This month started off rough but once SummerSlam and the THUNDERDOME were introduced, we got back to a kind of wrestling.
1. SmackDown Women’s Title: Bayley [c] vs. Asuka (SummerSlam 8/23/20)
Bayley is inexplicably on the run of her career as a heel while let’s just say it: Asuka is the Best in the World. This tremendous match opened SummerSlam and got the good vibes rolling with wrestling that was as quality as anything this year, crowd or not. It had a big fight feel and intensity, creative offense (Bayley’s double kneebreaker on the apron!), fun twists and turns (that Bayley elbow to the cross armbreaker!), high drama – even the sudden cradle finish worked for what they were doing.
2. RAW Women’s Title: Sasha Banks [c] vs. Asuka (SummerSlam 8/23/20)
Asuka had the two best matches of the month in one night, in case you were wondering about that Best in the World thing. She also had two completely different matches… the first your traditional opener, the second a slugfest. They kicked each other’s ass then tried to tap the other out and somebody got caught – what else can you want? This also has one of the craziest sunset flip powerbombs ever delivered.
3. Street Fight: Dominik Mysterio w/ Rey Mysterio vs. Seth Rollins w/ Murphy (SummerSlam 8/23/20)
Seth Rollins might not be the guy to have the most natural chemistry with the Mysterio Family but he and Dom put on a show here, hitting all the notes of impressive debut + big flying + random old school powerbombs. This went 20 minutes and somehow rarely lost it. The Son of Mysterio is here.
4. Loser Leaves WWE No DQ Match: Mandy Rose vs Sonya Deville (SummerSlam 8/23/20)
This was the most simple, straightforward, and awesome possible conclusion to this feud – less dragging each other around an arena and more just 10 minutes of shit-kicking. Real pro wrestling.
5. Kalisto vs. Cesaro (SmackDown 8/28/20)
Shame it was 5 minutes, shame they’re rarely featured, but this still ruled. They fit in like 5 of the most complex and coolest moves on WWE television in months.
6. RAW Tag Team Title: Street Profits [c] vs. Andrade & Angel Garza w/ Zelina Vega (SummerSlam 8/23/20)
They got time and hit all the beats – just a good old-fashioned tag team match, which in today’s WWE is inexplicably a treat. Despite their odd choice of Spirit Squad attire, this was a big time performance by the Street Profits.
7. Big E vs. Sheamus (Payback 8/30/20)
Sheamus can’t go as hard as he used to but this was all about the journey of Big E delivering on a big singles match. There were some quality Dark Night of the Soul moments, like E getting caught in a heel hook or even just Sheamus boring everybody with offense. Then E did the comeback and it ruled.
8. Adam Cole vs. Pat McAfee (TakeOver: XXX 8/22/20)
The WWE Celebrity Special, laid out to maximize the moment but also… this feud just never felt right after an initial hot angle. Like, I’m glad former NFL punter and current podcast host Pat McAfee can do a somersault plancha and backflip off the top rope, but why did this happen? It felt like an exhibition match for the brass, one where everybody went backstage and slapped hands without stopping to think where any of it goes in the future. It exceeded expectations, but never felt necessary.
9. Triple Threat North American Title Qualifying Match: Damian Priest vs. Oney Lorcan vs. Ridge Holland (NXT 8/5/20)
When Oney Lorcan is in a match that matters, go watch it. He brought the energy needed here to make this a fun go-go-go Triple Threat, bumping all over while Ridge tossed everybody around with suplexes.
10. Rey & Dominik Mysterio vs. Seth Rollins & Murphy (RAW 8/24/20)
This is very much a WWE RAW main event, a match that’s too short and basic to be anything all that special. But also – it is a one-eyed Rey Mysterio teaming up with his son and dropping all the greatest hits. Escobar and Swerve went hard, Drew and Randy pleased PS Hayes, but I had more fun watching this tag than either of ’em.
Honorable Mentions: WWE Cruiserweight Title: Santos Escobar [c] w/ Joaquin Wilde and Raul Mendoza vs. Isaiah “Swerve” Scott (NXT 8/26/20), WWE Title: Drew McIntyre [c] vs. Randy Orton (SummerSlam 8/23/20), Finn Balor vs. Timothy Thatcher (TakeOver: XXX 8/22/20), Triple Threat Match Qualifier: Dominik Mysterio vs. Seth Rollins (RAW 8/31/20), Rey & Dominik Mysterio vs. Seth Rollins & Murphy (Payback 8/30/20), NXT Tag Team Title: Marcel Barthel & Fabian Aichner [c] vs. Breezango (NXT 8/26/20)
Pete Dunne vs. Alexander Wolfe (NXT UK 8/13/20), Keith Lee vs. Randy Orton (Payback 8/30/20), Keith Lee vs. Randy Orton (RAW 8/24/30), NXT Women’s Title: Io Shirai [c] vs. Dakota Kai w/ Raquel Gonzalez (TakeOver: XXX 8/22/20), WWE Intercontinental Title: AJ Styles [c] vs. Jeff Hardy (SmackDown 8/21/20), Big E vs. Sheamus (SmackDown 8/21/20)
Lince Dorado w/ Gran Metalik vs. Cesaro w/ Shinsuke Nakamura (SmackDown 8/7/20), Asuka Wins, She Faces Sasha Banks at SummerSlam: Asuka vs. Bayley w/ Sasha Banks (RAW 8/10/20), No Holds Barred Triple Threat Match – WWE Universal Title: The Fiend [c] vs. Roman Reigns vs. Braun Strowman (Payback 8/30/20)
