WWE SummerSlam 2016 Results: Lasting Memories from Epic PPV

Five days after the summertime spectacular rocked the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, fans have had enough time to let the events of SummerSlam 2016 gestate. Some have even relived the four-hour marathon of a show more than once, their dedication to mediocre extravaganzas that looked far better on paper than the finished product uncanny.

Regardless if one was thrilled by the annual showcase of sports-entertainment pomp and circumstance, there is no denying that the show provided fans with a handful of lasting memories historians will readily associate with the broadcast.

There were championship victories, controversial finishes and a Match of the Year candidate that solidified one of its combatants as one of the greatest Superstars in event history.

Creative failures may have plagued SummerSlam as a whole but these moments will echo in eternity as the most memorable and exciting from this year's event.

Simply Phenomenal

AJ Styles continued his monumental year by rolling into Brooklyn and beating John Cena clean in the center of the ring.

To put the win in perspective, one must look at some of Cena's recent SummerSlam outings.

In 2011, he lost to CM Punk, but controversy reigned supreme as special referee Triple H missed his foot on the bottom rope during the pin. Two years later, he lost to Daniel Bryan but had the built-in excuse of a torn triceps to help explain it away.

There is no excuse, no escape plan for Cena. For the first time since he did the favor for Kevin Owens a year ago at Elimination Chamber, Cena was simply beaten by the better man.

It is such a simple-yet-entirely effective way to tell a story and get a Superstar over in the process that it's a wonder WWE Creative doesn't tell it more often rather than continuously finding new ways for heels to go over on babyfaces.

That Styles' win came in what was the 2016 WWE Match of the Year (so far) only enhanced the moment.

A Universal Demon King

Finn Balor defeated Seth Rollins in Raw's main event contribution to the show, becoming the first-ever WWE universal champion in the process.

Making the moment even more significant is the fact that he showed unquestionable toughness as he fought through a severe shoulder injury to put The Architect away with the Coup de Grace.

The celebration was a moment in time that validated everything The Demon King accomplished during his time in NXT. Unfortunately, it was short-lived as the injury would require surgery, ending his reign with the new title before it could ever begin.

This is the End?

Brock Lesnar and Randy Orton built a very solid heavyweight battle throughout Sunday's main event, culminating in what should have been a grand finish to their marquee match.

Instead, it was a finish straight out of UFC, one that left the fans in Brooklyn confused and underwhelmed.

There was Orton, lying on his back, blood pouring from a gash that would ultimately require 16 staples to close. He had been victim to vicious elbows at the hands of his opponent.

While the finish injected the world of sports entertainment with legitimacy, it also defeated the purpose of pro wrestling: to take fans on an enthralling ride that wraps up with a definitive finish.

It is what separates the art form from sport and on that night, it enraged fans who had paid hard-earned money to see one of the biggest events of the year.