| Date: August 21, 2005
| Venue: MCI Center | City: Washington DC
| Attendance: 15, 700 | Buys: 650, 000

| tweet me: @BastionBlogger

Hogan vs. Michaels: For the first time ever. You can guess what is considered to be the main event tonight off that tagline alone. On paper the whole card is stacked even without the likes of Triple H, The Big Show, Kane, Booker T, Intercontinental Champion Carlito and even without both sets of tag team champions. This show also has the second highest buyrate of any Summerslam pay per view ever. Shawn Michaels shocked the world when he hit sweet chin music on Hulk Hogan following a match in which they teamed together against Kurt Angle and Carlito. Since then Shawn Michaels has mocked Hogan, mostly for being old. But all the while he has wanted the opportunity to fight Hogan and tonight he gets his chance.

The WWE Championship is set to be defended as John Cena puts his title on the line against Chris Jericho. Jericho has been Eric Bischoff’s hand picked selection to challenge Cena after Cena hit the FU on Bischoff when he was first drafted to Raw. Since then Cena and Jericho have had a war of words over everything including their own music careers. Jericho takes offence with Cena’s brand of rap especially as he is a member of rock band Fozzy. The World Heavyweight Championship is also set to be defended with Batista putting the title on the line against John “Bradshaw” Layfield. Undertaker was named number one contender following The Great American Bash but JBL took exception to that as he actually beat Batista at the same event. A match was made between the two and Layfield won the match after interference from Randy Orton. Batista would let JBL pick the stipulation for their match at Summerslam and Bradshaw chose a no holds barred match.

Kurt Angle bought his gold medal challenge to Raw when he moved over in the draft and one week it was none other than Eugene that would accept his challenge, returning from injury. Eugene would shock the world by winning the gold medal, celebrating with his new found friend Christy Hemme. Since then, Kurt has been obsessed with getting his medals back and gets his chance at Summerslam. At last years event Eugene wrestled Triple H and this year he wrestles Kurt Angle, not a bad event for Eugene at all. Also on Raw Matt Hardy attacked Edge on multiple occasions despite being fired a few months ago. Hardy has never forgiven Edge for stealing his girlfriend (Lita) away from him in real life and so Vince McMahon re-hired Hardy and announced that he would battle Edge at Summerslam. Except this match to be an absolute fight rather than a catch-as-catch-can classic.

Smackdown offers three undercard matches. The match with the biggest build has been Eddie Guerrero and Rey Mysterio which has stolen the show over the past few months. Despite losing to Mysterio at The Great American Bash, Guerrero revealed his secret anyway, telling the world that Mysterio’s son Dominick is actually the son of Guerrero. Guerrero wanted full custody of his son, if only to spite Rey, but Mysterio laid down a challenge of a ladder match at Summerslam with Dominick’s custody papers hung high above the ring and so the match was made. Undertaker also gets revenge against the man that cost him number one contendership to the World Heavyweight Championship, Randy Orton in a rematch from Wrestlemania. Also tonight Orlando Jordan defends his United States championship against Chris Benoit in a rematch from The Great American Bash.

On Sunday Night Heat prior to the event, Chris Master defeated The Hurricane.

The show kicks off with Lilian Garcia singing the US National Anthem. Bit odd for a Summerslam.

We then get the obligatory video package which is to a Seether song and they’ve actually done a good job of this, touching on most of the matches for tonight. Jim Ross then welcomes us to the 18th annual Summerslam, he’s joined by Jerry Lawler and Jonathan Coachman. They throw to the Spanish announcers who in turn throw to Smackdown’s Michael Cole and Tazz! We’re kicking this one off Smackdown style.

