We kick off a new wrestling year, which, of course, will be like every other wrestling year, entirely ordinary and not catastrophic.
Here's the Summer Slam card (Summer Slam '19 will be held in Toronto)
WWF Title: Tyler Black v. Kingston
IC Title: Ricochet (w/BWI) v. Buddy Murphy (w/Underground)
Tags: Shoot Nation (Lesnar/Nemeth w/Angle) v. Underground (Gulak/Lorcan w/Regal)
AJ Styles v. Prince Devitt
Kevin Steen v. Apollo Crews
The Fiend Bray Wyatt v. Randy Orton
Women's Title: (Winners of opening tag v each other)
Parejas Increibles: Lynch/Flair v. Neidhart/Stratus v. Bayley/Moon v. Bliss/Cross
Let's use this opportunity to reset where we stand.
WWF is a sports forward promotion; there's an excess of nonsense for my IRL taste, but 15 years of storytelling requires some ga-ga. However, ideally the feel of the programming should largely be sports and not a television show. The 4 major quarterly PPVs serve as tentpoles; the Rumble and Survivor Series are not themed here (the Royal Rumble would be called Justice Sunday were I not trying to maintain a tether to the real world) titles (one exception) are only contested on PPV.
There are 3 weekly television programs, RAW is the big, splashy show on Monday - the largest sets, the largest venues, the heat angles, Fight Night is a small, intimate show on Friday, nothing backstage; it's just pre-tapes and matches. The midweek show has gone through multiple incarnations over many, many years, it's currently Dark Ride Wrestling; there's some blurring between it and the "main roster" save for the Dark Ride Championship, which can only be held by wrestlers who haven't worked PPV in a year. It doesn't travel regularly, but ideally there would be at least two permanent venues (fans need beginnings and endings to avoid burnout). There's a developmental system (WWFUniversity, nicknamed Underground) helmed by Steve Regal, there's the WWF Network (intellectual property is treated loosely here, we do look to explain via financial considerations and other forms of compensation when WWF remains WWF or the Bullet Club is brought over). Were you to (and don't do this) decide to go back, start at the beginning, and focus on the dates of publication, you'd find there's stuff that happens here that pre-dates it happening IRL.
Stables make up the backbone of the promotion and have since the dawn of the Mania era (since I don't get to determine when workers are available to me, having squads that can be added to/subtracted from and still maintain story continuity is a useful device) and Vince McMahon is the President of the United States (that would take a second to explain; it's the culmination of a decade long program).
Mauro Ranallo is the lead announcer for all 3 shows. He is the voice of the WWF. The analyst roles are in a little bit of flux, save for Dark Ride, that's Graves. Heyman is the RAW analyst, except when he's managing Walter in Dark Ride, currently his only client. Regal/Nigel split Fight Night duties, except when they are managing their clients; Regal manages multiple workers from Underground and Nigel manages British Strong Style.
Publication started in late 2005; cultural norms have shifted quite a bit; programs like 30 Rock have recently removed episodes from their rotation currently felt to be insensitive to marginalized groups; the span of time from 2005 to the date of this publication, 2020, is vast and my saying "yeah, but in 2005, readers would have known what the Christopher Street Connection was" doesn't have a ton of resonance to modern ears. It could be there will be a point where my judgment changes and I scrub angles which would be found problematic (unlike WWE, there's no blackface here, but like ECW or ROH of that era, there are some women getting squashed) but I think there's value in seeing the evolution, warts and all.
Okay. Let's build the card.
WWF Title: Tyler Black v. Kingston
-A choice was made well over a decade ago to use indie names as a marker for some workers to distinguish them from those who came up through Underground; that's largely subtext now, but was part of the Nemeth/Swagger relationship (that's actually more comlex than that - almost everything is more complex than I'm able to lay out here; there are a lot of words, man) so that's why Tyler Black is not Seth Rollins. It hasn't entirely been a successful choice, but you go down the roads you go down.
