shakes Cena’s hand before leaving and goes a little over the top celebrating Bryan’s win. What’s also interesting when you watch this back is how many people are leaving. Maybe it was the right call given what’s next. Triple H is all into the celebration, then Randy Orton’s music hits as he comes down with the Money in the Bank briefcase. Orton teases that he’s leaving before slowly turning back to the ring. Triple H hits Bryan with the Pedigree, and Orton cashes in to win the title. This was heel work at its finest, but what a kick in the balls after Bryan’s big moment.
BLAKE’S TAKE ON WWE SUMMERSLAM 2013
- Best Match: Daniel Bryan vs. John Cena
- Show MVPs: Lesnar, Punk, Bryan, and Cena (they all deserve it)
- Overall Rating: 9.0/10
- Thoughts: There was nothing truly terrible on this show, and when you consider that I ranked two matches at ****3/4, that’s more than enough to put it in the conversation for one of the best SummerSlam shows in WWE history. Even the undercard was entertaining, especially the Christian vs. Del Rio match. At the time, the main event post-match angle was deflating after such a huge moment for Bryan, but they’d eventually (key word: eventually) get it right at WrestleMania XXX.