Orlando Jordan (c) vs. Chris Benoit – United States Championship Match

This is a rematch from The Great American Bash last month where Orlando Jordan defeated Chris Benoit. The United States Championship has yet to change hands on a Summerslam pay per view. Benoit has a 1-2 record at Summerslam PPV’s whilst Jordan makes his Summerslam debut tonight. The two lock up early and Jordan hits a cheap shot but Benoit ducks a cheap shot, hits a German suplex and locks on the Crippler Crossface! Jordan taps out and this one is over in less than 30 seconds! Benoit is the new United States champion! What a strange match to kick off the show with!

Rating: N/A

Eddie Guerrero is backstage when his wife Vickie arrives and wants to talk to him. Vickie says that this match is all about Guerrero beating Mysterio and that he doesn’t care about Dominick. Guerrero says that she’s crazy. Vickie says that Eddie can’t defeat Mysterio when he’s like that and so Eddie kicks her out and re-assures himself that he can beat Rey Mysterio.

There’s a video package showing the history between Edge and Matt Hardy and the lady in the middle, Lita.

Matt Hardy vs. Edge

This is a first singles match on PPV between these two men. Matt Hardy has a 0-3 record at Summerslam whilst Edge has a 5-1 record. Edge is accompanied to the ring Lita but he doesn’t have his Money In The bank briefcase that he won at Wrestlemania. Matt rushes to the ring and the two men go at it outside the ring. Eventually the two get into the ring and the bell rings. Hardy applies a choke but Edge gets to the ropes and crawls out of the ring. Hardy follows and lays in some right hands. Back in the ring and Matt just swings both fists at Edge until Edge hits him with a headbutt. Matt is out on the apron and Edge dives at him with a spear all the way to the outside! Edge throws Matt back into the ring but Matt hits him with some big right hands. Edge drops Hardy on the ringpost and Matt falls to the outside. It’s Edge’s turn to hit some right hands now and Hardy is busted wide open from the forehead. This match has been a brawl so far.

Edge hits more right hands and then a couple of knees to the head. Edge kicks Hardy in the face and Matt collapses in the ring. The referee keeps asking Matt if he wants to continue and eventually the referee calls for the bell! Edge is declared the winner! Well this match ended way too soon. Disappointing.

Rating: 3/10

Video package next for Eddie Guerrero and Rey Mysterio.

Rey Mysterio vs. Eddie Guerrero – Ladder match for custody of Dominick

This is the fourth PPV singles match between these two men and Mysterio has won the previous 3. Mysterio goes into this match with a 0-2 record at Summerslam PPV’s whilst Guerrero has a 2-2 record. Dominick is sat ringside for this match. Both Mysterio and Guerrero embrace Dominick before the match and the crowd is right behind Rey in this one. Eddie takes a cheap shot at Mysterio to kick off the match, hitting him with a knee to the gut before smashing him into one of the top turnbuckles and then hitting him with as side suplex. Mysterio gets back into it with a monkey flip, sending Guerrero to the outside. Michael Cole tells us that this is Mysterio’s first ever ladder match. Guerrero throws Rey into the ring steps and then into a ladder in the entrance way. Eddie slides a ladder into the ring and sets it up below the briefcase which holds the papers. Eddie climbs the ladder but Mysterio knocks him off with a springboard dropkick.

The two men slug it out until Mysterio throws Eddie out of the ring. Rey then baseball slides a ladder into the face of Guerrero. Eddie gets back up to his feet but Mysterio flies to the outside with a seated senton. The two men get back into the ring and both men climb up the ladder. Eddie grabs onto the briefcase but Mysterio hits him with some right hands. Eddie then attempts a sunset powerbomb but there’s a bit of a mess made as Eddie lets go of Mysterio who falls down anyway. Guerrero folds up the ladder and smashes it in to Rey Mysterio a couple of times. Eddie then grabs another ladder and dropkicks it into Mysterio. This match and rivalry has been build up so perfectly. Guerrero powerslams Mysterio on a ladder and then lays another ladder on top of him before hitting him with a big hilo! Pretty sure that would’ve hurt both men. Eddie sets up a ladder and climbs up it but Rey sets up a ladder leaning on the one already set up. Mysterio then hits a back body drop sending Eddie on to the other ladder. Both ladders buckle and Mysterio falls onto one of the ladders himself.

