WWE Summerslam 2014: Biggest Talking Points Following Major Event

SummerSlam 2014 is in the can, and the WWE put on an impressive showing in what was a solid pay-per-view extravaganza. 

With plenty of title changes at the event, there was no shortage of talking points. As the weeks and months roll on, the long-term effects of SummerSlam will shape the card for a sizable period of time.

But amid all the controversy, drama and action that SummerSlam provided for WWE fans, a few notable moments stuck out above the rest. Let's take a look at some of the biggest talking points from the show.

Stephanie McMahon's Performance

It's amazing to think that, despite possessing a roster full of full-time wrestlers, the best in-ring performance of 2014 has come from Stephanie McMahon.

She was excellent against Brie Bella, and their match did a good job of laying the platform for the main-event matches to deliver. But it is Stephanie's in-ring ability that has really caught the eye, with many people clearly astonished that she could still be so impressive after a near 10-year absence from the ring.

After the controversial way the match ended, it's likely that Stephanie will be wrestling again sooner rather than later. But in all honesty, that won't bother WWE fans one bit.

Rollins vs. Ambrose Keeps On Delivering

Everyone probably knew it would be the match of the night, but Seth Rollins vs. Dean Ambrose is the gift that just keeps on giving.

After their failure to even have a match stole the show at Battleground, Rollins and Ambrose combined for another solid showing at SummerSlam. This rivalry has the potential to carry on for several months, probably concluding with Rollins putting his Money in the Bank briefcase on the line toward the end of the year.

Ambrose is fast becoming one of the hottest properties in the WWE, and it's valid to suggest he's more popular than Roman Reigns. Hopefully the WWE doesn't decide to drop this rivalry anytime soon, as it's the best and most entertaining matchup on offer.

John Cena Was Squashed

That's right, folks. It actually happened: John Cena was outright squashed by another WWE star on pay-per-view. Many thought it was a day that would never come, but at SummerSlam, Cena was completely dismantled by Brock Lesnar in a ruthlessly one-sided contest.

The match evoked painful memories of Extreme Rules 2012, when Cena was dominated by Lesnar yet somehow rose above adversity and got the win. Thankfully, SummerSlam 2014 was very different, indeed.

Some will question the manner of the victory, arguing it wasn't really a main-event match of any sort—more a one-sided beating. But this contest has sent shockwaves throughout the wrestling world, especially to those who thought Cena was immune to this kind of beating.

Cena's likely response on Raw should be fascinating, because for arguably the first time in his career, he has been humbled. And that's a sentence that probably appeals to a lot of wrestling fans.