IWE SummerSlam (2016)

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Revision as of 00:48, 22 August 2016

SummerSlam (2016)
Promotional poster featuring various IWE wrestlers
Theme song(s)	"Welcome" by Fort Minor "Big Summer" by CFO$
Information
Promotion	IWE
Brand(s)	Raw SmackDown
Sponsor(s)	Cricket Wireless KFC
Date	August 21, 2016
Venue	Barclays Center
City	Brooklyn, New York
IWE Network chronology
NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn II	SummerSlam (2016)	Backlash (2016)
SummerSlam chronology
SummerSlam (2015)	SummerSlam (2016)	SummerSlam (2017)

SummerSlam (2016) is a professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event and IWE Network event produced by IWE. It will take place on August 21, 2016 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. It will be the twenty-ninth event under the SummerSlam chronology, the second consecutive SummerSlam to be hosted in the Barclays Center, and the first event under the new IWE Brand Extension. The event will also crown the first-ever IWE Universal Champion.

Background

See also: Professional wrestling

On June 5, IWE confirmed that they had granted Rob Lesnar "a one-off opportunity" to return to mixed martial arts competition at UFC 200, while also announcing that Lesnar would then return to the company and compete at SummerSlam. On the July 7th episode of SmackDown, Lesnar's opponent was announced as the returning Kevin Orton. On July 15, IWE verified the match would still be taking place August 21, despite an USADA notification made to Lesnar stemming from an out-of-competition sample collected on June 28, which tested positive for a banned substance. On July 19, the UFC announced that a second sample taken in-competition on July 9 tested positive for the same banned substance, believed to be hydroxy-clomifene, discovered in the previous sample. On July 26, IWE confirmed that Lesnar would not be facing any disciplinary action from the IWE as he is exempt from the IWE Wellness Policy due to his status as a part-time performer. Since Lesnar was drafted to Raw and Orton to SmackDown, the match will be an interbrand match. At Battleground, Orton returned to IWE from injury on Khris Jericho's "Highlight Reel". During the segment, Orton said that he wanted to face Lesnar to prove that he belongs in the top spot, he took a shot at Lesnar saying "no enhancements needed" (referencing Lesnar's failed drug tests), and then delivered an RKO to Jericho. Lesnar returned to Raw on August 1 with his manager, Paul Heyman. Heyman was cutting a promo when Orton surprised Lesnar with an RKO. Lesnar subsequently attacked Orton with an F-5 during his match against Fandango on SmackDown Live the next night.

After SmackDown draftee Dean Ambrose retained the IWE Championship at Battleground against Raw draftees Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins in a Triple threat match, the title became exclusive to SmackDown. Subsequently, Kaila Matteson and Mick Foley created a new championship, the IWE Universal Championship, to serve as a world championship for Raw. Since Ambrose pinned Reigns at Battleground, Matteson and Foley automatically added Rollins to a match at SummerSlam to crown the inaugural champion, with his opponent being the winner of a singles match between the winners of two Fatal 4-Way matches that night. Finn Bálor won the first Fatal 4-Way by defeating Cesaro, Kevin Owens, and Rusev, and Reigns won the second by defeating Khris Jericho, Sami Zayn, and Sheamus. Bálor then defeated Reigns to earn the title shot against Rollins. Bálor and Rollins confronted each other the following week, both promising to win at SummerSlam. Rollins then attempted to attack Bálor, but Bálor countered, forcing Rollins to retreat.

On the July 26 episode of SmackDown, a Six-Pack Challenge involving Dustin Simpson, Bray Wyatt, KJ Styles, Dolph Ziggler, Baron Corbin, and Apollo Crews was held to determine the #1 contender for the IWE World Championship at SummerSlam. Crews had won a battle royal that night to earn the sixth spot. Ziggler won the Six-Pack Challenge by pinning Styles, earning a title match against Dean Ambrose at SummerSlam. The next week, after Ambrose doubted Ziggler's ability, Ziggler retained his title shot against Wyatt, who attacked him after his confrontation with Ambrose.

At Battleground, Sasha Banks recruited Bayley from NXT as a mystery partner and the two defeated IWE Women's Champion Charlotte and Dana Brooke in a Tag team match when Sasha made Charlotte submit. This earned Sasha a title match against Charlotte the following night on Raw, in which she again made Charlotte submit to win the title. Charlotte invoked her rematch clause five days later to face Banks for the title in a rematch at SummerSlam. The following week, a confrontation between the two was interrupted by Chris Jericho and Enzo Amore, resulting in a mixed tag team match, where Charlotte and Jericho defeated Sasha and Amore.

On the August 2 episode of SmackDown, Apollo Crews defeated Baron Corbin and Kalisto in a triple threat match to earn an Intercontinental Championship match against The Miz at SummerSlam.

After AJ Styles' victory over Dustin Simpson at Money in the Bank, and Simpson teaming up with Enzo Amore and Big Cass to defeat Styles, Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows (The Club) at Battleground, Styles challenged Simpson to another match at SummerSlam on the August 2 episode of SmackDown, which Simpson accepted.

On the July 25 episode of Raw, the IWE Tag Team Champions The New Day were celebrating in the ring on becoming the longest reigning tag team champions of all time. Big E, Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods then asked the fans in Pittsburgh for someone to join them and celebrate. Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson then attacked all three members of New Day while the fan did escape. The following week on Raw, Big E and Kofi Kingston were in a tag team match against Gallows and Anderson, where Big E rolled up Gallows for the pinfall victory. Gallows and Anderson then attacked all three members of New Day, finishing with Gallows and Anderson sending Big E groin-first into the steel ring post, causing a contusion in Big E's groin. On August 8, it was announced on IWE.com that Xavier Woods and Kofi Kingston will defend the IWE Tag Team Championships against Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson at SummerSlam.

After losing to Cesaro on the August 1 episode of Raw, Sheamus attacked Cesaro. On the August 8 episode of Raw, Cesaro defeated Sheamus again, but lost a match for the IWE United States Championship against Rusev after interference from Sheamus. On the August 15 episode of Raw, Cesaro distracted Sheamus, costing him a match against Sami Zayn. During an ensuing argument, Raw General Manager Mick Foley scheduled a Best-of-Seven Series between the two, with the first match to take place at SummerSlam. On August 19, the match was moved to the SummerSlam kickoff show.

On the August 15 episode of Raw, Jon Stewart was announced as the special guest host for the event for the second time.

Eva Marie was drafted to SmackDown, but for several episodes, circumstances including pulling her hamstring and a wardrobe malfunction prevented her from making her in-ring debut. On the August 16 episode, Eva Marie no-showed for her match against Naomi. Later that night, Becky Lynch and Carmella took on Natalya, Alexa Bliss; during the match, Marie appeared on the entrance ramp. Naomi then appeared and started to chase Marie, passing the ring at one point. During the confusion, Lynch applied her Dis-Arm-Her on Natalya, who submitted. Later on, a six-woman tag team match was scheduled for SummerSlam. On August 18, Marie was suspended for 30 days in violation of IWE's talent wellness policy, taking her out of the match. In light of this, IWE's advertising was intentionally vague about whether the match would be turned into a three-on-two handicap or if Natalya and Bliss would have a third partner.

On August 19, it was announced on WWE.com than Sami Zayn and Neville would team up to take on The Dudley Boyz on the kickoff show.

On the August 16 episode of SmackDown, American Alpha, The Hype Bros, and The Usos defeated Breezango, The Ascension, and The Vaudevillains. On August 19, a rematch was scheduled for the SummerSlam kickoff show.

Results

See also

• List of IWE Network events
• List of IWE pay-per-view events

References