Eddie sets up a ladder in the corner and sends Mysterio into it ribs first in an inverted powerbomb type move. Guerrero sets up a ladder in the middle of the ring and climbs it but Dominick gets in the ring and tries to shaker the ladder! He can’t move it but Eddie climbs down from the ladder anyway and berates his son. Eddie looks like he’s going to throttle Dominick but Mysterio stops it from happening and lays into Eddie with right hands. Mysterio throws Eddie into a ladder and then nails him with a 619. Eddie falls to the mat with a ladder on top of him and Mysterio hits him with a springboard legdrop. Mysterio sets up a ladder and climbs up it, touching the briefcase but Eddie climbs up after him and puts Rey on his shoulders but Mysterio spins around and hits Eddie with a powerbomb off the top of the ladder! Rey climbs the ladder again but instead of pulling it down he grabs onto the hook. Eddie kicks the ladder away and Rey hangs from the hook. Rey then drops and Guerrero hits him with a huge powerbomb.

Guerrero sets up the ladder, trapping Mysterio underneath it. Eddie looks down at Rey as he climbs to the top of the ladder but he can’t take the briefcase off the hook! Rey pulls away the ladder and Eddie hangs from the hook until Rey pulls him down to the mat. Both men get up to their feet but it’s Eddie with the advantage as he hits the three amigos, dropping Mysterio on a ladder. Eddie sets up a ladder in the middle of the ring and climbs it but down comes Vickie Guerrero. Eddie gets to the top of the ladder and Vickie shouts at him from the ring below. Eddie sends her to the back but instead Vickie pushes over the ladder! Rey then sets up the ladder again and climbs it to the top. Eddie gets to the his feet to knock over the ladder but Vickie pulls him away allowing Rey Mysterio to unhook the briefcase and win the match! That’s 4 PPV wins for Mysterio against Guerrero. Great match between these two.

Rating: 8/10

Todd Grisham is backstage with Chris Jericho who says that the time is now for Chris Jericho to become WWE Champion. He says that John Cena is the flavour of the month whereas Jericho beat The Rock and Steve Austin in the same night.

Eugene vs. Kurt Angle

This is a first pay per view match between these two men and it’s Kurt Angle’s gold medals on the line. The gold medals currently held by Eugene. For the second year in a row Eugene has a killer opponent for Summerslam, following his loss at last years event to Triple H. Kurt has a good Summerslam record, 4-1 win to losses. Kurt goes right for Eugene, attacking him before the bell rings. Eugene has Christy Hemme in his corner. In recent years Kurt has won Summerslam matches against Eddie Guerrero, Brock Lesnar, Rey Mysterio and Stone Cold Steve Austin. Eugene gets back into it with a spinebuster and the crowd boo him. Eugene looks to hit a people’s elbow but Angle springs up and floors Eugene with a clothesline! Kurt hits two German suplexes and then drives his knee into Eugene’s face. Eugene misses with a splash in the corner and Kurt hits him with another German for a near fall. Four matches in and that is the first near fall of the night. There have been no pinfall victories so far tonight.

Kurt smashes Eugene off the top turnbuckle but it doesn’t affect Eugene! The crowd Eugene as he starts a comeback and hits Angle with a rock bottom for a near fall. Eugene hits Kurt with a stone cold stunner for another two count and he then locks on the ankle lock! Kurt counters it smashing Eugene into a middle turnbuckle and then takes him down with an Angle slam! Kurt applies the ankle lock and Eugene taps out promptly! Kurt Angle wins the match and retains his gold medals! A fairly quick match with the crowd surprisingly behind Angle. After the match Kurt grabs a chair but Christy protects Eugene. Kurt throws Eugene out of the ring, stands on the chair in the middle of the ring and asks the referee to put the medals around his neck. A hot crowd for this match! Kurt wins once again at Summerslam!