Black is the 59th WWF Champion; he took the belt from Styles at Mania after cashing in the briefcase (there have only been two briefcase matches, both were successfully cashed in). He's now the leader of the Bullet Club (Devitt/Kushida/Lynch/Anderson/Gallows/Renee Young). Black entered WWF as part of GDI (largely a ROH proxy stable; the current members are Cole/O'Reilly/Fish/Maria) was moved to developmental when GDI was run out of the promotion temporarily (by Steamboat; there currently is not a figurehead commissioner, but there have been several, mostly babyfaces who would adopt some heelish tendencies given the pressures of the position) and joined with Ambrose and Langston to form The Shield (they held the tag belts for 2 1/4 years, the longest title run for any belt in the Mania era).
Langston turned on his partners (The Shield were modeled after the Hart Foundation, which was Bret/Davey Boy and the Anvil...also Dynamite, but he wasn't part of the tag team) and their run came to an end when the Anvil turned; the Langston turn harkened back to it) it took a second, but Langston would join with Kingston and Woods to form the New Day, which is closer to the Nation of Domination than IRL New Day, although they are currently babyfaces.
Black turned on Ambrose to join the Bullet Club; ran Ambrose out of town and here we are.
The model for the Bullet Club this year is Jericho's IRL stable in AEW, Black can drink bottles of champagne, that would be fine. There isn't the kind of jockeying for leadership we've often seen with the Bullet Club (Styles and Nakamura, both current babyfaces, are former members) Devitt will move into the background as Black, wearing the WWF Championship belt, assumes leadership.
New Day has been in a year plus long program with Gods of Carnage (Rusev/Strowman/Lana) but Kingston won the blow off match in a cage against Rusev - and at some point over the summer, we start a New Day/Bullet Club program - centered around Langston going at Black and Young about what they did to Ambrose. That's going to lead to an addition with the New Day - Sasha Banks, to counter Becky Lynch (Banks/Lynch/Flair/Paige were 4-Ground, Flair is now part of the Horsemen, Paige has retired and given her "spot" to Bayley, when the faction reunited last year to fight Rousey and the Horsewomen). Langston is going to get a fall on Black in a multiman match (Woods is injured, BTW) and that leads to his getting the title shot.
That's the initial match - Black v. Langston - former Shield members - for the WWF Title - but the Bullet Club has a history of injuring guys and they do here - taking Langston out, burying him under the Bullet Club flag (ordered by Black, speculation will be that he didn't know if he could beat Langston and that will be Kingston's main talking point) and Kingston slides in.
It would be a pretty good upset, Kingston has been a multi time tag champion (previously as half of Young Money with Killings - Kingston came to the WWF as part of the Floyd Mayweather Mania program) but has never been an upper card singles act - and so he gets singles wins in this build (fighting uphill, like beating a bigger guy or beating a guy despite outside interference) Black is arrogant leader of a stable, certain he will win - perhaps overconfident - and here's plucky Kingston, never before and possibly never again to get this kind of shot - it's the biggest night of his life.
Black. Kingston. For the strap at the main event of Summer Slam.
IC Title: Ricochet (w/BWI) v. Buddy Murphy (w/Underground)
Ricochet took the IC from Devitt in a banger at Mania; he's the 72nd IC Champ. He had to relinquish the Dark Ride Title in order to work Mania (vacant belt won by Kushida, in his debut - in the week following Mania, Kushida will drop to Walter, in his debut) Ricochet is part of a babyface stable, Blood Warriors International, with Tozawa and Alexander.
Underground, as mentioned, is the nickname for the developmental system - but its graduates have occasionally grouped together to form a heel stable. Currently, Underground is Murphy/Aleister Black/Gulak/Lorcan/Authors of Pain) they beat Nick Nemeth (who once was leader of Underground in a prior generation) half to death in a hotel room (Nemeth is part of Angle's stable Shoot Nation; Angle and Regal were once pals, Regal was Angle's enforcer in a heel stable in days gone by). Underground is still programmed with Shoot Nation this summer - but also they peel off to take on BWI, which leads us to this match. There's not really a heat angle here, there's enough Underground heat with Shoot Nation - this is a workrate build - the expectation is Murphy and Ricochet are going to have the best match on the card.
