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Welcome to PWInsider.com's live, ongoing WWE Summerslam 2019 coverage from Toronto, Ontario!
KICKOFF SHOW
The panel features Jonathan Coachman, Charly Caruso, David Otunga and Beth Phoenix. Otunga said this was his favorite PPV of the year.
Coachman noted Mick Foley would be joining them later.
They ran down the lineup for the show.
They went to ringside where JBL and Sam Roberts were talking. They noted Twitter was asking where they were and how kind Twitter always is. Oh yeah. They discussed Dolph Ziggler vs. Bill Goldberg and aired a video feature setting up that match.
The Miz joined the panel. He said he always has something up his sleeve and whatever is left of Ziggler after Dolph Ziggler wrestles Goldberg, Miz gets to take him out on Raw. He said he heard Ziggler mention Goldberg a few weeks ago and that made Miz say, "Hmmm." He said Ziggler always says it should be him, but why isn't it him? He said the fans explode when Goldberg's music hits but that doesn't happen when Dolph's music hits, so now is his chance to show it should be him. Miz said he respect the legends. He said some don't like when their spot is taken by a legend but if that's the case, go out and get a bigger pop. Make the fans miss you. He said that he thinks we'll see a spear and a Jackhammer tonight.
The panel then went to a video package on WWE Champion Kofi Kingston vs. Randy Orton.
The panel talked about the title bout. Otunga said ten years ago, Kingston wasn't ready but now he's matured and learned to overcome. Now, he wants to go back and correct the mistakes of his past.
Sam Roberts said he was in Madison Square Garden a decade ago when Kingston broke through but apparently Randy Orton held him down. JBL said a decade ago, Kofi wasn't ready. He said Orton has lived up to all the potential he heard about from his father Bob Orton. The match tonight can be a show-stealer. JBL said you weren't ready, sometimes you aren't ready. Roberts said Kofi didn't get a title shot for his entire WWE run and then he won the title at Wrestlemania and is having the best post-Wrestlemania season of any talent. JBL said if Kofi beats Orton, it will be his definitive career moment.
They aired clips of Charlotte Flair and Trish Stratus on The King's Court a few weeks back on Smackdown Live, setting the stage for their singles bout tonight.
Backstage, Charlotte said that Trish wanted to re-write history and claim she brought about the women's evolution. She said it was about her era. Trish was never as good as people remember and tonight, Trish is going to bow down to her. The panel discussed their bout.
They then broke down Finn Balor vs. Bray Wyatt, leading to a video feature on their bout. Sam Roberts said their match was going to be a massacre and wondered what Balor's ego was like to think he could take out Wyatt. He said that no one has seen an "entity" like Wyatt before and wondered what sort of ego Balor has thinking he can walk out, not as a demon, but a man. JBL said all the big stars have egos, but he's putting money on Wyatt. We don't know what to make of him. Balor is an incredible technical wrestler. Roberts said he thinks Balor will disappoint as he has before.
Mick Foley joined the panel. He said he hoped to be part of a "feel good" moment on Raw but he was attacked in an ominous moment that took him time to recover from. They noted that Wyatt used The Mandible Claw and Foley explained how the move worked. He said he used it originally to get in the mind of the Undertaker and now Wyatt is doing that to others. He said opponents has to wonder who they will face. Once you are inside your opponent's head, the victory is secondary to surviving intact.
They aired a Kevin Owens vs. Shane McMahon package.
Backstage, Owens was asked if tonight was the biggest night of his career. He said he wouldn't want to downplay everything else he's done in his career, but tonight he's fighting for his career. He's been asked why he didn't make sure Shane's career was on the line as well. Shane's last name is McMahon, so he can do whatever he wants and he has no integrity. Owens said that's why Shane ignored Owens' challenge and put his own career up, making sure he could get Shane in the ring in Toronto. He's going to take out years of frustration on Shane tonight. Tonight, the marquee might read Summerslam, but tonight is the Kevin Owens Show.
Sam Roberts said that the idea that Smackdown is the Shane McMahon Show is ludicrous, talking up Shane's big victories. JBL said that Kevin Owens should fight Jimmy Crockett and Ted Turner what it's like to fight a McMahon. He said Owens is an incredible performer and loves to steal the show. He said that if he's doing this for the Smackdown fans, he is horribly misguided.
The panel began breaking down Kevin Owens vs. Shane McMahon. Otunga said Shane wasn't going to put his career on the line before it made no sense from a business standpoint. Otunga said Owens may have put his career on the line, that is valiant, but he might be watching valiantly from home. Mick Foley said that he put his career on the line and lost it to Triple H and cost him some of his best years and that might be where Kevin Owens' ends up. He said that the next day, you wonder what have you done. Shane is going to take the fight to Owens.
Backstage, The O.C. encountered Finn Balor. They said they have been busy making sure the world knows they run the show. They said AJ Styles was going to take out Ricochet. Styles said he's been getting good luck wishes all week but maybe Finn Balor needs them. Balor said he's ready to play Bray Wyatt's mind games. Styles said that if he needs their help, just say when. They held up the "Too Sweet" sign offering it to Finn before walking off, leading Balor to ponder their offer.
They aired a video package on AJ Styles vs. Ricochet for the United States title.
JBL and Sam Roberts discussed the bout. Coachman said that perhaps Ricochet won the title too early in his career but now has been baptized into knowing what the business is all about. Otunga said that The O.C. may be one of the most powerful units in the WWE.
