SummerSlam recap: Brock Lesnar wins WWE world heavyweight championship

WWE held its annual SummerSlam pay-per-view at Staples Center on Sunday, and a sold-out crowd (including UFC star Ronda Rousey sitting ringside) got to see three titles change, including the WWE world heavyweight championship, as Brock Lesnar manhandled John Cena to win the belts. Full results:

ROB VAN DAM VS. CESARO

RVD won with the frog splash, as the strange burial of Cesaro continues. For a guy that WWE leadership says they see a lot of potential in, they sure have him lose a lot. Good match.

Hulk Hogan came out and did an interview to tell people to buy the WWE Network, which was strange, because everyone watching the show already has the WWE Network.

THE MIZ VS. DOLPH ZIGGLER FOR THE INTERCONTINENTAL TITLE

Miz got cheap heat by saying that Ziggler was a failure, just like the Lakers.

Another good match, with Ziggler winning the title when he hit the Zig Zag.

A.J. LEE VS. PAIGE FOR DIVAS TITLELee ripped out some of Paige’s hair extensions early, but ended up losing the title when Paige got out of the Black Widow and hit a reverse DDT.

JACK SWAGGER VS. RUSEV IN A FLAG MATCH

Rusev won when Swagger passed out while in the Accolade. After the match, Rusev knocked out Swagger’s manager, Zeb Colter. There was a lot of booing in the building when the Russian flag was unveiled and the Russian national anthem was played after the match.

DEAN AMBROSE VS. SETH ROLLINS

This was a lumberjack match, with wrestlers surrounding ringside. Best match of the night. They fought into the stands. Ambrose did a great dive off the top rope onto Rollins, who was being carried to the ring by several wrestlers. Ambrose hit the curb stomp on Rollins and was going to win when Corporate Kane jumped in the ring and broke up the pin. All the lumberjacks then jumped into the ring and started fighting. In all the confusion, Rollins hit Ambrose with his Money in the Bank briefcase and pinned him.

CHRIS JERICHO VS. BRAY WYATT

Wyatt won after hitting Sister Abigail into the barricade outside, then putting Jericho back in the ring, hitting another Sister Abigail and pinning him. Crowd turned on the match somewhat, with several “Boring” chants, but it was a solid effort by both men.

BRIE BELLA VS. STEPHANIE MCMAHON

Stephanie won when Nikki Bella turned on her sister, Brie. Brie had the Yes lock on when HHH pulled the ref out of the ring. Stephanie was caught between Brie and Nikki when Nikki hit Brie with a forearm. Stephanie gave Brie a pedigree for the pin.

RANDY ORTON VS. ROMAN REIGNS

Second best match of the night. There was an amazing spot where Orton reversed a spear attempt into a powerslam. Great timing by both men. Reigns’ second spear attempt was turned into an RKO and the crowd bought it as the finish, but Reigns kicked out. Reigns finally hit the spear for the pin.

JOHN CENA VS. BROCK LESNAR FOR WWE TITLEThis was a one-sided squash match for Lesnar. He just destroyed Cena, hitting one German Suplex after another. Now that Lesnar has the title, what’s next? He has limited dates in his contract, so he won’t be appearing every week on Monday Night Raw. They are definitely building to Lesnar vs. Reigns at WrestleMania next year, but can they afford to keep Lesnar, their champion, off TV for long periods of time?

All in all, a great show. One of the best SummerSlams in history.