Tags: Shoot Nation (Lesnar/Nemeth w/Angle) v. Underground (Gulak/Lorcan w/Regal)
Shoot Nation (Lesnar/Nemeth/Benjamin/Gable/Lashley, managed by Angle) is the 107th tag champs; Angle (in his last match) Lesnar and Benjamin took the titles from Hooligans (Sheamus/Miz/McIntyre) at Mania. Angle/Lesnar/Benjamin have a near two decade long history together as both allies and foes, but came together in Kurt's final ever match to win the titles. It was a nice moment. IRL WWE, for a promotion built on "moments" leaves some easy ones on the ground.
That win also meant Lesnar won the Triple Crown (WWF Title/IC/Tags) positioned as the most prestigous accomplishment in the sport. Each winner's name is carved into the Triple Crown Trophy (it's a cup) and there's a presentation ceremony where the most recent winner hands the cup to the new winner, who maintains possession until the next winner.
That ceremony occurs not long after Mania, as many people from Lesnar's life as we can find (and any past recipients who can attend) including every member of Shoot Nation (save Nemeth, still selling the Underground attack) are on RAW - and Lesnar is handed the Triple Crown by AJ Styles; the highlight package includes clips of all of the names engraved on the trophy:
PEDRO MORALES
BRET HART
SHAWN MICHAELS
OWEN HART
STEVE AUSTIN
CACTUS JACK
EDDY GUERRERO
REY MYSTERIO
CHRIS BENOIT
CHRIS JERICHO
EDGE
NICK NEMETH
AJ STYLES
BRET HART
SHAWN MICHAELS
OWEN HART
STEVE AUSTIN
CACTUS JACK
EDDY GUERRERO
REY MYSTERIO
CHRIS BENOIT
CHRIS JERICHO
EDGE
NICK NEMETH
AJ STYLES
BROCK LESNAR
Not in attendance is Heyman; he managed Lesnar (outside of a minor Swagger related hiccup) from his return to the promotion until the Mania build; they had what was described as a professional falling out - and even though RAW is Heyman's current gig - he is said to be unavoidably committed to Walter related business and couldn't make the ceremony. Nothing really bothers Lesnar, and he no sells finding out that Heyman isn't coming, but maybe you can see some hurt in his eyes. Heyman, for his part, will claim no animosity at all, but really put Walter over as "the next big thing" and really in need of all Heyman's attention. Angle will later express real irritation about Heyman, but grow even closer to Lesnar as a result. Angle and Lesnar are growing closer should be a thread that runs throughout the year.
Black/Murphy beat Gable/Lashley at Mania - so Shoot Nation, despite winning the tag belts, still needs justice for the Nemeth attack and that precipitates this program continuing here. Regal and Angle can draw on their long history together; there can be lots of mix/matching of matches given how many bodies there are in these stables -- it isn't until late in the build that we know who will be in the actual match at Mania; Lorcan and Gulak for Underground - Lesnar and a returning Nemeth for Shoot Nation. Nemeth doesn't ever appear live - but does cut a scathing, super serious taped promo.
Brock and Lesnar - both Triple Crown Winners, defending the tag titles at Summer Slam.
AJ Styles v. Prince Devitt
AJ and Devitt were uneasy stablemates, now turned rivals.
Devitt was a Paul Heyman Guy upon his arrival to WWF; had a real interest in the business side, sat at the Heyman learning tree. That aids him in the night more than 3 years ago now where the Bullet Club hit the WWF, a faction compiled together by Devitt. Devitt and Styles jockeyed for leadership - and even when the stable dominated the promotion, the relationship was uneasy; they once were even in a 3 way match for the WWF title, the two men always on the precipice of explosion. AJ left the Bullet Club last year as part of a babyface turn and regained the WWF Ttile by beating another Bullet Club ex-pat, Nakamura, in the main event at Mania. Devitt, who lost the IC Title earlier in the night (Devitt was in a year+ long war with all of Dark Ride Wrestling) appeared to confront Styles - leading to Black's hitting AJ with the long forgotten briefcase and taking his title.
