4 Ups & 5 Downs From WWE SummerSlam 2025 - Sunday (Results & Review)
3. More Physical Prop Comedy Than Blood Feud
No-disqualification matches that rely heavily on plunder are a risky proposition: They have to be balanced between an actual fight and a series of weapons spots. Fall back on the plunder too much and it becomes almost cartoonish, especially in WWE, where blood and violence are downplayed, taking the “oomph” out of many weapons shots.
Becky Lynch versus Lyra Valkyria had all the potential in the world. Their previous matches have been mostly class, and they have excellent chemistry. Giving them a bit more latitude should have opened the door for a more intense, reality-based battle for the Women’s Intercontinental Championship.
Instead, the match was a long series of plunder spots, with kendo sticks, a crowbar, chairs, tables, a toolbox, a wrench, a fire extinguisher, a chain, and an uncooperative zip-tie being employed.
The zip-tie was a true low spot, as they clearly wanted to get across Lyra as a beaten-down underdog, being pummeled while her hands were literally tied, and then miraculously making a comeback, all without the use of her hands.
The problem was that Valkyria’s hands came free at one point, and Lyra put the zip-tie back on while on-camera. It didn’t help that this heat segment went on for what felt like an eternity, with Lyra running all over the ring looking for something to cut her hands loose. It’s not like there’s sharp metal anywhere at ringside… oh wait.
Beyond the zip-tie nonsense, the match just kept going… for a full 25 minutes, well past the peak. Then they stapled on a Bayley save and errant swing with the chain, costing Lyra the match. Bayley looked comically bad, standing on the apron too stunned to save Valkyria from the pin, like an ineffective goober rather than one of the Four Horsewomen.
Overall, this was an overbooked, long, cartoonish match that wanted to be taken more seriously. It had some good moments, but this has to be the weakest of the Becky/Lyra collection.