Official ISportsFan SummerSlam preview

[Guest ISportsFan]

With Paul Heyman in the lead booking position for Smackdown, it seems as if the matches on the Thursday show have been incredible, as well as the storylines being consistantly solid. Raw, on the other hand, seems to lack the match quality and has varying degrees of angle quality. Can the two shows co-exist for one night, SummerSlam, which has the possibility to be the best PPV in WWE history? Can SummerSlam 2002 beat WrestleMania XVII for the best PPV in WWE history? Or will it be just another PPV, like most other ones from this year, and be forgotten in a few days or weeks?

 

WWE Undisputed Championship Match: Rock © v. Brock Lesnar

 

The title, after starting the year in the midst of a solid 4 month reign from Chris Jericho, has been hot-shotted like a hot potato amongst HHH, the Undertaker, Hulk Hogan, and the Rock. Speaking of which, the Rock has had the title for one month, and doesn't appear to have the chance to hold it for longer than that. He's filming a movie in September, and pretty much has to lose the title either at SummerSlam on Sunday or at one of the two TV shows in the coming week.

 

Brock Lesnar, on the other hand, is in the final phase of his monster push since debuting in WWE after WrestleMania. He sold too much for the likes of Bubba Tuff in the beginning, but since jumping to Smackdown he has been booked well by Heyman (with the exception of the Rikishi fiasco last week). The two questions remain, though. First, can Brock actually wrestle a main event match of about 15 minutes without blowing up and still tell a story? And, does he have the crowd respect to main event the second biggest show of the year?

 

The match will be interesting, for a number of reasons. Will WWE pull the trigger and put a green rookie with a limited moveset and meager crowd reactions on top of the company by pinning the biggest star in wrestling? If they get cold feet, who will get the title in the week to come? Can the Rock pull a good match out of the green Lesnar, like DDP and Goldberg's situation at Halloween Havoc 1998?

 

I predict that Lesnar will walk out with the title in about 13 minutes or so, and Heyman will definitely get involved. The match will probably be about **, give or take a 1/2* or so.

 

Unsanctioned No DQ Match: Shawn Michaels v. Triple H

 

If it's unsanctioned, can they turn the cameras off? This match is the semi-main event because it's Michaels' first match since WrestleMania XIV, which was a darn good match against Steve Austin. But, Triple H is slower than he was in 2000, and is no Austin at this time. Michaels is not what he used to be in the ring, despite the fact that he cleaned up his act backstage after his Christ conversion.

 

Triple H had a run that few people have ever had in 2000-2001. He had ****+ matches with Foley, Rock, Jericho, Benoit, Austin, and the tag match that was match of the year in 2001. He was truly "The Game." But, he has not had a good singles match since Judgment Day's cell match with Jericho, and hasn't had a great one since he bulked up during his rehab.

 

Will the match suck? Probably. I am rooting for them to put on a good match, but I don't think they can. I'm guessing HHH gets the clean win in about 22 minutes (WAY TOO LONG) that is another tool to try and push HHH down our throats. Probably a bad match for the length given, but around *1/2 or **.

 

Intercontinental Championship Match: Chris Benoit © v. Rob Van Dam

 

My thoughts on this match are already well documented.

This is my biggest fear. Benoit NEEDS the win, Smackdown NEEDS the IC title, and RVD can afford the loss because he's so undeniably over. But, it would just totally suck for Benoit to lose and the IC belt to go back to Raw. So, they might do it. Just to spite me. (Me: 8/20/02, 10:04 Central time)

This match will be incredibly awesome, with Benoit's mean streak in full force. Will Benoit win the match, thus keeping the title continuity with tag/hardcore on Raw and IC/cruiser on Smackdown? Or will the bookers do the "swerve" and put the title on RVD and make the fans happy? I predict a ****1/2 affair, a potential MOTYC, with Benoit coming out on top in about 16 minutes. Will that happen? Right now, I'm at 60-40 with Benoit in the lead on who will win. This is the toughest match to call.

 

Tag Team Championship Match: UnAmericans (Storm/Christian) v. Booker T/Goldust

 

The second toughest match to call, in both quality and actual result. The UnAmericans are picking up steam lately, with wins the past two weeks in multi-man tag matches. Can they pick up at least one win at SummerSlam (since we know that one particular 6'10", 12 year veteran will not be losing)?

