Now that the show is over, we can say that at least 1 SummerSlam match had creative issues.
The depth of the issues, and the root cause of them? That can be discussed and debated.
Ronda Rousey and Shayna Baszler could have been presented so much better than it was, in the grand scheme of things.
It’s execution fell flat, to be nice.
While I was all for the Baszler turn on Rousey, and would love to see Shayna get a big push…things have not started exceptionally well.
As much animosity was allegedly existing between the two Superstars, it never translated into high drama.
So yes…their match is…
1 SummerSlam Match Had Creative Issues
It was not overly hyped, but this one got presented as being contested under MMA rules.
The idea was, both women came from that world, so we were going to be given more of a UFC style fight.
And yet, some things we see in a WWE ring (like ten counts), you don’t see in an MMA fight…and we did on Saturday.
Baslzer and Rousey wanted MMA rules, WWE may have dropped the ball there.
Now, to be completely fair, this could be a botch because it’s what officials are used to, or it could be a decision made to not go so MMA for the match.
Leading up to SummerSlam, many had hoped that the two female Superstars would have their clash in an old NXT device-Fight Pit.
Not used much, but definitely done with a flair for the MMA delivery, it would have made a ton of sense in this instance.
On top of that, given who now owns WWE…and who else they also own…for one match, it could have been worth seeing if someone with UFC officiating experience was available.
Or, failing that, a guest referee with MMA experience?
It seemed like WWE wanted this match to be bigger and mean more, but the execution held it back.
And, depending on what she has planned…that might have been Rousey’s last match in WWE…perhaps ever?
