WWE SummerSlam 2011 Results: 15 Things We Learned from Staples Center

Another WWE pay-per-view is in the books, and it was a wild one at times. 

SummerSlam on Aug. 14th delivered on many fronts and perhaps disappointed in others.  Of course, truth be told, the chances of this event being truly great were probably 50-50.

After all, this event had to follow the wildly successful and epic Money in the Bank.  It's like following Shawn Michaels after a one-hour Ironman match.  Good luck with that.

It's perhaps too early to say where SummerSlam will fall in terms of importance to the overall WWE product, but there were some great moments that are pretty memorable.

So, what did we learn from this event?  Let's find out.

15. The Miz Is Losing His Way

Last week I wrote a column about what I felt was bad booking for Alberto Del Rio on RAW. 

His status may have just suddenly changed for the better, but now another superstar seems to be sliding down himself. 

For whatever reason, The Miz was booked in a six-man tag with R-Truth and Del Rio against Rey Mysterio, John Morrison and Kofi Kingston.

It was a good match, I personally had no issues with it.  It was fast paced, with some nice high spots, and did what any good curtain jerk is supposed to do, it set the tone.

But Miz is a former WWE Champion.  He has arguably come further and done more than any one ever expected him to.  He is good at what he does, and he is over as one of the top heels on RAW.

So, what is next for Miz?  At some point, a new feud needs to develop, another challenge to keep him relevant in the company.  With a heel once again as WWE Champion, that door may have closed for Miz, at least for now.

When will the next one open? 

14. R-Truth and Jimmy Hart Are a Great Fit

It was just a comedy bit, done for a quick laugh.  R-Truth backstage talking to The Mouth of the South Jimmy Hart, Hart encouraging Truth to aim higher, that he could use a manager.  Then, the obligatory "little Jimmy" reference as the punchline to the spot, and that was it.

But, is it just me or did the idea of Hart and Truth just make perfect sense?

Hart has never been the typical straight faced heel manager, and Truth is nowhere near being the typical straight faced heel wrestler.  It's a match made in quirky heel heaven.

Hart is older, and that's not what the company is after these days, I get that.  But he has instant face and name recognition, and if there's anything that the business is missing these days, it's the classic heel manager.

Jimmy Hart needs another run in the company, and he should start by managing R-Truth to the very top of WWE. 

No conspiracy theories here, just a great idea.

13. Mark Henry Is for Real

When Sheamus first stood up to Mark Henry, much to the delight of the fans on Smackdown, I thought, well, here we go, it's over for Mark.

Henry has been running like a freight train through every opponent that has been placed in front of him for the past few months.  He has been an unstoppable force of nature, terrorizing Friday nights like no other man has in a long time.

While I was happy to see it and loved the direction they were taking Mark, I kept wondering when it was going to stop.

It did not stop on Sunday night.

Mark won by count-out when Sheamus could not get back up after being plowed through the ringside barrier by the World's Strongest Man.  It was a high impact move that put the exclamation point on a high impact match.

Mark looked like the destructive bruising mammoth that he has been allowed to be, and now only one question remains.

How long before Mark Henry gets his shot at the top?

12. Cee Lo Green Can't Sing

He can't, OK.

Hey, it's an opinion piece, what do you want here?

11. Beth Phoenix Has Some Work to Do

In what I personally would consider a surprise on the night, Kelly Kelly retained the Divas Championship against Beth Phoenix.

Considering Beth's recent heel turn against Kelly and her actions over the past two weeks, it was almost a given that she was leaving SummerSlam with the butterfly belt.

But apparently, being one of the toughest women and most talented to ever step into a WWE ring is not enough for Beth.  She has some work left to do.

Kelly was given a fair shot at looking good on Sunday night.  She was in the ring with one of the best, and she began showing some attitude.  Instead of having her look weak against the dominant female, Kelly showed some spunk, some toughness.  They are not going to let her just roll over and play dead.

But I just don't know if I see it.  The match was a little rough in spots, which is OK, but Kelly Kelly is just not strong enough as champion to carry it.  She is what every one has accused her of being. She is the pretty little blond cheerleader, who is the cover girl of the company. 

It apparently is going to take some time to give Beth another shot at the top of the Divas division, and I for one hope it happens soon.

10. Wade Barrett vs Daniel Bryan Is a Classic Rivalry in the Making

At SummerSlam, the match that stole the show for me was Wade Barrett versus Daniel Bryan.

