WWE has hosted several classic SummerSlam events over the years, with the likes of 1992, 2001, 2002, and 2013 standing out as some of the greatest in the show’s history. However, when discussing the best of the best, there is one year that always seems to miss out; 2014. SummerSlam 2014 may not be the absolute number show in WWE history, but from top to bottom it was certainly one of WWE’s most consistent and enjoyable cards, and it deserves way more acclaim and adoration from fans. We’ll take a look at this show and assess why it is one of the more underrated events in the history of SummerSlam.
|
Match Results |
Match Length |
Notes |
|---|---|---|
|
Dolph Ziggler defeated The Miz (c) |
7:52 |
Intercontinental Championship match |
|
Paige defeated AJ Lee (c) |
4:57 |
Divas Championship match |
|
Rusev defeated Jack Swagger |
8:56 |
Flag match |
|
Seth Rollins defeated Dean Ambrose |
10:53 |
Lumberjack match |
|
Bray Wyatt defeated Chris Jericho |
12:58 |
Singles match |
|
Stephanie McMahon defeated Brie Bella |
11:06 |
Singles match |
|
Roman Reigns defeated Randy Orton |
16:16 |
Singles match |
|
Brock Lesnar defeated John Cena (c) |
16:06 |
WWE World Heavyweight Championship match |
The Undercard For SummerSlam 2014 Was Solid
- Dolph Ziggler and The Miz opened the show with a good match
- Bray Wyatt vs. Chris Jericho was a solid showing
- There were no bad matches on the undercard
One of the biggest reasons why this event is underrated is due to the fact that it was solid from top to bottom with no bad matches at all – a rarity for the majority of PPV events. Dolph Ziggler defeated The Miz for the Intercontinental Title to open the show in a match that was fast-paced and packed a lot into just eight minutes. The match was the perfect way to get the crowd on their feet and excited for the rest of the show. Two more wrestlers who made the most of their time were Paige and AJ Lee, who had just five minutes to craft a Divas Title match, but also put in a strong performance and gave fans another title change to shout about.
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The weakest match of the night was Rusev vs. Jack Swagger in a Flag Match, but even this wasn’t bad. Swagger had the crowd behind him, and he served as the perfect name to further give Rusev a push up the card as WWE’s latest foreign heel. Rusev looked strong as he overcame Swagger. Bray Wyatt and Chris Jericho completed the undercard of the show, and although it wasn’t a show-stealer by any means, the match was strong, solid, and it helped to give Wyatt a much-needed win after months of big losses. With the less important matches all doing their job, it was then up to the main matches to deliver.
The Biggest Matches At SummerSlam 2014 All Delivered
- Stephanie McMahon exceeded expectations at SummerSlam
- Roman Reigns had a strong singles match before his momentum dipped
- Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins had the best Lumberjack Match ever
On paper, a Lumberjack Match felt like a complete waste of the blood feud between Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins. In the aftermath, the consensus was that they put together the best Lumberjack Match of all time. Their match managed to use the Lumberjacks in a clever manner, adding to the chaotic nature of the match in a great way. Ambrose and Rollins put a lot of hatred and animosity into their offense in a match that found itself heading out of the ring more than once, much to the love of the fans, who went wild for the action. They made the most of a questionable situation and had a brilliant bout.
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Someone else who exceeded expectations was Stephanie McMahon. She returned to the ring for her first match in 11 years, and she looked like a seasoned veteran (well, mostly). McMahon’s offense was kept simple, but she managed to move well, she looked great, delivered her moves with impact, and bumped around the ring too. She was in the ring with Brie Bella, who was never really renowned for her in-ring acumen, but the former Divas Champion helped to carry McMahon to a strong showing. This felt like a coming out moment for not only Brie Bella, but Nikki Bella too, who shockingly turned heel to help McMahon win. The Bella Twins were propelled to the next level here, becoming the faces of the Divas division from this moment on, and it was thanks to this match.
Roman Reigns vs. Randy Orton served as the penultimate match of the night, and they too had a very enjoyable matchup. This was at a time when Reigns was needing to prove himself as a singles star, and he certainly showed his potential by looking like Orton’s equal. Their match had a big fight feel, and they showcased plenty of chemistry, all leading to an electric final stretch in which Reigns picked up a big win. Unfortunately, fan sentiment towards Reigns would dip, but here he felt like a star in the making.
Brock Lesnar Vs. John Cena Was An Iconic SummerSlam Main Event
- Lesnar squashed Cena in a wild main event
- This match made Lesnar the most dangerous performer in WWE
- Cena was decimated from start to finish in a unique headliner
After a strong show, the main event needed to deliver… and it did. From the opening bell, Brock Lesnar came out like a rampaging bull, taking it to John Cena and delivering an F5 in the first few seconds. From that moment on, this main event became one of the most uncomfortable, shocking, and surreal in WWE history. Cena, who was known for his comebacks and superman persona, only managed a couple of flurries here and there, but was otherwise decimated by the brutish Lesnar, who looked like the most unstoppable monster heel ever seen in WWE during this match.
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Lesnar threw Cena around, slamming him with 16 German suplexes before finally getting tired of playing with his food, beating Cena with ease and standing tall with the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. This main event was different from anything ever seen in WWE to that point, and has never really been seen again on this scale in a show-closer. It was a bold booking decision that paid off, and it should really have elevated this SummerSlam to being a classic, though for some reason it still remains as a hidden gem of a show and one that needs way more plaudits.
