WWE SummerSlam 2018: Star Ratings For All 13 Matches
1. Brock Lesnar Vs. Roman Reigns - WWE Universal Title Match
Braun Strowman's music hit just before the opening bell. Instantly, fans were conditioned to expect a Triple Threat match...
...that did not materialise.
Braun claimed he was no coward, unlike those other Mr. Money In The Banks. Instead of waiting to pick the bones, he was going to watch the match and then pick the bones (?). In Brock Lesnar's world, actually paying attention to the product is a babyface move, which is more than can be said for Roman Reigns, who fought his supposed great war like an opportunist. He blindsided Brock to gain the initial advantage, and did so again to conquer the Conqueror, in what was more or less a fluke, after a few minutes of a typical Brock match. If ever there was time to just put the bloke over with conviction, this was it. Roman's victory was always going to resonate as a relief, but he barely even won. Brock lost. That was the story.
Ultimately, none of this matters. WWE, in spite of themselves, manufactured something of a win from a lose/lose scenario. Fans paid attention to the main event of a Big Four PPV, and didn't boo the top babyface out of the building. WWE accomplished the absolute bare minimum, but on a curve, it was somehow something of a triumph.
Star Rating: */12