I had no doubt that these two would bring it for this match, and I was not disappointed.  They are both very good in the ring, and they brought out the best in each other from opening bell to ending bell.

Barrett is the classic heel, in every sense of the word.  He has the look, he can talk and he has that killer instinct to become one of the best in the company.

Bryan is the perfect foil for Wade, as he is not arrogant or cocky but tough and hard working, earning his way up in the business since the day he first started.

Part of me truly believes that sooner or later Bryan's Money in the Bank contract will be put on the line against Barrett.  If that happens, then their feud may very well be on its way to wrapping up.

Whether or not that happens is anyone's guess.  What is not unknown is if these two can create something memorable in the ring. 

For me, the answer on that one is a definite yes.

9. Edge Is Missed in WWE

When Christian announced Edge as his surprise for the night, the pop was tremendous. 

Edge has not been seen on WWE TV for a while, and he has been missed.  His personality, his way with words, the fire in his eyes, everything is still there.  Of course, Edge just can't go physically.

But that doesn't mean he can't be there.  The company does appear to be getting a little younger, with Vince McMahon being written out of storylines and replaced with Triple H.  Perhaps there's room for Edge as well?

I like Teddy Long as much as the next guy, but maybe it's time for a change on Smackdown?

For that matter, what about the joke of a General Manager position on RAW?  Edge would be perfect in that role, a guy like him on live television every week would be very entertaining.

Edge is living his life, staying busy, and who can blame him?  But, WWE misses his presence, and if there's any possibility that he can return in some capacity, then he should.  He is definitely a favorite and always will be.

8. Chrisitan Is in His Element as World Champion

Christian is perhaps the one WWE Superstar who is most comfortable in his own skin. 

He knows who he is and how to handle his character.  His words never feel forced, his promos seem to happen so effortlessly.  Having the World Title has only accentuated his character, and he has never looked better in his role as a heel.

There have been some doubters out there that Christian would be able to pull it off at all.  He has never been looked at as anything more than a mid-card worker, and when he won the belt, some fans were left shaking their heads.

But Christian has more than risen to the occasion and not only carried the title but done it in classic heel fashion.

He is definitely in his element as World Champion.

7. Christian Was Indeed Just Keeping the World Title Warm for Randy Orton

Correction, Christian WAS in his element as World Champion.

The ending to the World Title match was what Christian's fans feared.  Smackdown has gone from an interesting storyline with two great workers and some compelling matches to Randy Orton being reinstated as the top guy with the gold.

I suppose it was only a matter of time.

When Orton was traded back to Friday nights, the buzz around the move was painfully obvious.  RAW would be John Cena's show, Smackdown would be Orton's.

In the world of WWE, the top star of the company does not necessarily need the belt to be the top star.  Randy Orton has been doing just fine without it, as he continued to retain the company's focus on the program.  He is the Viper, and he is their guy.

But now that Orton is once again World Champion, it looks as though WWE is returning back to the status quo on Smackdown.

Of course, no one knows what tomorrow holds, Christian could always climb back up the ladder at some point.

Yeah, I don't buy that either.  Randy is the man with the gold once again.  Just like old times.

6. Some Drama Is Going on Behind the Scenes

Stephanie McMahon's return to WWE television may not mean anything.

As fans, we do tend to over analyze everything we see. Perhaps she was thrown in just for laughs, a way for CM Punk to once again be able to thumb his nose at the McMahon family.  Maybe that was the only reason we saw her backstage.

But as we tuck that little notion away in the "yeah, whatever" file, let's look at what happened.

Stephanie wishes Punk good luck in his WWE Title unification match with John Cena.  In fact, she even says it on behalf of her husband Triple H.

I'm sorry, what now?

The guy supposedly responsible for getting Vince McMahon fired is about to wrestle for the undisputed WWE Championship, and his daughter wishes him luck in his efforts?

Then, after visiting with Cena, Stephanie leaves subtly shaking her head and looking back at John's door.  I can't pretend to know where they're going with this, but there is always the possibility that we could find out tomorrow on RAW.

It can't get here fast enough, can it?

5. John Cena Is More Than Capable of Having a Good Wrestling Match

Yeah, so most of us know this one already, but it bears repeating.

John Cena is indeed fully capable of having a great match.  The problem is, most of the time he doesn't, so when it happens it seems like such a shock to the system.

