WWE SummerSlam 2018: Star Ratings For All 13 Matches

12. KICKOFF: Cedric Alexander Vs. Drew Gulak - Cruiserweight Title Match

Samoa Joe AJ Styles Star Ratings II
WWE.com

This was good.

It won’t change a bloody thing, and it wasn’t blow away good, and it was symptomatic of the pointlessly long “Best of Both Worlds!” era. But viewed in a vacuum with respect to the hard-working performers, it was good.

Drew Gulak put himself over here, not that anybody on 205 Live is getting over. He was vicious and clever in his cut-off spots, theoretically casting doubt on Cedric Alexander’s title reign and inspiring support on behalf of his opponent. He worked the head and neck, in such a way that it felt dangerous, even if it wasn’t. Alexander was equally good, as he so consistently is. His somersault plancha landed with a definite oomph, where so many of his peers generate a louder pop by merely grazing their opponents. There’s a lesson there, and it’s not up to the performers to learn it.

Great matches aren’t going to save 205 Live, and this was a good match.

Star Rating: ***1/2

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!