Summerslam

Card Information:
 Held in: MADISON SQUARE GARDEN
Location: NEW YORK, UNITED STATES
          on August 2005 at 7:30pm

Scott Hall defeated Test by disqualification in 0:11:00.
Rating: ** 3/4
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Interesting opener, with a very disappointing finish.  Post match, Hall hit
Test with the Outsider Edge.


Interview:
The Commissioners' War of Words...
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Roddy Piper and Shane McMahon go face to face backstage.


Ric Flair pinned Roddy Piper after a backslide in 0:12:20.
Rating: ** 3/4
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A shocking fast count from Nick Patrick saw Flair get the win over Piper.  When
the match was over, Piper was clearly upset with Patrick, and chased him to the
back.


Vader defeated The Big Show by disqualification in 0:07:04.
Rating: **
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Vader picked up the win, after Big Show refused to stop choking out the big
Mastadon.  It seems as though things are far from over between these two guys.


The World's Greatest Tag Team (Charlie Haas and Shelton Benjamin) defeated
The Dudley Boys (Bubba Ray Dudley and D-Von Dudley) when Haas pinned D-Von
 after an Exploder suplex in 0:09:40.
Rating: *** 1/2
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A great victory for Haas and Benjamin, which means that they can now continue
as a team.


Interview:
Shane reveals the returning superstar...
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Shane McMahon brings out Matt Hardy's opponent, Kane!


Kane pinned Matt Hardy after a Tombstone in 0:04:05.
Rating: ***
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Back in action, it didn't take long for Kane to put down Matt Hardy.  After the
match, the Big Red Machine laughed psychotically in the ring.


Billy Kidman pinned Steve Austin with the Shooting Star Press in 0:13:38.
Rating: ***
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Kidman shocked the world for the third time, with another victory over Stone
Cold Steve Austin.  Kidman made a run for it following the win, leaving Austin
stood in the middle of the ring, puzzled by what just went down.


Ultimo Dragon pinned Rey Mysterio after a German suplex in 0:06:47.
Rating: *** 1/2
(Ultimo Dragon won the WWE Cruiserweight Championship.)
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After such a long journey, Ultimo Dragon is finally the Cruiserweight Champion!


Interview:
The WWE Champion...
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Randy Orton confidentally talks about his chances in the Chamber.


No-Countout-Match:
Shawn Michaels pinned Christopher Daniels with the Sweet Chin Music in 0:08:16.
Rating: **** 1/4
(Shawn Michaels won the WWE Intercontinental Championship.)
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Michaels hit the Sweet Chin Music out of nowhere to get the three count, and 
become the new Intercontinental Champion.


Edge and Val Venis defeated Kurt Angle and Jeff Jarrett when Venis pinned
Jarrett after the Money Shot in 0:12:33.
Rating: ****
(Edge and Val Venis retained the WWE Tag Team Championship.)
(John Bradshaw Layfield no-showed.)
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Jeff Jarrett stepped into JBL's shoes here tonight, after one half of the 
Great Americans no-showed for the second show running.  However, it proved not
to matter, as the Champs came out with a victory.


Interview:
The Rabid Wolverine...
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Chris Benoit delivers a message to Randy Orton, with the Chamber match up next.


Elimination Chamber Match:
Chris Benoit won a 6-man Elimination Chamber Match:
         x Y2J and Cactus Jack started out.
         x Triple H entered at 0:03:00
         x The Rock entered at 0:06:00
         x Chris Benoit entered at 0:09:00
         x Randy Orton entered at 0:12:00
         x Cactus Jack defeated Y2J after the Double Arm DDT in 0:21:13
         x Orton defeated Cactus Jack after a sleeperhold in 0:28:05
         x Rock defeated HHH after a crucifix in 0:33:24
         x Benoit defeated Orton after a diving headbutt in 0:34:37
         x Benoit defeated Rock after a back suplex in 0:37:32
Rating: **** 1/4
(Chris Benoit won the WWE Championship.)
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After nearly 30 minutes of action, Chris Benoit finally regained the WWE title,
having pinned Orton and The Rock at the end of the match.



Card rating: *** 3/4


Match observations: 

Summerslam has reached its conclusion, with Chris Benoit finally becoming the
WWE Champion again, after four months away from the belt.  In a gruelling bout
inside the Elimination Chamber, it got down to Benoit, The Rock and Randy Orton
remaining.  Benoit's tenacity enabled him to defeat the Champion Orton first,
and then survive a People's Elbow before defeating Rock to become the Champ.
How will Evolution react to the loss of the title?  And who will be the first
challenger for Benoit?  We may well find out tomorrow!

Two other championships changed hands here tonight as well.  Ultimo Dragon was
able to defeat Rey Mysterio to become the Cruiserweight Champion, while HBK
Shawn Michaels got his hands on the Intercontinental Title with a win over
Christopher Daniels.  How long these new champs can hold onto their belts does
remain to be seen, but they're sure to do the titles proud.

The only champs to retain tonight were the tag champs, despite the fact that
they were only prepared for half their opposition.  Jeff Jarrett replaced JBL
as Kurt Angle's partner tonight, but Edge and Val Venis were still ready to
win, and win was exactly what they did.

A win was something that Stone Cold Steve Austin couldn't get though, as he was
defeated by Billy Kidman for the third time here tonight.  It's been asked many
times before, but where does Austin go from here?

With the return of Kane, what does Shane McMahon have planned for him?  Will
he send him after his brother, the Undertaker, or will he be used as a means of
destroying Roddy Piper?  The plot will surely unfold tomorrow night on Raw,
where we already know that Shane O Mac has been forced to fight the Undertaker!

Next Show: Raw