13 Match Quality Predictions For WWE SummerSlam 2018
1. Brock Lesnar Vs. Roman Reigns - Universal Title Match
The WrestleMania match was fought admirably, if pointlessly, in front of an audience that rejected it.
Anticipating a less-than-favourable response, those producing it over-compensated to a degree of borderline parody. With each F5 struck, Roman looked less like a valiant loser than the transparent 'Guy' he is. It was as if Vince McMahon battered us over the head with the idea of Roman's fortitude as many times as the Beast sent him crashing to the canvas. So against Roman were the entire 65,000+ crowd that wrestling's most gruesome and effective trick - a bloodbath - didn't elicit any sympathy whatsoever. It didn't even provoke a shock pop. Nobody was paying any attention.
It's quite straightforward, rating a Lesnar match. If he cares, and the audience cares, and his opponent sells it as a dire plight, his Suplex City bit becomes a primal gladiatorial spectacle. If he doesn't care, and the audience doesn't care, it resonates as something literally by the numbers.
Will the audience care?
The torn motivation of Paul Heyman adds a much-needed sense of intrigue to the occasion, and fans have responded to the programme in recent weeks.
But the hardened, cynical New York set?
Predicted Star Rating: ***