Ranking 2016's WWE PPV Endings From Worst To Best
6. SummerSlam - Goodnight, Shane
SummerSlam was 2016's most disappointing pay-per-view. With matches like AJ Styles vs. John Cena and Finn Balor vs. Seth Rollins on deck, it looked like WWE were about to deliver the show of the year, and make-up for WrestleMania's disappointment. There were a few highlights (AJ vs. Cena in particular), but sadly, SummerSlam just didn't deliver.
The main event was a violent brawl between Randy Orton and Brock Lesnar. It was a wholly one-sided affair, and after slicing Orton's forehead open with a series of savage elbows, Lesnar was declared the winner via technical knockout. It didn't do Orton's momentum any good, but it painted Lesnar as a dominant force again, particularly after his limp victory over Dean Ambrose at Mania. Not the most technical match you'll ever see, but an outstanding visual.
The post-match saw the officials tend to the battered, beaten Orton, but they weren't alone. SmackDown Commissioner Shane McMahon joined them in aiding his brand's fallen star, but disaster struck. Lesnar took offence to Shane's presence and downed him with a huge F5, closing SummerSlam on a major talking point that was unfortunately never followed-up on. This could have been the catalyst for a huge inter-brand war heading into Survivor Series, but no: Lesnar got away with a light fine, and the incident was never mentioned again.
In a bubble, however, SummerSlam's conclusion was striking, and something nobody saw coming. For those reasons, it rises above the shower of mediocrity that closed most of WWE's PPVs this year.