The matches get very tiresome when you EXPECT to see something (like Ambrose's rebound clothesline) or a kick out of a finisher. When watching AJ and Cena at SummerSlam, I just didn't believe that the first finisher pinfalls was going to get them the win. Takes away a whole deal from the match when you can't fully believe what you're seeing.

I'd also like to say that, on the whole, the formula for the matches (especially on TV) is disgustingly repetitive. Lock up, submission, wait for the ad break, build up to the finish, hits finisher. The matches aren't exciting. That's why Lesnar/Cena at SummerSlam interesting because it started off with Cena getting F5'd. That's the best way to start off any match! #BeatUpJohnCena

Agree with this. People are marking out like crazy for these spotfest matches but I'm kinda left cold. Build a story instead, and have some variety.

Saying that, I kinda hope Kevin Owens wins the title tonight just for something different.

As true as all the above is, the match I've seen by far the most praise for from Summerslam was AJ/Cena where as much as I enjoyed it the finisher kick-outs did go a tad overboard.
Therefore if superstars are doing that style and getting praised for it I totally understand them not stopping it.

And while I often hear a lot of praise for Cena and Reigns's ring work yet those two are by a distance the worst for kicking out of finishers.

Also while I probably beat this drum to death too I do worry there's a tendancy with this 'spotfest, finisherfest' argument to dismiss high-flying full stop as bad which I don't like. I like highflying action but agreed that if the world and his wife are doing it then it loses its impact.

And to be fair to WWE, while they can go overboard on finishers other things they do hold back on. In particular blood - we so rarely see it these days that when we do it feels like a big moment.

Owens should win tonight. I've nothing against Reigns, far from it, but I think Owens should probably benefit from Balor's injury over him in terms of building someone new. Wouldn't mind Reigns.

But if Cass wins, this thread isn't compared for the level of anger coming from this end.

Yeah but it wasn't BECAUSE of the finishers that it's praised. Most of the praise is because the other marquee matches weren't all that good (IMO).

And there isn't a problem with multi-finisher matches but not every marquee match needs it and not half as many should have them. It's ridiculous.

I personally haven't seen many people dismiss high flying because it has its place. That place isn't every match on the card for 80% of the wrestlers including the likes of Big E who has shown time and time again he has no place diving to the outside every week. Have high flyers, I love high flyers, but as I said last week... Division of the roster not an invasion of the entire card.

I hope we don't get a decisive finish to the Championship match tonight. Maybe a double pin. It gets contested at Clash of Champions. Rollins wins. Then he comes out on Raw the next night to brag about being the longest reigning WWE Universal Champion in WWE history.

He could repeat that every week until Balor returns at WM and beats him for it. Again.

I could really do without Heel Rollins as champ for the next 8 months.

They need to recondition the fans away from these spotfests, but it will take time.

Why is Cass in this match and not Cesaro? Despite his booking they could just get away with putting the title on him. As he's a babyface and popular it would fall in line with where they were going with Balor's reign.

As I saw I broadly agree with most of what is said about it. Just details here and there and playing devil's advocate.

Ironically on AJ/Cena the thing that made it stand out was a finisher being kicked out (the top rope AA) because it is so rarely kicked out that it being kicked out of felt like a huge deal.


Would an angle where JeriKO take out Big Cass pre-match and Y2J replaces Cass and wins the title work better?

Have to agree on Owens - seems the sensible option. Cass is far from ready, Reigns and TPTB v the fans part 100 holds no interest for me and it'd be a bizarre message to send Rollins winning the title.

And while I say it probably every single week for goodness sake WWE should just get on with turning both of Rollins and Reigns. Beyond obvious both need to happen. Beyond obvious.

Reigns is one of the worst for kicking out of finishers?

Title match is now an elimination match apparently.

Apparently the Summerslam set has remained for tonight

Thank God. I hope it stays for good. I assumed it would be after they used it for Smackdown too.

It is a nice set. Not sure why those black squares are all the way up the two sides of the floor though. Didn't they use a slightly different Smackdown set from the initial revamped one too last week?

Yep 100%.

The guy hadn't been pinned clean for nearly 4 years until recently - and had kicked out of many a finisher.

And the AJ/Reigns match a while ago was pretty much the example of burying a finisher. 2 Styles Clashes in 30 seconds - one on a chair - yet doesn't end the match. It's not even like it's a Big 4 PPV.

Forgive me being cynical but sounds like it'll be the set we'll be seeing twice a week (and 3 times a week for PPV weeks) for the next 3 years.

Would like to see Raw and SD keep separate sets like they had the first two weeks or so post brand split. The more differentiation between the 2 shows the better.

They are different sets

Raw: https://twitter.com/PWTorch/status/770403969399005185
Smackdown: https://twitter.com/kevinscampoli/st...79961296429056

Apologies the way your and FMKK's posts read I thought you meant both had the same set.
I was too exhausted watching SD last week to have a clue what its set looked like.

I wasn't sure if they were using the same set as I didn't watch SDLive! Either but had a quick look on Twitter and it was a new set which I think is actually pretty gorgeous when its all lit up. Posted a link to it.

Give last week's SD Live a watch - it was bliming good. And I've been away so still haven't had a chance to get round to the much talked about Talking Smack.

Goodness that SD set is much better than I remember.

If Raw this week is even half as good as last week's SD it'll be good.

I'm gonna watch it at some point I just haven't gotten around to it. Still got about 2 weeks of CWC to catch up on too

Morning anyone staying up for Deadline Day er... I mean Raw.

I'm sure even Vince looks at Jim White and thinks the guy is a bit over-the-top.

I thought they were until there now haha.

Not sure if it's been mentioned but Bo Dallas was arrested over weekend whilst travelling for being drunk and giving a bit of lip.

Smackdown live events also start tonight meaning Raw will now work Friday-Monday and Smackdown working Saturday-Tuesday.