This match is made right after Mania, they can build from afar all summer - that takes away any "why isn't Devitt/Styles getting a rematch for the titles lost at Mania" questions - Styles will say Black and his belt can wait - who he wants is Devitt; Devitt entirely ignores the IC, although will throw in an occasional dig at Dark Ride. The main thrust of this match, backed up by the years of barely repressed animosity, is to see who is better - it's not the beginning of a program, it's the end - and both men have for years thought they were better than the other, transcending both time and space. For Styles, he can reference his matches with Danielson - point to the "best wrestler in the world" tattoo on his forearm, to say this is a road he's been down, a story he's already written (Danielson, as you can imagine, won't love this) Styles says he doesn't need to attack the Bullet Club - what he needs to do is beat them.
They'll stay away from each other physically, we should sense that reflects their respect for the kind of match this is - but there will be a match (maybe a mixed tag) where Devitt puts Kingston over (helps the main event) on a Styles distraction (I don't do a lot of distraction finishes) but Styles, the babyface, being the one to break what appeared to be the code in the build for the match, gives us a sense of the personal dislike the two have for each other.
Kevin Steen v. Apollo Crews
Steen and Generico, of course, have a long and storied relationship spanning multiple promotions; in the WWF they've been stablemates, Generico a pure white meat babyface and Steen both baby and heel, but always close, always on the same side, each always picks the other when given the chance. Steen was leader of GDI (Pac/Claudio/Generico version) and ran a tight ship, lot of browbeating, much of that was focused on his desire that Pac and Generico give up their masks, that the masks held them back. The ferocity with which Steen treated his stablemates would eventually turn Claudio heel and cost Pac his mask in a program against Kalisto (which entirely changed his personality, he became the dark Neville and he and Claudio split from GDI to form Trash; they had a series of epic tag matches against Steen and Generico). Neville lost a loser leaves town match to Steen - Steen then adopted the persona of Kid Canada, aging masked luchadore, to create a masked tournament. Rey Mysterio made his return to the promotion in that tournament, the winner of which was Generico. Kid Canada then challenged Generico to a Mask v. Mask match at Mania 34; Generico won - Steen unmasked - but then Steen violated all wrestling protocol by unmasking Generico anyway.
Spurred by Mysterio, that led to a shunning of Steen by the WWF locker room and he was drummed out of the sport. Mysterio, who is officially billed as The Legendary Rey Mysterio, is the locker room leader, the best comparison is the height of IRL Undertaker's reign in the WWE locker room. His sway is particularly strong over the masked wrestlers - that drew irritation of Kalisto's longtime partner Crews; the two have never been tag champs, largely due to Kalisto's singles career - and it finally boiled over at Mania, when Crews turned on him.
Steen returned to the promotion as the mystery partner for Danielson in one of Kurt Angle's farwell matches; this was a controversial decision and Danielson's probably the only one with the backstage clout to pull it off. Danielson made the case that Steen had learned his lesson (while also insinuating that Mysterio was overly full of himself) Steen then ran in to make the save of Mysterio at Mania.
Post Mania - Crews injures his former partner Kalisto and then decisively beats Mascara Dorada - vengeance can't be taken by Dos Caras Jr (injured at Mania) Crews running roughshod over Mysterio's crew - Rey is only occasionally around, he's shooting a movie; so who will take up the cause to defend the honor of the luchadores at Summer Slam? Kevin Steen.
The Redemption of Kevin Steen continues - in Toronto, no less - at Summer Slam.
El Generico, gone a year, returned at Mania, but now he is Sami Zayn, full time WWF referee - he has one taped package asking fans not to chant Ole (like a public service announcement, it could be played before live events, but only once on TV, I do want fans to know that guy with the red beard is El Generico, but I don't want it to be a TV angle right now) saying that he is not that man anymore, that in truth he's spent all his life wrestling and doesn't have many other skills - and he needs a job, so far all the fans who loved El Generico, the best thing they can do is just let Sami Zayn be a referee.
And that's the last we talk about it. Zayn becomes a WWF official literally no different than any other; save that he never works a Kevin Steen match, we never see them once cross paths.