 

Booker T is the second most over face on Raw, only behind RVD. But, he's got more experience on top of a promotion with actual TV time at normal hours on a large network (e.g. not on Friday nights), so he's more likely to get a push. For now, however, he's in the tag ranks with the comedic Goldust character, and they're fighting for America's honor.

 

The match can reach as much as ***1/2 or so, with ** being the worst we could get I'm guessing. Lance Storm and Christian will get the win in about 10 minutes. Actually, I'm about 65-35 on this one, but the UnAmericans need the win, and can pin Goldust so nobody with a main event future will get pinned.

 

(Note: I'm scared about this, but as of now all 4 heels have the wins so far, with more to come)

 

Ric Flair v. Chris Jericho

 

Bottom line: Chris Jericho needs a win more than anybody in WWE right now. More than Kurt Angle, more than Brock Lesnar, more than Flair, more than RVD, more than Eddy, etc. He has not won a PPV match since No Way Out (!), and that came about due to MASSIVE nWo interference. Heck, he lost to Cena at Vengeance, HHH twice, and RVD once in that span.

 

Flair beat Guerrero at King of the Ring, but has been jobbing freely since then. And, really, is he going to main event ever again? Probably not. So, the jobbing should continue, despite Flair's awesomeness for the past 30 years.

 

So, to make it five for five for the heels in the preview so far, Chris Jericho should prevail in 12 minutes or so, with the match being about ***.

 

Kurt Angle v. Rey Mysterio (Jr.)

 

Kurt Angle beat Hulk Hogan, via submission (first time since Luger in 1997) to the ankle lock, and solidified his place at the top of WWE forever. He's in a category of household names of people that have beaten Hogan in WWE. People like Undertaker, Yokozuna, Ultimate Warrior, Andre the Giant, the Rock, Brock Lesnar, and the Genius. Well, you get the point.

 

Rey Mysterio is the first cruiserweight that came from WCW that Vince McMahon hasn't totally ruined. He hasn't been limited too much in his moveset, and is actually allowed to get over. If the other guys were allowed to be themselves, we'd have Noble, Helms, Tajiri, Chavo, Kidman, and Funaki merchandise with 10 minute matches on PPV every month. But, such is life.

 

The match is a total clash of styles, but it should still be great nonetheless. It could easily reach **** or more with about 12 or more minutes. I do predict the SIXTH heel win, as Angle gets the duke over Rey. It will only help Rey, though, I'm guessing.

 

Undertaker v. Test

 

I refuse to talk about this match much. Taker will win, giving the faces a win finally, in about 10 minutes with his crappy powerbomb in a DUD, with the possibility of getting up to ** if everything goes their way.

 

Eddy Guerrero v. Edge

 

When you only have 7 matches, and need a good opener, CALL EDDY~! The match has not a lot of hype or story to it, but it will be awesome because there's Eddy.

 

I unfortunately see the match only getting 8 or 9 minutes, because Vince is cruel and we want 15, darn it. Plus, we need our 10 minutes of Undertaker. Edge will win to continue his ascent to the top of the card in a ***1/2 or so match, more stars with more time.

 

Overall: I recommend buying this sucker, because it could be a great PPV with little doubt in my mind. Match order is vital to keep fans happy, with the likelyhood of many heels going over. Hopefully the NYC fans will migrate in large numbers to Nassau and make the show worthwhile from a crowd heat perspective. It could be the greatest WWE PPV ever, if everybody steps it up. The tag title match, IC title match, Edge/Eddy match, Angle/Mysterio match, and Flair/Jericho match can all be over *** and could all reach ****, with Benoit/RVD possibly reaching the magical five. Keep the crap short (cough*UT/Test*cough), and we have ourselves a dandy for $35.

 

Preview Grade: A-.

 

Jason

[Guest Brian]

I think Rey's beating Angle. I also think that either the UnAmericans either all go over or don't.

[Guest EMAXSAUN]

im going to it live

[Guest bps "The Truth" 21]

I think Angle's beating Rey.

[Guest bob_barron]

I'm also picking Angle over Rey- Angle will make Rey look great so a loss won't hurt him