WWE SummerSlam 2012 25th Anniversary Review

The 25th Anniversary of SummerSlam kicked off with Vicki Guerrero screeching her way to the stage to introduce Dolph Ziggler to the ring for a match with Chris Jericho. Y2J got the upper hand first and began schooling the young showoff. Dolph turned things around and went to work on Jericho's injured ribs but Chris found a way to send Dolph flying out of the ring. However, Ziggler dodged Jericho's kick and returned the favor. Back in the ring Dolph took control and went after the ribs once again wearing Chris down. He got a few near falls but was wasting some time show boating. Jericho kept battling and dodged Dolph in the corner to regain control. Dolph continued to find ways to get at the injured ribs and hit a Leg Drop only good for two. Chris went for The Walls but Ziggler escaped, however, Jericho nailed a boot to the back of the head and got a near fall. Dolph locked on The Sleeper but Y2J fought out of it and the two met on top of the ropes. Jericho hit a Hurricanrana from the top ropes but it hurt both of them. They traded near falls before Jericho hit The Running Bulldog but landed on Dolph's knees off of the Lime salt. Ziggler hit a Zig Zag but Jericho kicked out. Chris hit a Code Breaker out of no where but Dolph rolled out of the ring as he re-entered the ring. Dolph took advantage but Jericho kicked out and locked on The Walls Of Jericho forcing Ziggler to tap out.

Daniel Bryan was out next for his anger management session with Kane. Bryan was trying a stick and run plan but once Kane caught him he started man handling Bryan. Daniel kept battling back with some round house kicks and finally got Kane out of the ring. He nailed a Suicide Dive followed by a Missile Drop Kick from the top rope once back in the ring. He hit about 10 boots to Kane's chest but The Big Red Monster ducked one and regained control. Kane started punishing Bryan but Daniel countered The Choke Slam. They traded upper cuts before Kane got Bryan down in the corner to pound on him. Bryan took advantage of the break and turned things around. He attempted the "no"Lock but Kane escaped. Bryan nailed a huge booth to the head of Kane and went for a Flying Head Butt but got caught by the throat. Kane hit the Choke Slam but opted not to cover but to go for a Tombstone. Bryan countered the Tombstone and rolled him up to get the pin and win.

Next on the card would be the Intercontinental Championship between The Miz and Rey Mysterio. These two would get the feel for each other. First Mysterio snuck in a quick cover. Miz launched Rey out of the ring and they traded moves on the outside. Miz had the momentum as they moved back inside the ropes and got a couple of near falls. The Miz was battering Mysterio while controlling the flow of the match. Every time Mysterio would begin to get something going his way, The Miz had an answer. Rey caught The Miz going to the ropes and answered with a Senton from the top rope. Miz countered with a Unique Power Bomb as this match went back and fourth. Mysterio hit a Tornado DDT good for a two count. He nailed a 619 but Miz countered The Splash and Mysterio countered The Skull Crushing Finale and rolled Miz up for a near fall. Miz hit the second Skull Crushing Finale and picked up the win to retain the Intercontinental Championship.

The World Heavyweight Championship was on the line next with Sheamus defending his title against Alberto Del Rio. This was a brawl from the bell. They grappled for control and both went over the ropes. They went to war outside of the ring and moved the action back in. Del Rio hit a couple of kicks to Sheamus' head to get momentum but The Great White turned things around hitting a Rolling Senton and getting a couple of near falls. He went for The Celtic Cross but Del Rio was too close to the corner and held on. As Sheamus pulled him away from the corner, Alberto exposed the turnbuckle, Del Rio dodged. Alberto kicked him off of the apron and introduce him to the steps. Back in the ropes, Del Rio remained in control and got a couple of two counts of his own. The Champ kept battling back as Del Rio started mocking him setting up for a Brogue Kick, Sheamus caught him with a Clothesline. Del Rio regained control and nailed a Rolling Cross Arm Breaker. Sheamus over powered Del Rio and rolled back lifting Alberto and hitting a Power Bomb. Sheamus hit White Noise good for a two count then set up for the Brogue. Del Rio escaped but Sheamus caught him and began pounding him. Del Rio found a counter and nailed a Huge Boot to Sheamus' head. Alberto pulled Ricardo Rodrigues into the ring to cause a distraction, however, when Ricardo tried to toss Del Rio a shoe, Sheamus got it and nailed Del Rio. He hit The Irish Curse Back Breaker and picked up the three count. Del Rio's foot was on the rope but the ref did not see it and Sheamus knocked it off. Sheamus is still The World Heavyweight Champion.

