10 Expectations Vs. Reality For WWE SummerSlam 2020

2. Drew McIntyre Vs. Randy Orton

Bray Wyatt Braun Strowman
WWE.com

Expectation:

They don't make 'em like that anymore.

The pace, grunting, and lingering close-up shots here will have many purring over a reductive if not outright poorly defined "psychology" that separates WWE, in which eyeballs are extracted by blunt stairs, from the lil' companies that just don't get it. This might actually be damn good, if it doesn't masturbate itself with too much in the way of oils and candlelight: a rugged, physical battle that erupts into a something worthy of the word "crescendo".

Reality:

What's ominous - or hilarious! - about the upcoming ThunderDome experiment is that it can't begin to emulate the real-life experience of watching a live entertainment show. Being there live is different. There is a societal pressure to conduct oneself with a reasonable grasp of etiquette when in public, which is barely felt by too many of you, but remove even the expectation and things might unravel. There are no bright, dazzling lights to distract the virtual fan. They are staring at a screen in their own homes. They might forget themselves. They might fall asleep, bored as sh*t by Orton's glacial pace, revealing once and for all the myth of his "all-time" greatness.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!