WWE SummerSlam 2016: Lessons Learned from the Event
Very rarely does SummerSlam disappoint in being the biggest party of the summer for WWE, and this year was no different. Granted, the show had a handful of a underwhelming moments, but it was an enjoyable evening overall.
From the crowning of the first ever Universal Champion to AJ Styles' unprecedented victory over John Cena, there is no denying that it was a milestone show for WWE, which they will look to build off of in the months to come with Clash of Champions and Backlash.
But as far as SummerSlam went, there was plenty of controversy coming out of the event, specifically regarding some the match finishes and what transpired (or what didn't).
As a result, it will undoubtedly go down as one of the weirdest nights in recent WWE memory, but it has had fans talking in the days that have followed. It was also a very newsworthy show for a number of reasons and definitely solidified its status as a historic happening.
As we recover and reminisce on the latest SummerSlam installment, let's look back at the biggest lessons learned from the event.
The Miz's Best Days as Intercontinental Champion Are Ahead of Him
1 of 5
With the institution of several new championships in WWE, it is easy to overlook the ones we already have, specifically the Intercontinental Championship. While it has been several years since the belt last meant a great deal, The Miz deserves credit for helping the title reach new heights.
Miz may not be defending the title in instant classics similar to John Cena and his U.S. Open last year, but he has been playing his persona to perfection. He has always been a tremendous talker, but only during the latest reincarnation of his character has he come across as more motivated.
Maryse was an excellent addition to his act when she returned to TV earlier this year, and although she didn't aid him in his title defense at SummerSlam, she was a sight for sore eyes at ringside. Meanwhile, Miz was successful in maintaining his possession of the prestigious prize with a win over Apollo Crews.
At this point, Miz has already been Intercontinental Champion for nearly five months, but he has yet to reach his full potential as an intolerable heel fans want to see get his. That will make the moment when he ultimately drops the strap to someone mean that much more.
Miz's critically-acclaimed promo from "Talking Smack" this week only boosted his stock, and he can continue to further his momentum as champion in the months ahead. Why not have him hold the belt long enough to break the record of The Honky Tonk Man?
AJ Styles Is the Certified Face of SmackDown with Win over John Cena
2 of 5
AJ Styles had one goal on his mind when he attacked John Cena upon his return to Raw: to prove he was the superior Superstar in every way. For years, fans wondered who would win in a dream match between the two, and at Money in the Bank, we finally got an answer.
Styles had his hand raised when he pinned Cena for the three count, though the victory was tainted once The Club interfered and cost Cena the matchup. That later led to Cena, Enzo Amore and Big Cass conquering The Club in six-man tag team match action at Battleground.
Due to the Draft, the two trios were separated, and Cena and Styles were on their own once again. Alas, they were set to settle their score at SummerSlam in one final faceoff.
In what has been considered a Match of the Year candidate, Styles and Cena took each other to their respective limits, resulting in Styles beating Cena in clean fashion. This was the ultimate endorsement of Styles, who has shined since arriving in WWE at the onset of 2016.
As Cena presumably prepares to take a lesser role on the blue brand, it is high time Styles cement his spot as the top dog on Tuesday nights. Beware, Dean Ambrose: your days as WWE World Champion might be numbered.
Dolph Ziggler's Time in the Main Event Spotlight Is over
3 of 5
When Dolph Ziggler initially became the new No. 1 contender to the WWE World Championship in late July, the move was met with much skepticism from fans. Was this truly his time to regain his spot in the main event scene, or would Ziggler merely prove to be a filler feud for Ambrose?
Although they cut a slew of strong promos in the weeks preceding the pay-per-view, their match did not deliver when it mattered most. It was well-wrestled for the most part, but no one in the crowd seemed to care.
Ambrose is already stale enough as it is, and pairing him with someone who hasn't held steady momentum in ages didn't do the title any favors. It was a mediocre midcard affair at best and certainly not worthy of being contested for the top-tier title.
It was widely believed that going into the event, regardless of what happened afterward, Ziggler's chances of becoming world champion again were slim to none. And if he fell short of victory versus Ambrose at SummerSlam, his time spent in the main event scene was over.
Ziggler is as awesome as ever in the ring, but WWE has managed to make fans lose interest in him through his various stop-and-start pushes. His latest loss to Ziggler solidified him as an uppercard competitor for free.
Debuting a Disappointing Design of a New Title After a Historic Match
4 of 5
Not only were fans looking forward to what was bound to be a five star affair for the WWE Universal Championship at SummerSlam, they were anxious to see what the new belt would look like as well.
Let's clear the air: The design of the strap is absolutely underwhelming and unoriginal. I understand the red strap is supposed to signify it's a Raw title, but it simply doesn't look appealing at all.
Of course, the fans took matters into their own hands by criticizing the championship design all throughout the bout, hindering the quality of the contest in the process. Balor and Rollins went out to the ring with something to prove, but sadly, all the fans could focus on was how lame the Universal title looked.
Although the match was relatively solid, it could have been infinitely better if it wasn't hijacked by the audience. A simple solution would have been to save the reveal of the belt until afterward, so at least the match itself wouldn't have suffered.
The Brooklyn crowd is partly responsible for wasting too much time hollering about a dumb design, but WWE should have known that the predictable appearance of the belt would be rejected the faithful fans. The atmosphere for the matchup would have been significantly better.
Brock Lesnar Is as Ruthless as Ever
5 of 5
It was evident since the moment Brock Lesnar returned to WWE four years ago that his stock skyrocketed during his time in UFC and that he would bring legitimacy to the company. But he has somehow become even more vicious in the years that have followed.
Since ending The Undertaker's undefeated streak at WrestleMania 30, no one has been able to conquer The Beast Incarnate. Randy Orton put forth a strong effort at SummerSlam, but fell short of victory in humiliating fashion.
In fact, Lesnar went so far as to bust Orton open with a series of elbows to the skull, prompting the referee to end the match. Lesnar was awarded the victory by way of TKO, but he continued to pummel Orton, anyway.
Fans were obviously disappointed by the conclusion of the contest, but on the bright side, it did solidify Lesnar as a major force to be reckoned with. He annihilated Orton in a matter of minutes and ended the evening as the most destructive entity in the entire company.
When Lesnar does eventually lose to someone, it will mean that much more coming out of this SummerSlam. But who that slayer will be remains to be seen.
Graham Mirmina, aka Graham "GSM" Matthews, is a Digital Journalism major at Endicott College. Visit his website, Next Era Wrestling, and "like" his official Facebook page to continue the conversation on all things wrestling.
.jpg?w=600 "Colts Release Kenny Moore")
