WrestleRant
  • Home
  • Columnist Corner
  • Reviews
  • Interviews
  • Audio
  • Videos
  • Store
  • About
  • Contact
Picture

SummerSlam Recall, Match #9: The Undertaker vs. Brock Lesnar, SummerSlam 2015

8/12/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
​By Graham "GSM" Matthews

Here on SummerSlam Recall, I will be ranking my top 20 favorite matches in WWE SummerSlam history. A new installment will be posted every day leading up to SummerSlam 2016, culminating with my No. 1 favorite match on Saturday, August 20th. Each article will offer an in-depth look at each match and an analysis of why it is among my favorites.​


I don't care what anyone says: The Undertaker vs. Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 30 was absolutely atrocious. Some fans claim the match was "bad by design" in order to tell a story. No, that wasn't the case whatsoever. Undertaker was legitimately knocked out during the match, which is why it looked like he was literally dead out there. Other than The Streak getting broken by The Beast Incarnate, that is a match that is better off forgotten, and needless to say, I had no desire to see them face off in a rematch.

​Even when it was rumored in mid-July that Undertaker would be making a rare return during the summer season, I wasn't at all enthralled at the idea of him potentially rekindling his rivalry with Lesnar. Forget their sensational series of matches on SmackDown, that was over a decade ago. Their last one-on-one outing was beyond horrid. Yet somehow WWE managed to change my mind in the matter of a night when Taker resurfaced at Battleground and the two engaged in a brawl for the ages on the subsequent episode of Raw.

In the weeks leading up to SummerSlam, Paul Heyman billed the now anticipated sequel as the rematch that was too big for WrestleMania. The best part about it was that I already had my ticket punched for the August extravaganza, so I was extremely amped to be able to witness the mayhem live, especially after they reeked havoc on Raw. Undertaker appeared to be in the best shape he had been in in years, so I had high expectations for this epic encounter.

Even after a near-four hour event, everyone in the Barclays Center was still buzzing for this bout. Unless you've experienced either of them, you truly have not lived life until you have seen the iconic entrances of Undertaker and Lesnar in person. And before the arena could even take in the moment of them sharing a ring together, Lesnar pounced on The Deadman, causing the bell to be rung and the bout to begin. At that moment, fans knew they would be in for a treat.

This match was the exact opposite from its predecessor. The pace wasn't nearly as slow and you could truly feel the personal animosity between the two this time around. They weren't going through the motions. They were simply intent on beating the living hell out of each other. When each of them went for their respective finishers, it didn't feel as formulaic as their 'Mania meeting. There was true suspense behind every maneuver, and the audience (myself included) ate it up.

Was it a technical masterpiece the same way Kurt Angle vs. Rey Mysterio or John Cena vs. Daniel Bryan was? Absolutely not, but given their limitations and what they were capable of, they hit it out of the park and worked the type of match they needed to, filled with energy and excitement. Going counter for counter, there didn't seem to be a clear winner or a predictable finish, so everyone was on the edge of their seat awaiting what would come next in this battle of the titans.

Alas, the fluky finish ruined the match for many, but not for me. Time stood still when the bell rang for no apparent reason as Lesnar had 'Taker in the Kimura, and then the match was restarted and The Phenom was deemed the victor when Lesnar passed out to the Hell's Gate. Sure, The Conqueror was technically conquered, but not by pinfall or submission. Although people in attendance left the arena that night complaining about the conclusion of the show, at least it would later lead to an even better bout at Hell in a Cell.


SEE ALSO: "SummerSlam Recall, Match #10: Dean Ambrose vs. Seth Rollins, SummerSlam 2014"
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.


    Categories

    All
    #AskGSM
    Battle Of The Belts
    Cruiserweight Classic
    Halftime Heat
    Hidden Gems
    Interviews
    Lists/Rankings
    Mae Young Classic
    Mixed Match Challenge
    News
    NJPW
    NWA Shockwave
    NXT PLEs
    Opinion
    Previews
    Retro Reviews
    Reviews
    RJ's Two Cents
    Satire
    Slammy Awards
    SNME
    SummerSlam Recall
    The Deadly Draw
    The World Is A Vampire
    Tribute To The Troops
    Women's Eliminator
    Worlds Collide
    WrestleMania Recall
    WWE Draft
    WWE Network Specials
    WWE PLEs
    WWE Starrcade


    Archives

    May 2025
    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010

    RSS Feed

©2025 WrestleRant. All Rights Reserved.
  • Home
  • Columnist Corner
  • Reviews
  • Interviews
  • Audio
  • Videos
  • Store
  • About
  • Contact