Rating: 6/10

Backstage the likes of Torrie Wilson, Maria, Ashley, Candice Michelle and Stacy cleaning a “Presidential” limo in their bikini’s. The window then winds down and it’s Vince McMahon sat in the limo! There’s a “McMahon for President” sticker on the bumper.

The Undertaker vs. Randy Orton

This is a second pay per view meeting between these two men. The first was at Wrestlemania this year and was won by The Undertaker. The Undertaker has an 8-4-1 record at Summerslam events whilst Orton has a 1-1 record. Both men were in world title matches at last years event with Undertaker losing to JBL and Orton winning the World Heavyweight championship from Chris Benoit. The bell rings and Orton gets right out of the ring. Orton climbs into the ring but Undertaker shoves him into the mat and then slaps him. Orton tries to out-speed Undertaker which seems to work. Orton applies a headlock which Undertaker gets out of and then knocks Orton down for a near fall. This is Randy’s first PPV match since Wrestlemania. Orton hits a hiptoss and a clothesline before running into Undertakers boot. Undertaker applies a keylock and then twists the arm before attempting old school but Randy hits him with an arm drag form the top rope for a near fall.

Orton hits some uppercuts and then some right hands. But Undertaker throws Orton into the corner and hits him with some rights and lefts. Orton hits a big boot before Undertaker hits one of his own. Undertaker hits a huge clothesline knocking Orton down for a near fall. Undertaker slows down his attack, slapping Orton about and hitting him with right hands until attempting a running big boot but missing. Undertaker falls to the apron and tries to step back in but Orton knocks him down with a DDT for a two count. Orton smashes Undertakers knee into the ring post and then stomps away at his knee. Nobody has wrestled as many PPV matches as The Undertaker and as a result nobody has won as many. Only Kane has lost more. Undertaker tries to apply a body scissors but Orton quickly elbows his way out and hits a knee drop for a near fall. Orton hits a big boot for another near fall. Randy hits a big powerslam for a two count. This match has been a slow one.

Orton applies a leg grapevine but Undertaker counters it and drops Ortons knee into the mat. Undertaker then targets Ortons knee. Randy takes Undertaker back down with a chop block before applying another leg grapevine. Undertaker manages to kick Randy out of the ring and then follows him out and throws him into the ring steps before tossing him back onto the ring apron and hitting him with a legdrop. Back in the ring and Undertaker heads to the top and hits the old school axe handle. Undertaker then hits a facebuster for a near fall and follows it up with snake eyes but then runs into a nice dropkick from Orton. Orton tries for an RKO but Undertaker counters it, launching Randy across the ring. Undertaker then attempts the tombstone but Orton counters it into one of his own but Undertaker counters that only for Randy to nip down and hit a neckbreaker for a two count. Randy hits some clubbing forearms to the chest and then heads to the top where he dives off with a cross body but Undertaker rolls through it and hits Orton with a chokeslam!

Undertaker motions for the tombstone but a fan then gets in the ring and I don’t think that’s a fan. He looks disguised. Undertaker helps get him out the ring but Orton hits him with an RKO out of nowhere! Randy hooks the leg and gets the 3! Randy wins the match! This is the first match tonight to end with a pinfall. Orton then joins the fan in the entrance way and pulls off the disguise to reveal his father “Cowboy” Bob Orton! It’s a win for Randy Orton tonight but this one is far from over!

Rating: 6/10

There’s a video package for John Cena and Chris Jericho next.

Jericho is shown backstage shaking hands with Eric Bischoff who wishes him luck.

