In a rare move for the WWE, it was John Cena who competed in the opening match of a pay-per-view, because his bout with Baron Corbin kicked off WWE Summerslam.
Cena would end a six year losing streak at the event by getting a clean pin fall win over Corbin after landing an Attitude Adjustment.
Ryan Cook is providing live coverage of the event and here are the end of the match highlights:
Corbin drops John almost immediately after before John comes back with a series of moves and the Five Knuckle Shuffle, but Corbin rolls out of the way and hits a chokebreaker. Corbin sets John on the top rope, but John headbutts him away before hitting a tornado DDT and the Five Knuckle Shuffle. Corbin counters the AA into the Deep Six for a near fall before beating on him with right hands and forearm shots. Corbin beats on John in the corner until the official pulls him off, John catching him coming in with a clothesline before hitting the AA for the pin and the win.
Winner: John Cena via pinfall
History was made in the next bout as Natalya became the WWE Smackdown Women’s Champion, forcing Naomi to submit to a sharp shooter.
You can read more about that by clicking here.
The final encounter on the first hour of the event saw Big Cass get the win over Big Show, while Enzo Amore was locked in a shark cage.
Enzo managed to escape the shark cage and still ate a big boot from Cass.
Here are highlights from Ryan Cook’s event coverage:
Show drops Cass with a right hand for a quick two count before Cass drops him with a boot to the midsection. Cass starts focusing on injured hand of Show before locking in a straight armbar. Show comes back with a series of strikes and a running splash in the corner before hitting a chokeslam for a near fall. Cass comes back before Enzo slips out of the shark cage before dropping down into the ring. Cass drops him with a boot once he drops down into the ring before hitting Show with two boots and a jumping elbow for the pin and the win.
Winner: Big Cass via pinfall
You will hear more about this later on the WWE Summerslam post-show podcast, which features Sean Ross Sapp, Alex Pawlowski and the creator of “Most Ridiculous” Anna Bauert.