Of course, we're not talking about Ricky Steamboat great but very good, at least for John.

We've seen it before with Shawn Michaels and now with CM Punk.  The better the guy he works, the more John steps up his game.  This is one instance when the comparisons to Hulk Hogan have no merit.

Hogan, despite who he worked and when, always did the same thing.  Period.  He hardly ever switched it up, and rarely ever did anything new.

John is definitely able to improvise, and just when you think he is ready for yet another shoulder tackle, he stuns you by pulling off a dropkick.

He will never be accused of being Kurt Angle, but he has proven that he can be a much better John Cena.  What more can you ask?

4. Cena's Legacy Is Untouched by CM Punk

Well, it didn't happen.

Since the day that CM Punk cut his infamous promo, exposing what he believed to be a faulty organization behind the scenes in WWE, speculation among fans has been running rampant.

Will this be the one feud that turns Cena heel once again?

Thus far the answer is no.  In fact, by the end of SummerSlam, it was obvious that not only would John's anticipated heel turn not happen but that his legacy is unscathed by Punk's all too real attack on his character.

John did not take the easy way out at the pay per view.  He was the ultimate boy scout, all the way to the end.  When he was pinned by Punk, with his leg on the bottom rope that went unacknowledged by Triple H, I said, "Well, he's getting it back soon."

Is it even possible to pin John Cena without some sort of distraction or controversy? 

The rivalry between these two men may not be over, but one fact remains clear.  John Cena is who he is, and he remains the same despite what situation he's placed in. 

Of course, there is always the RAW after SummerSlam.  Anything could happen, right?

Yeah, I'm not holding my breath either.

3. Triple H Is Not in Charge After All

Judging by his reaction over old buddy Kevin Nash's surprising appearance, combined with his wife Stephanie's odd behavior backstage, it appears that Hunter is in the dark.

He played the moment well, and the question is, if Triple H did not know that Nash was going to be a factor, then who did? 

Who gave the instruction to take out Punk?

Vince McMahon was responsible for every evil act under the sun in WWE.  He did them all with a big smile on his face.

But this does not feel like that.  For the first time since the C.O.O storyline began with him, Hunter looks like he has lost control.  He also looks as though he is clueless as to what happened.

Anything can happen on RAW of course, Triple H could end up being the mastermind behind the whole thing.  But for me, there is real drama in someone else being responsible for what occurred at SummerSlam. 

And let's face it, WWE is better than anyone when it comes to drama.

2. It's Not Over for Punk

CM Punk's whirlwind ride at the top of the company could quite possibly have ended at SummerSlam. 

I believe it was expected on some fronts, as WWE's willingness to do something new and innovative and their ability to see it through, has always been in question. 

Throw an independent star whose time in the company was supposedly coming to an end into the mix, and it became even more hazy as to what could happen next.

But despite CM Punk losing the WWE Championship, it's not over yet.

Punk being viciously attacked by Kevin Nash, who may have been acting under someone's direction behind the scenes, will only validate everything that he has said to this point.

The odds are indeed stacked against him, and the company will do whatever is necessary to return to the status quo.

That means getting the belt off of him and putting it on a character that more closely resembles the traditional WWE Superstar.

Whoever is responsible did just that.

Make no mistake, CM Punk's character will not just roll over and accept this ending.  He has not yet begun to fight.

1. WWE Surprises Like No Other Pro Wrestling Company Can

Still buzzing over Kevin Nash's appearance at SummerSlam?  Yeah, so am I.

WWE is the king, there is no doubt about it.  The WWE Title match began with a thousand questions and ended with a thousand more.  It was a definite cliffhanger.

Every time we think we have it all figured out when it comes to this company and how they run storylines, we are proven wrong.  This match was the best example of that.

To say this was unexpected is a huge understatement.  What does Kevin Nash have to do with either CM Punk or John Cena? 

Nothing.  Nothing at all.

That is the beauty of this.  Yes, it was a surreal moment, no, it makes no sense, and it was absolutely the right move at the right time.

Why?  Because a great pro wrestling event and storyline has to end with more questions than answers.  There is no future drama in an evening full of feuds that end and heat that dies between workers. Fans need a reason to tune in the next night.

Real drama is when fans look at each other and say "what the #$%& is going on?"

No one is better at creating those moments than WWE, and they proved it once again at SummerSlam.