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SummerSlam (2020)

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SummerSlam
SummerSlam (2020) poster
This is a terrible quality of the promotional poster featuring Bray Wyatt as "The Fiend"
PromotionWWE
Brand(s)Raw
SmackDown
DateAugust 23, 2020
Tagline(s)You'll Never See It Coming
WWE Network event chronology
← Previous
NXT TakeOver XXX 		Next →
Payback
SummerSlam chronology
← Previous
2019 		Next →
—

SummerSlam is an upcoming professional wrestling pay-per-view and WWE Network event produced by WWE for their Raw and SmackDown brand divisions. It is scheduled to take place on August 23, 2020 at a location yet to be announced. It will be the thirty-third event under the SummerSlam chronology.

The event was originally scheduled to take place at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Boston mayor Marty Walsh announced the suspension of all large-scale gatherings and that no permit would be issued for an event that could draw a large crowd before September 7. While most of WWE's events since mid-March have taken place at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida, on July 23, the promotion said they would be announcing SummerSlam's new location soon.

Production

Background

SummerSlam is an annual pay-per-view, produced every August by WWE since 1988. Dubbed "The Biggest Party of the Summer,"[1] it is one of the promotion's original four pay-per-views, along with WrestleMania, Royal Rumble, and Survivor Series, dubbed the "Big Four".[2] It is considered WWE's second biggest event of the year behind WrestleMania.[3][4] 2020 will be the thirty-third event in the SummerSlam chronology and feature wrestlers from the Raw and SmackDown brands.[5]

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, WWE has had to present the majority of its programming from the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida since mid-March with no fans in attendance, though in late May, the promotion began using Performance Center trainees to serve as the live audience, which was further expanded to friends and family members of the wrestlers in mid-June. SummerSlam, as well as the preceding night's NXT TakeOver event, were originally scheduled to take place in Boston, Massachusetts at the TD Garden.[5] On May 8, the ongoing pandemic forced Boston mayor Marty Walsh to suspend all large-scale gatherings until September 7, effectively canceling WWE's planned events in the city.[6][7] Wrestling journalist Dave Meltzer reported that the promotion would be open to move SummerSlam to September if it meant having fans in attendance.[8] However, an advertisement that aired during The Horror Show at Extreme Rules confirmed that SummerSlam would still be taking place on August 23, but with no reference to a city or venue.[9] Although PWInsider had reported that the event would be held at the WWE Performance Center,[10] the promotion put out an official statement on July 23 that the announcement of a new location would be forthcoming. WWE also stated that refunds would be issued at original point of purchase.[11] It has been reported that WWE are looking to host SummerSlam on a cruise ship or on a beach, but still only having the Performance Center trainees as the spectators.[12]

Storylines

The show will include matches that result from scripted storylines, where wrestlers portray heroes, villains, or less distinguishable characters in scripted events that build tension and culminate in a wrestling match or series of matches. Results are predetermined by WWE's writers on the Raw and SmackDown brands,[13][14] while storylines are produced on WWE's weekly television shows, Monday Night Raw and Friday Night SmackDown.[15]

On the July 27 episode of Raw, Randy Orton cut a promo listing many of his accolades before declaring that he wanted the WWE Championship again. He then issued a challenge to Drew McIntyre for a title match at SummerSlam. Later that night, McIntyre accepted Orton's challenge and then defeated Dolph Ziggler in an Extreme Rules match, a rematch from The Horror Show at Extreme Rules, preventing Ziggler from earning the title match at SummerSlam. Following the match, Orton attacked McIntyre with an RKO.[16]

On the July 20 episode of Raw, Andrade and Angel Garza lost to Raw Tag Team Champions The Street Profits (Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins).[17] The following week, Andrade and Garza won a triple threat tag team match to earn a title match at SummerSlam.[16]