John Cena (c) vs. Chris Jericho – WWE Championship Match

The WWE title match should always go on last if you ask me. These two men have met once in a singles match on PPV before and it was Cena who won that match back at Vengeance 2002. Cena has wrestled once at Summerslam before and that was at last years event when he defeated Booker T. Jericho has a 1-4 record at the event. Cena looks quite a bit bigger than Jericho. Jericho has previously been WWE Champion once, he hasn’t held the belt in over 3 years. The two men scrap it out in the early going and Jericho takes the advantage with a suplex. Jericho then hits a spinning heel kick knocking Cena out to the apron. Jericho then attempts a springboard cross body but Cena ducks and Jericho flies to the outside where Cena knocks him down with a spear and lays into him with right hands. Back in the ring and Cena lays into Jericho with right hands and an Irish whip but then runs into a dropkick. Jericho hits a suplex for a near fall and then a basement dropkick before applying a chinlock. Cena gets to his feet but Jericho throws him out of the ring before hitting him with a dropkick off the apron.

Jericho chokes Cena with some microphone cable on the outside and then throws Cena back into the ring. Jericho pops Cena on the top rope and then hits him with a big superplex for a near fall. Jericho hits an Irish whip but walks into the boot of Cena. Cena then takes the advantage with a back body drop and a couple of clotheslines but misses with a shoulder charge. Jericho takes him down with a bulldog and then tries for a lionsault but Cena gets out of the way and Jericho lands on his feet. Cena attempts the FU but Jericho hits a gloryroll and then tries to lock on the walls of Jericho but Cena sends him out of the ring. Jericho gets up to the apron and climbs back into the ring but Cena heads up top and hits Jericho with a legdrop as he re-enters the ring for a near fall. Cena gets Jericho up for the FU but Jericho counters it into an DDT. Jericho hits a backbreaker and then a couple of elbow drops. There’s duelling chants as half of the crowd cheer for Cena and the other half cheer for Jericho.

Jericho chokes Cena on the bottom rope and then the middle rope. Jericho then bounces off the ropes but Cena explodes with a big clothesline. The two men get to their feet and slug it out with lefts and rights. Cena takes the advantage with a couple of clotheslines, a hiptoss and then a side slam. Cena then attempts the five knuckle shuffle but Jericho sees him coming and takes him down, applying the walls of Jericho! Cena breaks the hold by getting to the ropes. Jericho then heads to the top and Cena joins him only for Jericho to take Cena back down to the mat with a side suplex for a near fall. Cena hits the FU out of nowhere and this one is over! John Cena retains his WWE Championship tonight! Good match between these two but the ending was a little abrupt.

Rating: 7/10

There’s a video package next for Batista and john “Bradshaw” Layfield.

Batista (c) vs. John “Bradshaw” Layfield –  No holds barred match for the World Heavyweight Championship

This is the second PPV match between these two men. Layfield won the first by disqualification at the Great American Bash. Batista has a 0-1 Summerslam record compared to Bradshaw’s 2-1 record. JBL comes out with JBL 100 dollar bills falling from the ceiling. He then attacks Batista as he steps out to make his entrance. The two men go at it in the TV area where Batista smashes a fire extinguisher into JBL. Layfield then throws Batista into a flight case. Bradshaw looks so stiff as he throws right hands at Batista and the two men battle through the crowd. Batista then spears JBL through the barricade. The two men battle into the ring where Bradshaw takes Batista down with a clothesline and then drops an elbow. This is Batista’s fourth PPV defence of his title, more than any other current champion in the WWE. Layfield lays into Batista with right hands and then grabs the belt of the timekeeper Mark Yeaton before whipping Batista with it.

JBL chokes Batista with the belt taking him down to one knee. Batista stops the choke by hitting a side suplex to his challenger. Batista then whips JBL with the belt! Batista Irish whips JBL who hits the champion with a big boot and then bounces off the ropes with a clothesline from hell! Layfield hooks the leg but Batista kicks out at 2! JBL grabs the ring steps and tosses them into the ring just to set Batista up for a powerbomb on them! Batista gets out of it with a back body drop. JBL then tries for another clothesline from hell only for Batista to counter it with a spinebuster! The world heavyweight champion then motions for the Batista bomb and he hits it in the middle of the ring! But Batista doesn’t pin JBL. The crowd chant “one more time” and Batista looks over at the steel steps. Batista looks to hit a Batista bomb on the steps and he hits it! Batista covers JBL and gets the 3! Batista retains his World Heavyweight Championship for a fourth time on PPV!

