WWE SummerSlam 2017 review: What we learned, takeaways, future projections

Randy Orton vs. Rusev

What we learned: Did we really have time to learn anything her? I mean, besides the fact that Rusev might as well be considered worthless as any type of threat moving forward? Okay, I suppose we could say that the Bulgarian Brute knows how to sell an RKO because he did make it look really good and painful.

When Rusev attacked Orton before the bell, I almost expected a situation similar to last year’s SummerSlam when the match between Rusev and Roman Reigns never took place due to pre-match activity. I liked the aggressiveness that Rusev showed in that opening and thought it made for a good start to the battle that really could have been good. After losing three straight pay-per-view matches, I didn’t expect Randy Orton to lose here, but I definitely wasn’t expecting something like that. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I can’t stand squash matches on a pay-per-view. It’s not that this was a great build or anything like that but come on, this was ridiculous. Yes, the crowd is going to pop for the RKO — and they did —  but this did nothing for anyone. At least the Daniel Bryan-Kurt Angle segment before this got going was entertaining.

What’s next: I don’t know where you go from here with this. Rusev will likely want some type of rematch at some point, but it might be hard for him to dig himself out of the hole that creative has put him in, especially if he has to fight Baron Corbin in that same hole. As for The Viper, he’s been booked just terribly since his program with Bray Wyatt and it’s very disappointing given the fact that when he wants to be, he’s still one of the best in the company. I’d be fine with them moving forward with this for one more pay-per-view if we get a real match out of it. If that’s not the case, though, let’s move on from this and find something better for both of these guys.