After United States Champion Apollo Crews repeatedly declined MVP's offers to join his faction,[18][19] the two had a non-title match on the June 29 episode of Raw that was won by MVP. After the match, Crews was brutally attacked by Bobby Lashley.[20] The following week, MVP unveiled a new United States Championship belt design and stated that he would face Crews for the title at The Horror Show at Extreme Rules.[21] At the event, however, it was revealed that Crews was unable to compete as he had failed his pre-match physical due to Lashley's attack. MVP then declared himself winner by forfeit and unofficially claimed himself to be the new United States Champion.[9] Crews, sporting the older title belt, returned on the August 3 episode of Raw and he and MVP formally had their title match where Crews retained. Crews later said he would give the old belt to his kids while he kept the new belt MVP introduced. MVP then demanded a rematch for SummerSlam and Crews accepted.[22]

Following several weeks of feuding, Rey Mysterio and Seth Rollins finally faced each other at The Horror Show at Extreme Rules in an Eye for an Eye match which could only be won by extracting an opponent's eye; the match was won by Rollins.[9] Mysterio's son Dominik appeared on the July 27 episode of Raw to confront Rollins and his disciple Murphy for what Rollins had done to his father, as well as for Rollins gloating about it. Dominik attacked the two, but was overpowered until Aleister Black came out for the save, though the brawl resulted in Black's eye being injured.[16] The following week, Dominik challenged Rollins to a match at SummerSlam. Later, after Rollins and Murphy were both attacked from behind by Dominik with a kendo stick, Rollins accepted the challenge.[22]

On August 7 episode of SmackDown, Stephanie McMahon announced a triple brand battle royal for the following SmackDown, where the winner would face Bayley for the SmackDown Women's Championship at SummmerSlam.[23]

Matches

No.Matches*Stipulations
1The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford) (c) vs. Andrade and Angel Garza (with Zelina Vega)Tag team match for the WWE Raw Tag Team Championship[24]
2Drew McIntyre (c) vs. Randy OrtonSingles match for the WWE Championship[25]
3Apollo Crews (c) vs. MVPSingles match for the WWE United States Championship[26]
4Dominik Mysterio vs. Seth RollinsSingles match[27]
5Sasha Banks (c) vs. TBDSingles match for the WWE Raw Women's Championship
6Bayley (c) vs. Winner of the Triple-Brand Battle RoyalSingles match for the WWE SmackDown Women's Championship[28]
(c) – the champion(s) heading into the match
*Card subject to change