They aired a video package on the recent attacks on Roman Reigns. The panel pondered who could be responsible.
WWE Cruiserweight Champion Drew Gulak vs. Oney Lorcan.
Gulak attacked Lorcan immediately at the bell and went after his arm. Lorcan fought his way out and they faced off. Gulak took him to the mat and locked in a hammerlock, tying the challenger up on the mat. Lorcan escaped a two count but was trapped in the hammerlock again. Orcan backed Gulak into the corner and chopped away at him in the corner. Gulak battled back and slammed him hard into the ropes. Gulak continued to work over Lorcan's extremities, trying to force a submission while grinding him down
Lorcan tried to fight his way out, attempting to power out. He finally did so and nailed a series of thick chops to Gulak's chest. He nailed a gutbuster for a two count. Gulak escaped to the floor, but Lorcan followed and nailed a series of chops on the floor. They returned to the ring, where Gulak shocked him with a Dragon Sleeper. Lorcan used his leg to reach the ropes, forcing a break on the submission. They continued back and forth, escaping move attempts until they nailed the other with a clothesline in stereo, crashing down as the referee counted them down on the mat.
Gulak began drilling a series of strikes. Lorcan broke free but Gulak snatched him in another Dragon Sleeper. Lorcan turned that into a cover for a two count, Lorcan worked over Gulak and pulled him into the ring. Gulak pulled the ring apron into the ring. As the referee fixed that, Gulak punched Lorcan in the throat and hit the Cyclone Crash for the pin.
Your winner and still WWE Cruiserweight Champion Drew Gulak!
A very good bout where everything looked believable and featured some strong striking and wrestling. The only problem was the promotional push for Summerslam taking all the momentum from the match.
Jerry Lawler and Booker T joined the panel for the second hour of the Kickoff Show. Drake Maverick showed up and wanted them to discuss the WWE 24/7 Championship, noting he failed to win the title over the weekend at a Summerslam Meet & Greet and is looking for R-Truth. He wanted them to let him know if they have seen R-Truth. Meanwhile, Truth and Carmella were hiding under the glass of their set, unbeknownst to Maverick. After he left, Truth said they would be here all night watching NXT.
Maverick returned with a referee. Truth threw popcorn at him. Carmella tripped Maverick. She and Truth took off. Maverick chased them off into parts unknown.
The panel ran down the PPV lineup.
They ran a video piece on Becky Lynch vs. Natalya.
Natalya was interviewed backstage. She said Becky is all over the place dragging her, but when she gets locked in the Sharpshooter tonight, Becky will be the one being dragged. She promised to walk away the Raw Women's Champion.
Jerry Lawler said that he goes all the way back to Natalya's grandparents and he ended up in the Sharpshooter during his issues with Bret Hart more times than he can remember. He said it was the most painful hold he had ever been placed in. Booker said the past is the past. They talked the title match.
Apollo Crews vs. Buddy Murphy
Murphy started out strong, hitting several kicks to the back before locking in a rear chinlock. A lot of the commentary was dedicated to the Roman Reigns storyline and Murphy's revelation that it was Rowan who was responsible. Apollo nailed an enziguiri and followed up with a pump kick. He nailed another enziguiri. Murphy fought back and came off the ropes but was caught in mid-air and slammed backwards in a Samoan Drop. Crews nailed a standing moonsault for a two count. Crews pressed Murphy over his head but Murphy escaped and nailed Crews on the ropes. Murphy nailed a sit-out powerbomb off the ropes for a two count.
They battered each other with forearms and punches. Crews nailed a big knee strike. Murphy drilled him with one of his own but was drilled out of the ring. Crews went for a moonsault off the apron to the outside but Murphy grabbed him and slammed him into the stairs. Murphy nailed a big dive over the ropes. Before he could capitalize, Rowan attacked Murphy on the floor, beating him and throwing the Australian star into the ringside barricade.
Rowan went for a Beel Toss on the floor, but didn't really get it, then speared Murphy down on the floor. He powerbombed Murphy into the ring post. He told Murphy to keep his name out of Murphy's mouth. They showed Daniel Bryan silently watching the beating on a monitor backstage.
Elias performing was up next. He said it was the biggest show of the summer and he's been here all week long, signing autographs and performing concerts. Toronto is a special place and he wants to perform a song. He knocked Toronto, but out came Edge. He came to the ring, faced off with Elias and speared him. That might be the first physical interaction Edge in WWE has had since he retired, so that was a bit of a surprise. Toronto really liked seeing Edge.
WWE Women's Tag Team Champions Alexa Bliss & Nikki Cross vs. The IIconics.
The IIconics are ridiculously charismatic. Alexa and Billie started out. Peyton tagged in. Cross made the tag and was worked over. Peyton failed at preventing Bliss tagging in. Bliss nailed a STO on Royce but Kaye nailed a big pump kick. She and Cross battled to the outside. Bliss nailed Royce with a KO forearm shot and Royce crumpled to the mat. Bliss went for Twisted Bliss. Kaye tried to prevent it but Cross knocked her off the apron. Bliss nailed the move and scored the pin.
Your winners and still Champions, Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross!
Good but short match.
They aired a video feature on Seth Rollins vs. Brock Lesnar.
Coverage continues on Page 2!
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