Summerslam 2003: A Retrospective Look

SummerSlam 2003 was a very okay ppv event. i try to give this event the benefit of the doubt. but even i recognize that this is one of those shows that really blew a lot of opportunities and potential. i've got quite a few changes to make so i'll jump right in and get started...

Cruiserweight Title: Rey Mysterio should have defended this on ppv! he had such an excellent match with Angle the year before! without knowing everyone that was on the talent roster, i'd suggest a match against either Billy Kidman or Chavo Guerrero. Mysterio always had great chemistry with both inside the ring. it'd be an easy match to book so i'd kick off the show with Mysterio defending the title against either opponent. maybe make it a Triple Threat Match or Fatal Four Way with Ultimo Dragon. really, pick a match between Mysterio and any one of the three superstars above or any combination thereof.

Tag Team Titles: Dudley Boys vs. anyone other than La Resistance. nothing personal. i just never bought those guys as Tag Team Champs. any combo of the three that were ever a part of that group. maybe the World's Greatest Tag Team instead? make it a Tables Match or a Ladder Match if a gimmick is needed, but a straight Tag Team Match for the Tag Titles against two great teams works just fine for me.

Taker/Cena. Taker vs. A-Train was a sad waste of the Dead Man. 2 years in a row against both members of T&A in separate singles matches. possible options for Taker at this show included Big Show, Kane, Flair, Batista and several others. maybe even a heel Rock. but the match i like best is Taker vs. Cena. they had a great match around this time with a heel rapper Cena battling for Taker's respect. whenever that match actually happened, whether before or after SummerSlam, i'd move it to this ppv instead. really awesome match they had and super easy storytelling. definitely do Taker/Cena.

Shane McMahon vs. Kane. Shane vs. Eric Bischoff in a Falls Count Anywhere Match was fun for what it was, but Shane/Kane was a better story with much more entertaining matches. let one of their series of matches happen here instead of Shane/Bischoff. Bischoff can take a quick Stunner from Stone Cold or something similar if he needs a comeuppance here. but Shane/Kane in a Last Man Standing Match or Ambulance Match or Street Fight, etc, would have been great for this event. would've made a lot more sense given what Kane did to Linda McMahon too.

IC Title: RVD vs. Christian. don't get me wrong, i actually liked RVD vs. Kane. loved their Cage Match on Raw. that should have ended their feud though. maybe even at a different ppv. just not at SummerSlam. but RVD and Christian had great chemistry. give them a match for the IC Title here. they had an amazing Ladder Match on Raw. i bet they could have done one here instead.

US Title: Eddie Guerrero vs. Chris Benoit. Rhyno and Tajiri just felt unnecessary in this match. i doubt anyone thought that either guy had a snowball's chance of winning the title, whereas Eddie and Benoit were magic in the ring together. put these two in and let them do what they do best.

WWE Title: Angle vs. Lesnar. this was by far the match of the night. really enjoyable. i'm trying to decide if a gimmick was needed. something like No DQ, Street Fight, Submission Match or even an Iron Man Match. either way, these guys tore the house down and i loved it. outside of possibly making it a gimmick match, the only real change i'd make here is to have this match close the show and i'll explain the reason why next.

World Heavyweight Title: Triple H vs. Goldberg. believe it or not, i actually really enjoy the Chamber Match with the six guys we got. still watch it and still enjoy it. great spots throughout the whole thing. but these guys should have gone one-on-one on this night and Goldberg most definitely should have won the title here too. if i remember rumors and news correctly from over ten years ago, Triple H was working thru a groin injury, hence the Elimination Chamber to protect The Game and those horrible bicycle shorts he was wearing at the time. that said, Goldberg was never known for his long matches. i don't really see a problem with him beating Triple H in a match that lasted 10 minutes or less, even at SummerSlam. a big moment with a big fight feel on a big stage. then close the show out with Angle/Lesnar so you aren't ending the second biggest ppv of the year with a ten minute glorified squash match.

so there would be my card for the event. almost the exact same talent that were actually on the show, just switched around a bit. in fact, there are a number of big names, both at the time of this event and now in hindsight, that i left off the card that could have matches -- HBK vs. Orton in a Legend vs. Legend Killer Match, Hogan vs. Flair maybe, Nash vs. Jericho, Big Show, Batista, Piper, Rock, Austin, and more. these are all names that were at the Royal Rumble and/or Mania of the same year -- lots of great talent there and lots of potential. sadly, also lots of missed opportunities. a very decent show that could have been amazing.