12 Match Star Ratings For WWE SummerSlam 2019

2. The Fiend Vs. Finn Bálor

Brock Lesnar Seth Rollins
WWE.com

Holy sh*t was that entrance something.

Finn sold it like the rest of us (typical that he resembled a human being minutes before his sabbatical). Arriving to the ring with a Jeepers Creepers-esque, decapitated head of the old Bray Wyatt character, his new lantern, the soundtrack was pure evil. Discordant and terrifying, this was genuinely awe-inspiring. Unsettling. Wyatt has somehow conspired to perfect a gimmick archetype once thought as dead as the foreign menace.

In the (mostly) one-sided squash this needed to be, Wyatt debuted his new arsenal. He launched a headbutt at Bálor's neck after an Irish whip. He landed a clubbing lariat to the back of his head. In a spot that is just audacious enough for this incredible new character to carry, the Fiend did the old horror movie monster neck-snap.

Bálor got some licks in, which might prove controversial - but this worked, subjectively. This is a new breed of monster, and this display of weakness was consistent with his tormented, unhinged new character. Besides which, the Fiend took a dominant win in just 3:25, in a squash match of layered drama, following the Mandible Claw finish.

The exact opposite of his SummerSlam '13 debut, this was an outstanding, unforgettable reintroduction.

Star Rating: ***

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!