WWE SummerSlam 2015: Matches That Lived Up to the Hype

As perhaps the second-biggest show on the entire calendar, WWE SummerSlam was always going to provide matches that went one of two ways.

There were going to be matches that fell a little flat in comparison to the pre-event hype, but thankfully for WWE fans, some of the bouts involved did indeed live up to the substantial hype placed upon them.

With all the big names and the drama that SummerSlam so often brings, it can be difficult for bouts to truly compare to the hype and the high quality fans expect. However, these bouts definitely lived up to the billing.

Kevin Owens vs. Cesaro

There was always going to be a danger of Kevin Owens vs. Cesaro slipping under the radar if the two big matches on the card had headline finishes.

And although that turned out to be the case due to Undertaker's deception used to beat Brock Lesnar and Jon Stewart's run-in to enable Seth Rollins to beat John Cena in their Winner Takes All match, Owens vs. Cesaro still managed to cope with the considerable pressure that was placed upon it.

After all, both these men have seemed to bring the best out of Cena themselves during matches against him in recent months, so the pressure was on them both to deliver a standout bout that would catch the eye.

And for the most part, they both managed to succeed. Cesaro's sheer physicality and brutality was once again on display, and Owens' impressive agility continues to startle since his explosive arrival on the main roster.

Again, it did slip under the radar a fraction due to what happened elsewhere, but the quality showed shouldn't be overlooked. This was a great effort from both men.

Seth Rollins vs. John Cena

These days, most matches involving the WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins are going to have plenty of hype attached to them.

After all, Rollins has brought a unique and unpredictable style of in-ring action to most of his performances since exploding into the main roster with The Shield, and much is expected of him every time he competes.

But the recent efforts of John Cena also added a fraction of hype onto this bout too. As mentioned, Cena has had exemplary matches against both Cesaro and Kevin Owens, so the pressure was on here to deliver a match worthy of a world title showdown.

And with Cena's game and stock continuing to rise, it made for a great match from start to finish. And what's more, Rollins' effort inside the ring has to rank in the top three of his WWE solo career to date.

He worked the match superbly, stealing Cena's Attitude Adjustment and even proving that he can show his charisma while working in a top match. 

It was a fine match—arguably the best of the night. 

Brock Lesnar vs. The Undertaker

It's impossible to get away from the fact that there were fears that this match would be a flop.

The hype was massive given the presence and personality of the two men involved, and the way WWE built it up with Paul Heyman as the mouthpiece and the two brawling on occasions all throughout arenas.

And for a guy approaching 50, it's fair to say it was worrisome wondering how Undertaker would deal with Brock Lesnar, arguably the most physical and demanding worker in the company.

But all those bumps were dealt with well, and Undertake worked a good match that certainly provided some hard-hitting and bone-bruising moments.

That F5 through the announce table was a real bump given the way he landed, but the Deadman bounced back well and finished the match strongly. 

Lesnar also looked like a real beast from start to finish, and the way his loss was booked ensured he remained relatively strong heading out of SummerSlam.

It was a great main event, albeit with a tinge of confusion and madness surrounding the finish.