The Fiend Bray Wyatt v. Randy Orton
Bray Wyatt once led a stable, the Wyatt Family, but eventually lost them all (Harper/Cena/Dustin) we even saw Wyatt get the worse end of physical confrontations with Charlotte in the last gasp of the Bray Wyatt persona. Bray returns, in the Firefly Funhouse gimmick, after Mania. It's the IRL gimmick - he's had some sort of psychotic break -
an he's aiming the manifestation of that break at those who have wronged him. He spends the summer doing the Firefly Funhouse pieces - The Fiend's first opponent is Orton (Orton returned from absence and rejoined his former partner Cena, who then turned on Bray). Bray blames Orton and Orton will pay at Summer Slam.
Women's Title: (Winners of opening tag v each other)
Parejas Increibles: Lynch/Flair v. Neidhart/Stratus v. Bayley/Moon v. Bliss/Cross
Asuka beats Rousey at Mania in the best women's match to date in promotion history; the next night on RAW Rousey turns face, thanks the crowd, says it's been a fun year, she's had great fights, believes this is the best combat women's division anywhere on the planet, says Asuka is the best competitor she's ever been in a ring with - and she's heading home to have babies.
Her crew - Baszler/Duke/Shafir enter - Baszler says the fans have another treat because the Horsewomen have decided to stay in the WWF and keep kicking ass. Rousey has a minor correction - I mean, that's great, but there will be only 3 Horsewomen staying, 'cause she's headed home. Baszler says nope - there will be four -- a woman from developmental, Rhea Ripley enters - Baszler introduces her, says she's taking Rousey's spot. Rousey says he spot isn't transferrable, she's Ronda Rousey. Baszler says, nah - she used to be Ronda Rousey - now she's just a bitch about to get her ass kicked - and she does. Full beatdown by the Horsewomen, with the new member Ripley -- they lay her out -- Asuka runs to the ring for a save -- she is able to take out both Shafir and Duke. Baszler holds Ripley back and the Horsewomen beat a retreat, to date, that's Rousey's last appearance.
That sets up an Asuka/Baszler match - but it's never going to happen; the Horsewomen kill Asuka dead before she gets to the ring.
Asuka will be out indefinitely - the Women's Title is held up to be filled at Summer Slam.
Parejas Increibles is a Summer Slam tradition; the choice is made to take women who are otherwise feuding with each other, stick them in tag teams - winning team will then square off against each other - winner of that match - New WWF Women's Champ.
Lynch/Flair, as mentioned, were stablemates, but now stand in opposition (Joe/Strong/Roode are the rest of the Horsemen).
Bayley is babyface Bayley, friend to all - Moon/Bliss/Cross are their IRL gimmicks.
Summer Slam's in Canada - so we take a Hart, Natty - and stick her against a non-wrestler - but a fellow Canadian, Stratus, who was part of the Clique. That's weird, obviously. Trish does some vignettes to show "look how tough I am even at this age, I can beat up many people - for years I didn't get a chance to show what I can do because of the misogyny of the era, but now, in my hometown, I will come back to WWF, team with a Hart, of all people - we'll show everyone what Canada's aboot, and then I'll finally take my rightful place - the rightful place for the Clique - as Women's Champion".
That's the show.
Other stuff - Nakamura and Joe take the whole summer off; Danielson appears periodically to do tutorials - he'll appear unannounced after (or before, or during) a random match to praise what someone did, demonstrate a way to do it better. Probably, there are those who will not like this, "Jesus, man, who does this guy think he is" - but Danielson will always be right in all of his suggestions; and isn't the whole point to get better? He's not giving them old man advice - he's right, and he can't understand why a wrestler (or a fan) wouldn't want to see something done the right way if they can see it done the right way? Danielson's making the entire sport better. Don't you see? How can you not see?
Clique (Lee/Riddle w/Michaels) is feuding with GDI in Dark Ride -- and Hero announces his retirement at the end of this wrestling year; saying that his only remaining goal in the sport is to win the Dark Ride Title.
Summer Slam 2019 from Toronto. Coming in August
