SummerSlam 2009 Thoughts
SummerSlam 2009 was the 22nd annual SummerSlam event produced by the WWE. It took place August 23, 2009 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. This would be the first of six consecutive SummerSlam events to take place at this arena. Attendence was set at 14,116 with a buyrate low of 369,000. I mentioned the buyrate low due to WWE at this time period were having competition with UFC when it came to choice of ordering a PPV for a month as UFC was on the rise. This event also was the last PPV match for Jeff Hardy who was expected to just take time off for awhile after contract expired. Instead Hardy would unexpectedly sign with TNA for the next 7 years.
The card was remembered for DX reuniting against Legacy which was HBK first match since his legendary WrestleMania 25 match and a storyline was going on of HHH needing help to one up against Orton's lead team of Ted DiBiase & Cody Rhodes. Meanwhile Randy Orton had his hands full of facing John Cena who won a beat the clock challenge to earn a match against Orton for the WWE Championship. Jeff Hardy continued his feud with CM Punk as they would battle all out in a TLC for the World Heavyweight Championship. Man was this feud amazing.
The Good - Jeff Hardy vs. CM Punk. An instant classic. The story telling of Punk & Hardy who put their real life traits inside this feud was hot. I remember this feud winning most awards for best wrestling feud of 2009. Jeff Hardy was arguably the best draw behind Cena at the time and was the face of Smackdown. Punk was booked as such a hated but honest heel of what people support Jeff of. Feud gave goosebumps. The match was incredible and the high spots were mind blowing. The opening match between Rey Mysterio & Dolph Ziggler was hot and crowd was pumped for it. By crowd chants, most adults really liked Ziggler as young upcoming star depite him being a heel. The DX vs. Legacy and the tag team title matches were good too. DX vs. Legacy was almost set for main event but thankfully they didn't.
The Meh - They didn't over do it, but the constant involvement of celebrities mentioned and being shown to have represented the WWE was getting annoying. John Cena vs. Randy Orton was starting to look good but the repeated moments of Orton getting out the cheap way ruined it a lot. They just couldn't have Orton get a clean victory over the face of the company.
The Bad - Great Khali vs. Kane was what you would expect. Dud match and snoozed fest. William Regal vs. Christian wasn't exactly a match with how it went but man to think these two couldn't have a great match for a little bit of time left but have Khali and Kane on the card was just sad. May sound strange but WWE ECW at the time was just accepted as a 3rd brand and not ECW and some folks actually enjoyed it.
Overall - Show was fun to watch at the end. No infamous moments or dreadful booking to complain at. Not one of the best SummerSlams but still a very Memorable one with a few pros and cons.
Score - 7 out of 10: Good
0 = Terrible : 1 = Bad/Lackluster : 2 = Decent : 3 = Good : 4 = Awesome : 5 = One of the Best of all Time :
1. Rey Mysterio vs. Dolph Ziggler: WWE Intercontinental Championship - 4/5
2. Jack Swagger vs. MVP - 1.5/5
3. Chris Jericho & Big Show vs. Cryme Tyme: Unified Tag Team Championships - 3/5
4. Kane vs. The Great Khali - 0/5
5. D-Generation X vs. Legacy - 3.5/5
6. William Regal vs. Christian: ECW Championship - Not Worth It
7. John Cena vs. Randy Orton: WWE Championship - 2/5
8. CM Punk vs. Jeff Hardy: World Heavyweight Championship (TLC) - 4.5/5
Best Match - Jeff Hardy vs. CM Punk
Worst Match - Kane vs. Great Khali
Most Memorable Moment - Jeff Hardy Swanton from 21 foot ladder.
Top 5 Performers
1. Jeff Hardy - Stole the show with high spots
2. CM Punk - Great Performance
3. Rey Mysterio - Great Performance
4. Dolph Ziggler - Look great as an upcoming star
5. D-Generation X/Legacy - Great Performance.
SummerSlam 2009 was the 22nd annual SummerSlam event produced by the WWE. It took place August 23, 2009 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. This would be the first of six consecutive SummerSlam events to take place at this arena. Attendence was set at 14,116 with a buyrate low of 369,000. I mentioned the buyrate low due to WWE at this time period were having competition with UFC when it came to choice of ordering a PPV for a month as UFC was on the rise. This event also was the last PPV match for Jeff Hardy who was expected to just take time off for awhile after contract expired. Instead Hardy would unexpectedly sign with TNA for the next 7 years.
The card was remembered for DX reuniting against Legacy which was HBK first match since his legendary WrestleMania 25 match and a storyline was going on of HHH needing help to one up against Orton's lead team of Ted DiBiase & Cody Rhodes. Meanwhile Randy Orton had his hands full of facing John Cena who won a beat the clock challenge to earn a match against Orton for the WWE Championship. Jeff Hardy continued his feud with CM Punk as they would battle all out in a TLC for the World Heavyweight Championship. Man was this feud amazing.
The Good - Jeff Hardy vs. CM Punk. An instant classic. The story telling of Punk & Hardy who put their real life traits inside this feud was hot. I remember this feud winning most awards for best wrestling feud of 2009. Jeff Hardy was arguably the best draw behind Cena at the time and was the face of Smackdown. Punk was booked as such a hated but honest heel of what people support Jeff of. Feud gave goosebumps. The match was incredible and the high spots were mind blowing. The opening match between Rey Mysterio & Dolph Ziggler was hot and crowd was pumped for it. By crowd chants, most adults really liked Ziggler as young upcoming star depite him being a heel. The DX vs. Legacy and the tag team title matches were good too. DX vs. Legacy was almost set for main event but thankfully they didn't.
The Meh - They didn't over do it, but the constant involvement of celebrities mentioned and being shown to have represented the WWE was getting annoying. John Cena vs. Randy Orton was starting to look good but the repeated moments of Orton getting out the cheap way ruined it a lot. They just couldn't have Orton get a clean victory over the face of the company.
The Bad - Great Khali vs. Kane was what you would expect. Dud match and snoozed fest. William Regal vs. Christian wasn't exactly a match with how it went but man to think these two couldn't have a great match for a little bit of time left but have Khali and Kane on the card was just sad. May sound strange but WWE ECW at the time was just accepted as a 3rd brand and not ECW and some folks actually enjoyed it.
Overall - Show was fun to watch at the end. No infamous moments or dreadful booking to complain at. Not one of the best SummerSlams but still a very Memorable one with a few pros and cons.
Score - 7 out of 10: Good
0 = Terrible : 1 = Bad/Lackluster : 2 = Decent : 3 = Good : 4 = Awesome : 5 = One of the Best of all Time :
1. Rey Mysterio vs. Dolph Ziggler: WWE Intercontinental Championship - 4/5
2. Jack Swagger vs. MVP - 1.5/5
3. Chris Jericho & Big Show vs. Cryme Tyme: Unified Tag Team Championships - 3/5
4. Kane vs. The Great Khali - 0/5
5. D-Generation X vs. Legacy - 3.5/5
6. William Regal vs. Christian: ECW Championship - Not Worth It
7. John Cena vs. Randy Orton: WWE Championship - 2/5
8. CM Punk vs. Jeff Hardy: World Heavyweight Championship (TLC) - 4.5/5
Best Match - Jeff Hardy vs. CM Punk
Worst Match - Kane vs. Great Khali
Most Memorable Moment - Jeff Hardy Swanton from 21 foot ladder.
Top 5 Performers
1. Jeff Hardy - Stole the show with high spots
2. CM Punk - Great Performance
3. Rey Mysterio - Great Performance
4. Dolph Ziggler - Look great as an upcoming star
5. D-Generation X/Legacy - Great Performance.