Rating: 6.25/10

There’s a VT up next for Hulk Hogan and Shawn Michaels.

Hulk Hogan vs. Shawn Michaels

This is a dream match. A first time meeting between these two men. Hulk Hogan has a 4-0 record at Summerslam having wrestled at the first four Summerslam events but not wrestled at the event since 1991. Shawn Michaels has a 4-3-1 record at the event. Jim Ross claims that Hogan is 300 pounds. I’m not sure that’s accurate. Hogan throws Michaels across the ring in the early going and Shawn goes flying. Hogan does the same again and then pushes Shawn who flies around like he weighs nothing. These really are two of the best of all time. Michaels applies a headlock which Hogan reverses but Michaels gets out of it. Hulk hits a shoulderblock and Michaels falls on his back and then all the way out of the ring. Michaels selling in this match so far is incredibly over the top. Back in the ring and Michaels hits a knee and then a couple of big chops. Hogan reverses an Irish whip and Michaels lands on the top rope where Hulk lays in some boots to Shawns middle section. Hogan crotches Michaels on the top rope and then smashes him into the top turnbuckle where Michaels does a 360 and lands on the mat.

Michaels hits a thumb to the eye to take the advantage and then some right hands and chops. Hogan hits a back body drop and then clotheslines Michaels out of the ring. Hogan slingshots Michaels back into the ring and then takes him down with a clothesline. He sets up for a back body drop but Michaels kicks him in the face and then hits a couple more chops. Shawn the slaps Hogan in the face a coupe of times and he looks pissed off. Michaels hits a couple more chops and then tries for an Irish whip but Hogan reverses it and sends Shawn over the top rope and to the outside. Hogan exits the ring and smashes Michaels head into the barricade. Hulk then powerslams Shawn onto the Spanish announce table before throwing him into the ringpost. Hulk picks Shawn up onto his shoulder and looks to ram him into the ringpost again but Michaels nips down and pushes Hogan into it. Michaels rolls hogan back into the ring and lays into him with some big right hands but Hogan shoves him across the ring.

Hogan is busted wide open now following the continuous right hands from Michaels. HBK hits more right hands and then applies a sleeper. Hogan gets out of it but Michaels hits him with a flying forearm. Michaels goes up top but Hogan gets out of the way of the elbow drop and starts to Hulk up! He hits Michaels with some right hands and Michaels then tries for a reverse elbow but Hogan gets out of the way and Michaels nails the referee! Michaels nips up and heads to the top but then decides against it and drops to the floor and looks a sharpshooter on Hogan! Another referee gets in the ring but Hogan manages to crawl to the ropes to break the sharpshooter! Michaels then tries to apply the hold again but this time Hogan kicks Michaels into the referee knocking both men down! Michaels hits a low blow and then grabs a chair and swings it into Hogans head. Michaels heads to the top rope and hits hulk with an elbow drop. Michaels sets up for sweet chin music and he hits it! The referee is slow to crawl over and as a result, Hogan kicks out at 2!

Hogan Hulks up and hits Michaels with three big right hands, a big boot which Michaels sells like a kipper and then the big legdrop! He hooks the leg and gets the 3! Hulk Hogan beats Shawn Michaels! Hogan goes 5-0 at Summerslam! After the bell Michaels shoves Hogan and then extends his hand. Hogan accepts the handshake. Hulk must pose as the show goes off the air.