References

  1. ^ Dee, Louie (May 17, 2006). "Let the Party Begin". WWE. Retrieved May 12, 2008.
  2. ^ Hamilton, Ian (2006). Wrestling's Sinking Ship: What Happens to an Industry Without Competition. Lulu. p. 160. ISBN 9781411612105.
  3. ^ "Could Brock Lesnar beat three men at SummerSlam to remain in the WWE?".
  4. ^ "WWE SummerSlam 2018 matches, card, location, date, start time, predictions PPV rumors".
  5. ^ a b "Boston to host SummerSlam in 2020". WWE. Retrieved August 8, 2019.
  6. ^ Johnson, Mike (May 8, 2020). "SUMMERSLAM WEEKEND WILL NOT TAKE PLACE IN BOSTON, MAYOR SAYS ALL MAJOR EVENTS NEED TO MAKE ALTERNATIVE PLANS". PWInsider. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
  7. ^ Tedesco, Mike (May 8, 2020). "WWE SummerSlam will not take place in Boston, mayor announces no events will take place". WrestleView. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
  8. ^ "Vince McMahon Reportedly Determined To Have Fans At WWE SummerSlam This Year". Wrestling Inc. May 16, 2020. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
  9. ^ a b c Powell, Jason (July 19, 2020). "WWE Extreme Rules results: Powell's review of Seth Rollins vs. Rey Mysterio in An Eye For An Eye match, WWE Universal Champion Braun Strowman vs. Bray Wyatt in a non-title Swamp Fight, Asuka vs. Sasha Banks for the Raw Women's Championship, Drew McIntyre vs. Dolph Ziggler for the WWE Championship". Pro Wreslting Dot Net. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
  10. ^ Mike Johnson (July 6, 2020). "WWE SummerSlam Update". PWInsider. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
  11. ^ WWE.com Staff (July 23, 2020). "Update on SummerSlam 2020". WWE. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
  12. ^ Johnson, Mike (July 31, 2020). "SUMMERSLAM UPDATE, WWE REVIVING OLD PPV NEXT MONTH AS WELL". PWInsider. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
  13. ^ Grabianowski, Ed. "How Pro Wrestling Works". HowStuffWorks. Discovery Communications. Archived from the original on November 18, 2013. Retrieved March 5, 2012.
  14. ^ "Live & Televised Entertainment". WWE. Archived from the original on February 26, 2009. Retrieved March 21, 2012.
  15. ^ Steinberg, Brian (May 25, 2016). "WWE's 'Smackdown' Will Move To Live Broadcast On USA (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Archived from the original on May 26, 2016. Retrieved May 25, 2016.
  16. ^ a b c Powell, Jason (July 27, 2020). "7/27 WWE Raw Results: Powell's live review of Asuka vs Sasha Banks for the Raw Women's Championship, WWE Champion Drew McIntyre vs. Dolph Ziggler in a non-title match, Viking Raiders vs. Andrade and Angel Garza vs. Ricochet and Cedric Alexander for a shot at the Raw Tag Titles at SummerSlam". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
  17. ^ Powell, Jason (July 20, 2020). "7/20 WWE Raw Results: Powell's live review of Randy Orton vs. Big Show in an unsanctioned match, Seth Rollins vs. Aleister Black, Bayley vs. Kairi Sane in a non-title match, fallout from Extreme Rules". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved July 20, 2020.
  18. ^ Powell, Jason (June 15, 2020). "6/15 WWE Raw Results: Powell's live review of Asuka vs. Nia Jax for the Raw Women's Championship, Ric Flair's appearance, Drew McIntyre and R-Truth vs. Bobby Lashley and MVP, Randy Orton's opening segment, Dominick Mysterio accepting Seth Rollins' invitation". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved June 28, 2020.
  19. ^ Powell, Jason (June 22, 2020). "6/22 WWE Raw Results: Powell's live review of Championship Monday featuring Asuka vs. Charlotte Flair for the Raw Women's Championship, The Street Profits vs. The Viking Raiders for the Raw Tag Titles, Sasha Banks and Bayley vs. The IIconics for the WWE Women's Tag Titles". Pro Wreslting Dot Net. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
  20. ^ Powell, Jason (June 29, 2020). "6/29 WWE Raw Results: Powell's live review of contract signings for the WWE Championship and Raw Women's Championship matches at Extreme Rules, Angel Garza and Andrade vs. The Viking Raiders, U.S. Champion Apollo Crews vs. MVP in a non-title match, Ric Flair and Big Show appear". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
  21. ^ Powell, Jason (July 6, 2020). "7/6 WWE Raw Results: Powell's live review of Raw Women's Champion Asuka vs. Smackdown Women's Champion Bayley in a non-title match, Rey Mysterio and Aleister Black vs. Seth Rollins and Murphy, Big Show and The Viking Raiders vs. Randy Orton, Andrade, and Angel Garza". Pro Wreslting Dot Net. Retrieved July 12, 2020.
  22. ^ a b Powell, Jason (August 3, 2020). "8/3 WWE Raw Results: Powell's live review of Shane McMahon returns, Apollo Crews vs. MVP for the U.S. Championship, Drew McIntyre and Randy Orton meet face to face, the arrival of a new faction, the SummerSlam build continues". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
  23. ^ Powell, Jason (August 7, 2020). "8/7 WWE Friday Night Smackdown results: Barnett's review of Matt Riddle vs. Sheamus, Jeff Hardy vs. King Corbin, The Dirt Sheet with special correspondent Sonya Deville, the latest on Bray Wyatt and Braun Strowman on the road to SummerSlam". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved August 8, 2020.
  24. ^ "The Street Profits vs. Andrade & Angel Garza – Raw Tag Team Championship Match". WWE. July 27, 2020. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
  25. ^ "Drew McIntyre vs. Randy Orton – WWE Championship Match". WWE. July 27, 2020. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
  26. ^ Zak, Brad (August 3, 2020). "Apollo Crews vs. MVP – United States Title Match". WWE. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
  27. ^ Zak, Brad (August 3, 2020). "Dominik Mysterio vs. Seth Rollins". WWE. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
  28. ^ "Triple Brand Battle Royal announced to determine Bayley's SummerSlam challenger". WWE. August 7, 2020. Retrieved August 8, 2020.
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