What seemed like a fairly simple mission quickly became an arduous task on Sunday.
Recently, I was asked to help fill in and cover the recap of SummerSlam Night 2. For the most part, it was an easy assignment until I hit the Women’s Intercontinental title match, which felt like it would never end. Props to Lyra Valkyria for taking more punishment than Wile E. Coyote. The only thing missing from her exhibition with Lynch was Valkyria getting blown to smithereens, covered in soot, and then kicking out
at two.
But I digress.
Where I found myself struggling most was with the main event and the return of Brock Lesnar. Once the show was over, I looked at my wife and told her, “I don’t know what I’m going to say about this.”
She simply replied, “Just stick to the show.”
For now, even as I write this, that’s what I intend to do.
But first, I need to get this off my chest.
Brock Lesnar’s return feels “off,” to put it kindly, especially in light of Vince McMahon’s ongoing legal troubles and Lesnar’s ties to that. That WWE changed its post-show format and chose not to deal with the media after SummerSlam — on the same weekend Lesnar made his shocking comeback — sure doesn’t feel like a coincidence, either.
I think that speaks volumes, so let’s move on to the show.
The main event of SummerSlam Night 2 featured John Cena defending the Undisputed WWE Title against Cody Rhodes. Much like the Valkyria-Lynch match, Cena and Rhodes staged a battle that grew ridiculous at times. Shots to the head with metal objects, kicking out of finishers left and right. It was absurd.
Still, there was an undeniable curiosity over the finish. Would there be a double turn? Would Cena resort to something nefarious with the help of old friends?
In the end, Rhodes outlasted Cena, redemption was gained, and the two shook hands. I have to give Cena credit: despite the absurdity at times, this was his best match of his farewell tour. He put his body on the line and turned back the clock. I don’t know how he’ll top this when it’s his actual last match, but his effort and delivery here were unbelievable — total respect for his performance.
Having said that, I can now say this about Cena’s heel run: it was a bust. Not a total bust, but in many ways, it was a wasted opportunity.
Unlike most people, I enjoyed Cena’s heel run. Yes, the involvement, and subsequent lack thereof, from The Rock and, later, rapper Travis Scott were like a grease stain on an otherwise pristine white dress shirt. But Cena’s explanation for going rogue was spot-on, and his diatribes against the fans were justified. His promise to leave with the WWE title was also an intriguing storyline that added suspense to his goodbye tour.
I guess the audience’s desire to cheer for Cena, which they had been doing anyway, outweighed the logic in his abrupt turnabout. In some ways, I feel like this whole arc was a missed opportunity, especially with R-Truth.
Remember R-Truth? The lovable goof who always had Cena’s back? Then Cena kicked him in the ding-ding, WWE let him go (or, more accurately, chose not to renew his contract), and when Truth made a surprising return to confront Cena... nothing came of it. No payoff, no closure.
I suppose, just as fans were willing to let logic slide in the face of having “old John” back, Truth will likely take the same approach.
Regardless, it feels like a waste. I don’t have a problem with Cena returning to his superhero ways. If it had to be done, I just wish the journey there had been more fulfilling. I wish WWE had given it more time to build, with Cena’s character becoming more conflicted before expressing contrition and receiving forgiveness.
But as a viewer, I wish we had seen Cena make it to his last day as champion. The promise of ending a title’s 60-plus-year lineage had real stakes. Regardless of his opponent, it put Cena, WWE, and the challenger in an all-or-nothing showdown with true consequences.
Instead, Cody Rhodes is once again WWE’s quarterback (it’s true, guys; it says so in his social media bio). And while that’s a safe play, there’s likely something bigger brewing that justifies putting the title on Rhodes now rather than later.
Too bad part of that plan includes Brock Lesnar — apparently at Cena’s behest — whose return serves as a stark reminder of how WWE continues to reflect a darker, more problematic side of entertainment and society.
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