Words By Patrick O’malley.
For more articles please check out my site squaredcirclemma.com. AEW Redemption Breakdown My Thoughts. WWE Raw Analysys. Poor Showing.
My Life As A Pro Wrestling Fan PT1.
This Weeks AEW Dynamite Breakdown.
Intro.
The build to this years biggest party of the summer has been with what can only be described as a mixbag. From confusion and speculation around surrounding the future of how WWE might look at how they distribute tickets, whilst taking a look how there booking needs to have an end product, which I feel has been missing for sometime. WWE need to take this oppotunity, and run with it, because in the live industry, this type of practice is essential.
Superstar Arrivals.
Oba Femi was seen training Nick Aldis. The Bellas and Paige. Fatal Influence. Cm Punk, and Cody Rhodes were seen showing up to work.
Intro Video.
When WWE do Intro videos, they always come across a bit cheesy, and this one was no different. I don’t who they got to do this Because I don’t know a crumb about American Football, so this fell on death ears with me.
Iyo Sky vs Liv Morgan WWE Womens Championship.
As I sat down to this watch this. I couldn’t help but think that the stadium looked a bit stark, and compact. This was due to the fact that WWE have had to cut the price of some tickets due to low sales. This one of the biggest problem that WWE have to take a look going forwards. The world is partly still in a cost of living crisis so having major coporations gaging there own customers is never a good idea. The Match felt stale, and this was a worrying look for the rest of the card. WWE haven’t done a great job booking Liv Morgan of late, and this Match was a good example of that. The Match had several holes, and they were clear once the first few minutes got out of the way. Both ladies chemistry felt off, and the overall feel of the Match was lacking any form of drama. This was also a look at how WWE creative has become quite stark over the past few years. Liv Retained after not doing anything for what feels like 6 months. This is one of the worst booking decisions that HHH has done in quite some time. This Match also fell into the sorry state of predictability, as The Judgement Day showed up. I feel bad for Iyo because this now leaves her in a creative bind, that doesn’t seem to have an end, whilst Liv’s future looks bright. I didn’t like this.
The Bloodline vs Solo Sikoa. Royce Keys and LA Knight.
One of the biggest complaints that WWE fans have made this year is the fact that corporate sponsorship and adverts, have started to get a bit thin. So this Match was no exception as The Uso’s walked out to a modified entrance theme that was sponsored by the new Gears Of War game, whilst Jacob Fatu had a distopian predator mask. The Match came complete with good TV Match Matches within the Match, and of course King Solo bantering his sidlings and cousin, by running back Jeys Yeeting. Pew Pew. Solo and his crew got the win. I thought this was fun.
Gunther vs Nick Aldis.
Gunther has been one of the best things about WWE in 2026, and their feud has been well received in the O’malley household. I also have a thought. What do The Genie in Aladdin, and Wembley Arena have in common? Nick Aldis has performed in both theatres and that Arena, but not in the same character. This was excellent. The Ring General showed why he’s slowly become WWE’s Career Killer. The Match had a solid story that was centerd around respect. This was a superb physical masterclass, that had fans hooked from the start. Nick put the Ring General in his kings clover leaf, as the noise in the stadium was palpable from watching from my bed here in the UK. After an excellent final set of sequences Gunther made Nick tapout. I loved this. Nick took his flowers, as his wife WWE Legend Mickie James, and there son took to the ring to console Nick. I hate Oasis. I don’t about anyone else.
The Bellas and Paige vs Fatal Influence.
This did nothing for me, and it’s due to the fact that this Match felt forced, and was uninteresting. The fatal ones got the win, and The Bellas turned heel in the aftermath. In the post media calls after Night one had finished HHH confirmed that Nikki got injured during the Match. It has been reported that she was taken to hospital straight after the Match. This wasn’t for me.
Cody Rhodes vs Cm Punk WWE Undisputed Championship.
The one thing that struck me when I was watching this was the fact that this never happened when they were both in AEW, as the thoughts of what could’ve been played out in my head. Cody came out dressed like his Street Fighter character Colonel Gyle, whilst Cm Punk looked like an Irish Leprechaun, as he was decked head to toe in green. This Match was a physical clinic that worked to get the focus of this being a mental game of chess over with fans. This is WWE’s way of doing there own version of the spinning plate booking trick. This is the perfect set up for a trilogy. with the next one hopefully taking place at the Royal Rumble. This could be WWE’s next big storyline. Punk retained, after a returning Randy Orton took out Cody. This did what it needed to do. Keep this storyline ticking along.
Hell In A Cell Brock Lesnar vs Oba Femi.
A lot has been said about what should maion event the first night. I’m a bit of a purist who thinks that title Matches should headline with stakes, this didn’t have any aligning stakes, so it was a bit confusing seeing this Match in the position that it was given, and it was lacking in all areas. No blood. Lack of story, and focus on violence, and the rushed finish was an accidental botch upon second a viewing. Brock then went off script in the aftermath and said that Oba is the future whilst he’s now the past. The Undertaker throwbacks were a nice touch, but if you ask me in ten years time, whether I will remember this Match. I would probably say no.
Overview Of WWE Summerslam Night One.
WWE Summerslam Night One was the destination for if you like mix bags. I’ve often used Pick’n mix as a good way to look at WWE booking, and this show is a good way to look how WWE handles its booking, and overall creative. Roll on Night two.
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