SummerSlam 2010: One Strong Main Event and One Famous Booking Mistake

Dolph Ziggler and Kofi Kingston begin with the energy expected from an Intercontinental Championship opener, but the match is never allowed to develop into a proper title defense. Kingston attacks with urgency and Ziggler works from the defensive position of a recently crowned champion, giving the early minutes a clear rivalry dynamic. Just as the bout starts to settle into a stronger rhythm, The Nexus storms the ring and attacks both men, forcing a no contest. The angle keeps Nexus central to the event and gives the main event additional menace, but it sacrifices the opening championship match to accomplish that goal. The wrestling is competent and the pairing has chemistry. The absence of a finish makes the match feel more like a plot device than an attraction.

Melina's return from injury gives the Divas Championship match a straightforward comeback story, and the title change provides the card with an early decisive result. Alicia Fox controls enough of the short bout to make the challenger work, while Melina's offense carries more urgency because she is reclaiming a place she lost through injury. The snapmare driver ends the match cleanly and gives Melina the championship without outside interference. LayCool's post-match attack immediately shifts attention toward the next program, which reduces the time available for the title victory to breathe. The match lasts barely five minutes and never develops much competitive depth. It is a clear result and a useful story beat, but not a substantial SummerSlam championship showcase.

Big Show against the Straight Edge Society is built around whether three opponents can overcome one dominant giant, yet the handicap structure never creates enough uncertainty. CM Punk's injured arm limits his physical involvement, leaving Joey Mercury and Luke Gallows to absorb most of Big Show's offense. The match has a few useful moments when the group briefly coordinates attacks, but Show repeatedly breaks through the numbers advantage without much difficulty. He knocks out Gallows, chokeslams Mercury onto him and pins Mercury to finish the match cleanly. That result gives Show a decisive payoff after weeks of conflict, but it also makes the Society look far less threatening. The bout is short, simple and largely forgettable outside the storyline context.

Randy Orton and Sheamus receive enough time to build the kind of deliberate championship match SummerSlam needs, and much of the wrestling is stronger than the finish suggests. Sheamus works as a champion increasingly desperate to keep Orton from landing the RKO, while Orton gradually raises the pace through counters and near-falls. A Brogue Kick near-fall gives the closing stretch real tension. Then Sheamus retrieves a chair, fights with the referee and gets disqualified, allowing him to retain the WWE Championship without a conclusive competitive finish. Orton's post-match low blow and RKO through the broadcast table give the audience a stronger final image than the official result. The match is solid; the disqualification makes the title defense feel unfinished.

Kane and Rey Mysterio work a compact championship match built around the size difference and the mystery surrounding The Undertaker. Mysterio's speed keeps Kane from settling into complete control, while Kane uses power offense and repeated threats involving the ringside casket to maintain the darker story around the title. The champion eventually catches Mysterio and wins cleanly with a chokeslam, giving Kane a useful first major pay-per-view defense of the World Heavyweight Championship. The real historical image comes afterward when Undertaker is revealed inside the casket and confronts Kane, only to be dropped with a Tombstone. The match itself is solid rather than spectacular. The post-match angle gives the segment most of its lasting significance.

The seven-on-seven main event is the only match on the card with true SummerSlam scale, and for most of its thirty-five minutes it delivers the drama the Nexus story demands. Daniel Bryan's surprise return gives Team WWE immediate energy, while the elimination format allows several wrestlers to gain meaningful moments without overcomplicating the action. The final stretch leaves John Cena alone against Justin Gabriel and Wade Barrett after Cena absorbs a DDT on the exposed floor. Gabriel misses the 450 Splash, Cena eliminates him, then forces Barrett to submit to the STF. As a match, the structure and crowd investment are strong. As booking, the finish is historically damaging because Nexus loses the first major showdown when the group needed the victory most.