Next on the card would be a bout for The Tag Team Championship between The Prime Time Players and Kofi Kingston with R-Truth. Young began in the ring with Truth. Truth took control from the bell but Darren found a tag by lifting and carrying Truth to his corner. Titus used his power to get momentum but couldn't keep from getting a tag. Kofi was flying around getting the big man down and nailing a Boom Drop. Young distracted Kingston and the action moved outside of the ring where Titus would regain control. Young entered the match to wear down Kofi as The Prime Time Players made some quick tags. Kingston kept battling and found a counter nailing a DDT and both him and Titus tagged out. Truth got the upper hand and a cover but O'Neil broke it up. Kofi finally cleared out O'Neil and Truth but hit a Lie Detector to get the pin on Young and retain their titles.

A Triple Threat Match was up after that and was for the WWE Championship with John Cena, The Big Show, and CM Punk facing off. Action kicked off with Show dominating the ring. Punk and Cena attempted to double team The Giant but he turned the tables with a Double Suplex. Punk took out Show's leg to get him to the ground but failed to hoist him on his shoulders for the GTS. Cena got the big ma up before Punk kicked him from behind causing show to land on Cena's head. Punk covered Cena but Show broke it up and continued his rampage. Cena showed a burst and ran into a Spear as Show got a near fall. He went to the second rope and hit a splash on Cena but Punk got out of the way and was able to break up the near fall. Cena got Show down and went for The Five Knuckle Shuffle but Punk gave Cena a Clothesline. Punk hit The Elbow from the top rope but Show kicked out. Punk locked in the Anaconda Vice which was unsuccessful as was an STF from Cena. Punk hit three running knees but Show countered The Bulldog. Cena hit a Leg Drop from the top rope and locked on the STF as Punk hooked The Anaconda Vise as well causing Show to tap out but since both men had him a hold AJ ordered them to restart the match. Show hit a Double Choke Slam but both men kicked out. He set up for the WMD which Cena dodged and hit the AA, however, Punk tossed Cena out of the ring and covered an STF from Cena. Punk hit three running knees but Show countered The Bulldog. Cena hit a Leg Drop from the top rope and locked on the STF as Punk hooked The Anaconda Vice as well causing Show to tap out but since both men had him a hold AJ ordered them to restart the match. Show hit a Double Choke Slam but both men kicked out. He set up for the WMD which Cena dodged and hit the AA, however, Punk tossed Cena out of the ring and covered Show to retain the WWE Championship.

Next we saw the highlight from the SummerSlam pre-show where Antonio Cesaro defeated Santino Marella to become the new United States Champion.

Last up tonight we would see the much anticipated fight between Brock Lesnar and Triple H. This was an all out war with Lesnar drilling The game into the corner and Triple H pounding on Brock. Lesnar kept trying to lock in the Kimura but Triple H had an answer every time launching Lesnar out of the ring twice. Brock took his gloves off and tackled The Game landing a hard right and taking the action out of the ring. Triple H got the upper hand momentarily but found himself in the ropes Lesnar again went for the Kimura then kept working on the left arm of The Game. An F5 was countered but Brock quickly regained control with a Suplex Throw. Triple H hung Lesnar off the ropes and hit a DDT to get Brock down but Lesnar again regained control. Outside of the ring Brock tossed The Game around and rearranged some furniture before escorting Triple H back into the ring. Triple H countered a Suplex and hit one of his own. He went for The Pedigree but Brock countered and sent him flying out of the ring again. Lesnar followed but this time The Game pushed Brock into the announce table injuring his stomach. Triple H delivered a couple of good shots to the mid section and back in the ring hit about Twenty Knees to the gut before hitting a spine Buster. The Game went for a Pedigree but Brock countered into an F5 but The Game escaped and nailed the next Pedigree. As both men came to their feet, Brock hit Triple H with a low blow but the ref did not stop the match per Triple H's request. Brock hit a F5 but Triple H kicked out. Lesnar then locked in the Kimura but Triple H escaped and hit another Pedigree. When The Game went to cover, Lesnar locked on The kimura one more time appearing to break The Games arm and forcing him to tap out.