Rating: 7.5/10

And that was Summerslam 2005. It felt like a good show, despite the bad start. I can’t rate the opening match as it only lasted 25 seconds. I actually really like that result. Chris Benoit has every right to squash Orlando Jordan and it was a total shock. I don’t have any problems with this at all. Chris Benoit is a good choice for the United States title and will really elevate the division. I can only see this as the beginning of the end for Jordan who hasn’t had a bad run off being JBL’s lackey. Maybe he’ll turn face and get a feud out of JBL. Edge and Matt Hardy then met in a really disappointing match. Most of it took place outside the ring before the bell and then just as it got going inside the ring, the match came to an end. I liked the stiff shots from both men and it came across like a legit fight but I feel robbed with how it end. Matt Hardy has been made to look really weak since his return to the WWE and this solidified that. He couldn’t continue so Edge won the match. I don’t mind Edge winning and I think this feud will continue but generally this could have been done better. I’m sure we’ll get a rematch at next months Unforgiven.

The ladder match between Rey Mysterio and Eddie Guerrero was another great match from these two. This feud has really elevated Rey Mysterio who was floundering a little, first in the cruiserweight division and then in random tag teams. Mysterio wins again and this time it is with help from both his son Dominick and Eddie’s wide Vickie. Could this be the end of this rivalry? I hope it isn’t! It’s been captivating. This could carry on or this could be the end of it, either way I have enjoyed every second of what has been the best rivalry in a long time in my opinion. Great ladder match. Kurt Angle then beat Eugene in the shortest match of the night (discounting the Benoit/Jordan match). Kurt is an absolute beast at the moment and the crowd were hot for him. He rightfully beat Eugene and won his gold medals back. I love what the did after the match with being presented the medals. Kurt could quite easily be put back into the WWE title picture and I’d like to see him have another run with the belt. Not sure where this leaves Eugene, mostly comedy relief.

The Undertaker/Randy Orton match was a bit of a slow one. Randy won the match with a bit of a screwy ending with his father getting involved. Looks like Cowboy Bob is sticking around for the time being as Randy’s manager which is fine, it gives Randy a bit of extra heat. This puts their series at 1-1 so I can see there being a rubber match on pay per view in the not too distant future. Hopefully it has a slightly quicker pace to it. John Cena retained his WWE Championship against Chris Jericho in a fairly straight forward match up. The ending was a little abrupt but it doesn’t matter too much as this wasn’t the main event. Cena is a decent champion for Raw and he has some good opponents in the likes of Chris Jericho, Kurt Angle, Shawn Michaels and Edge until Triple H inevitably comes back and we get a match between he and Cena, probably at Wrestlemania.

Batista also retained his title against JBL. Batista and Cena are both getting strong world title reigns which I think is always necessary for a first world title reign. This was straight out of the attitude era with the two men battling through the crowd, on tables and ending with the ring steps. Batista wins and this will put an end to this feud. Batista has a few opponents on Smackdown, most notably Randy Orton and Eddie Guerrero. I’m not sure where this leaves JBL who has been in a WWE title match every time the title has been on the line on PPV since last years Wrestlemania. It’d be weird to see him in the midcard.

Hulk Hogan then beat Shawn Michaels in an over the top match between two legends. Shawn Michaels was over-selling everything which gave the impression he was not happy about doing the job. It was a fun match though and one definitely worth checking out. I’m not sure we’ll ever get it again. The two men did shake hands at the end of the match though so I wonder if Michaels will stay as a heel or turn face. Who knows with Hogan. Overall a decent show, on paper could have been as good as 2002 but in reality didn’t come close.

Overall Rating: 62.5/100 (ranked joint 45th out of 183)

Match Of The Night: Rey Mysterio vs. Eddie Guerrero
Worst Match Of The Night: Matt Hardy vs. Edge
Surprise Of The Night: Chris Benoit squashes Orlando Jordan
Worst Booking Of The Night: Ending Matt Hardy/Edge so quickly
Superstar Of The Night: Hulk Hogan
Summerslam 2005 Will Be Remembered For: The only ever match between Hulk Hogan and Shawn Michaels