SummerSlam 2010 brings the WWE facing the dawn of The Nexus in a 7-Vs-7 Elimination Match. Sheamus continues his feud with Randy Orton with the WWE Championship on the line. Rey Mysterio tries to defy the odds against Kane for the World Heavyweight Title..

For the second year in a row, and for four more, we are in the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. The house is packed with 17,463 fans and another 350K tuning in on PPV. These numbers are about the same as the previous year. We get two infamous sponsors that kind of go hand and hand, 7-Eleven and Slim Jim. The band Jet will give us the theme of “Rip it Up.” We are fresh off the heels of Money in the Bank here where Kane won the World Title contract and The Miz won the WWE contract. Lets get the show started and see what SummerSlam 2010 has to offer!

The show opens with the LA Skyline at night and the Staples center is the main focus. The video package is well put together and shows the “Nexus Invasion” of the WWE as the narrator warns of change. Its also shows the battle between The Big Show and CM Punk’s Straight-Edge Society. This is well produced and paints a great picture for the start of this faction fueled PPV. It isn’t long before we enter the arena for this “23rd Edition on SummerSlam”.

After we see the packed house we are joined by the announce team of Michael Cole, Jerry “The King” Lawler and Matt Striker. The boys are quick to get things underway and announce the first competitor in this match for the Intercontinental Championship. The champ, Dolph Ziggler enters first and is joined by his assistant Vickie Guerrero. We see a quick clip of how her interference cost the challenger, Kofi Kingston the Title. Vickie takes to the mic with her annoying “Excuse me, Excuse me” bit and gets the desired heat from the fans. She is cut off by the music of Kofi Kingston and the crowd gives some pop for this. He gets some more pop before the bell sounds by hitting the corners. Kofi strikes first with a forearm that takes Dolph off his feet. The stomping by Kofi goes on until the ref forces the separation. Dolph returns to his feet and Kingston quickly sends him to the outside with a clothesline over the top rope. This sends the crowd into an early frenzy. The suicide dive is attempted by Kofi next but Vickie pulls the arm of Ziggler and out of harms way. Kofi gets all the harm though and crashes head first into the security wall. Ziggler is quick to return to the ring and scream at the official to start the count. Ziggler goes for a quick cover when Kingston returns to the ring, but Kofi kicks out quick.

Ziggler is frustrated early but still manages the reverse neckbreaker on Kingston. He tries for another cover but Kofi is able to easily kick-out. Dolph applies the rear naked choke but Kofi is able to rally, and escape behind some chants bearing his name. When they return to their feet, Ziggler is still able to land the first punch and proceeds to choke Kofi with the bottom rope. The ref is forced to break this after he counts to three. The crowd again begins with some “Lets go Kofi” chants and he uses this to take Ziggler off his feet, first with kicks then punches. Ziggler is quick to slow the gaining momentum and drop toe holds Kofi into the second turnbuckle. Dolph then hooks the leg but still is able to only manage the two count. Kofi is left in a seated position after a snapmare and this sets Dolph up to hit a running version onto the seated Kingston. This time Ziggler hooks both legs for the cover, but Kofi still rolls out of it. Ziggler begins to use a chinlock on Kofi, and when it looks like Kingston may escape, Dolph drops an elbow into his spine and locks the hold back on. Kofi again starts to wiggle free and just as he does Ziggler drops another elbow. This time he tries for a cover, but Kingston still kicks out. After the failed cover Dolph goes right back to a submission hold, this time a headlock. Kofi makes it to his knees and after some midsection punches, makes it to his feet. Dolph again thwarts this with a kick to the midsection followed by a whip to the turnbuckle. Ziggler tries for a splash but Kofi is able to move. This leaves Dolph’s face crashing into the top turnbuckle. Kofi again rallies, this time behind a pair of two handed chops and a dropkick. After a high leaping Lou Thesz variant, Kofi hits his signature Branch Lock. No idea why it is called this because it isn’t a lock at all, more a leg drop version of a Five Knuckle Shuffle. Kofi hits a springboard crossbody, off the second turnbuckle, but Ziggler is able to roll through it and hook the leg of Kingston. It is as near as it gets but Kofi still kicks out regardless.

Ziggler hits the Fame-Asser quickly and tries for another cover. But once again Kofi kicks out. Kingston is able to slow Dolph with a kick to the face and is quick to take to the top rope. Kingston hits the diving fist and is waiting to give Ziggler Trouble in Paradise. He is able to duck it though and put Kofi in the standing sleeper hold. This is when the men of The Nexus enter and destroy both men. Ziggler is able to escape and leave Kingston for the dogs. This is a common theme of the WWE at the time with what was going on with The Nexus. Wade Barrett takes to the mic after the assault and attacks the WWE roster that way. He finishes with the stables signature “You’re either Nexus or You’re against us.” This is basically done to build hype for who their seventh man will be for the Main Event. This was a great match and until the screwy finish I enjoyed it. That being said I think the original idea for this match would have been better. The original plan was a six way featuring Cody Rhodes, Matt Hardy, Drew McIntyre, a Nexus member and the original two competitors. This is believed to have been scrapped for two reasons, one being that it would be less believable if Nexus beat that many guys up and it was easier to pull off with two guys. The other is more interesting. McIntyre was in a confrontation with his then wife, Tiffany (Taryn Terrell of TNA fame) at the hotel after a night of partying at the playboy mansion. The cops said that Drew was the one assaulted and arrested her for it. This would lead to her dismissal from the company and the reason a Women’s tag match was also scrapped from the card. Regardless, a good match with a terrible WCW-like booked finish. Match Time-7:05

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