Staples Center = Summerslam's Home

[Dagger Dias]

From 2009 up until the present WWE's 2nd biggest show of the year has been held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. That's 5 consecutive editions of the Summerslam brand being held at the same location. It appears that this tradition will continue and the Staples Center is being considered as the permanent home for upcoming Summerslam events. I have mixed feelings about that personally. I attended the 2010 edition of Summerslam and the Staples Center itself was a very cool location. The problem I have is that with it being one of the bigger PPV brands, why not give other locations a chance? What if someone wanted to attend a Summerslam show but is unable to ever make it to that location? It's something to think about. This makes Summerslam, to my knowledge, the first PPV in the WWE to receive a permanent home to be held at.

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

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1. What are your thoughts on the Staples Center holding all Summerslam events from now on? Do you agree or disagree with that idea, why or why not?

2. Which edition of Summerslam held at the Staples Center has been your favorite, why?

3. What about your least favorite of the 5 Summerslam shows held at the Staples Center, and why?

4. What are some other PPV's that you think could receive permanent homes, and what would your reaction be if WWE went that route? Why?




This has nothing to do with the aftermath of this year's Summerslam, please stay on topic and do not spam.



Discuss!

 

[hbkhhh44]

I love that its in LA. I live in socal and ive gone 4 out of the last 5 years (didnt go last year).

You have to remember LA is one of the biggest media markets. Its easy to do tv/radio/media appearances the week of summerslam when in LA. Also all the axxess stuff has been set up several times so its far easier for the wwe crew.

1. Of course im biased but I love SS in LA
2. Fave was cm punk vs hardy (2009?)
3. Least fave was last year mostly because I didnt go but also because I thought hhh and brock was underwhelming
4. I wouldn't want any other ppvs to have a permanent home but I think rumble in NY would work

 

[InuJoshua]

I'm also from LA and have been to all of the Summerslam shows.

I can see why they would have it here. It sucks having an event that's themed around the summer and have the weather be crap somewhere else. I remember them saying that this was their motivation to begin with.

But do I want it here? No, because it hurts our chances for Mania. We haven't even been in talks to get Mania since SS became a staple here, (no pun intended.) I'd love another Mania, but I don't see us getting both of the big PPVs.

My favorite was last night simply because I felt it was the most solid show in a long time, Summerslam or not.

Least favorite was last year too. Nothing exciting or special took place and the Brock match was awful.

And I wouldn't mind if certain PPVs had a permanent home as long as it fit the theme. I can't think of any other than SS in LA though.

 

[Kliq69]

1. What are your thoughts on the Staples Center holding all Summerslam events from now on? Do you agree or disagree with that idea, why or why not?

2. Which edition of Summerslam held at the Staples Center has been your favorite, why?

3. What about your least favorite of the 5 Summerslam shows held at the Staples Center, and why?

4. What are some other PPV's that you think could receive permanent homes, and what would your reaction be if WWE went that route? Why?

1) I don't mind it, but I think as a long term plan, it's flawed. WWE is intent on growing, just like any other company. By holding the event in the arena, they are capping the amount of fans that can attend. With the partnership between Summerslam and LA, I think WWE has eluded to a long-term plan of making Summerslam a Mania like experience. There is no reason why Mania gets over a million buys and the 2nd biggest ppv doesn't hit anywhere near that. I think long-term, moving SummerSlam stadium to stadium makes the most sense. The new SF stadium makes a real intriguing possibility in the near future, as will the LA stadium(s) when they open. I don't mind the LA/Summerslam connection as long as it makes sense, when they get enough warm weather "summer" locations of enough size, I would think making Summerslam into something similar to the Mania experience would make the most sense over the long haul.

2) 2011. Not so much for the event per say, more of the possibilities. We had the summer of punk in full swing, we had Nash "stick the winner", a lot of things that could have been a lot better, but the feeling of "anything can happen" was in full swing that night and the following night.

3) Least favorite, Cena jobbing out Nexus. Took a promising angle and destroyed it with one match.

4) I think elimination chamber going to chicago each year would work. Chicago has a great crowd, and using it to help hype Mania makes the most sense. Chicago has no place to hold Mania on the scale it's held now (outdoor, high volume) and soldier's field just won't cut it. Since they can't have Mania, guaranteeing that EC would have a great crowd every year just seems like A) A reward for always being a great crowd and B) a good way to keep the road to mania rolling strong. Nothing like a dead crowd to kill the momentum of the show.

 

[Aquaman6686]

First of all, I don't see why this is being posted now, considering that the Staples Center being the official home of SummerSlam was announced by WWE over four years ago. Anyway...

1. What are your thoughts on the Staples Center holding all Summerslam events from now on? Do you agree or disagree with that idea, why or why not? - I completely disagree with it. It robs other areas of the ability to see one of WWE's biggest shows live. I went to SummerSlam in 2007, it was my first PPV live and I would have loved to go to another SummerSlam.

2. Which edition of Summerslam held at the Staples Center has been your favorite, why? - SummerSlam 2011 was a pretty good show. Both main events delivered in the ring, and the rest of the card was fairly strong. My only real complaint about the show is that Christian dropping the World Heavyweight Championship back to Randy Orton was the wrong move to make in every way. They should have let Christian beat Orton clean, then have a Triple Threat Match at Night of Champions where Henry could have beaten Orton for the title, that way Henry gets the belt without Christian looking weak. The Christian/Orton feud in 2011 destroyed Christian's chances of being a legitimate main eventer.

3. What about your least favorite of the 5 Summerslam shows held at the Staples Center, and why? - SummerSlam 2010. That show was just god-awful. The Nexus angle was one of the most overrated storylines in wrestling history, and I had Daniel Bryan's "return" predicted from day one (I will never in a million years believe his release was legitimate, to me it was painfully and obviously planned from the beginning). There wasn't a great match on the entire card, and both World title matches were cut short to give the Team Cena vs. Team Nexus match more time. Horrible, horrible show.

4. What are some other PPV's that you think could receive permanent homes, and what would your reaction be if WWE went that route? Why? - No PPV should ever have a permanent home. It's unfair to the fans in other cities that they have less of a chance to see a live PPV. I'm lucky to live where I do, since NJ tends to get a PPV every other year or so, but fans in other areas aren't so lucky. Every PPV should move every year, without exception.

 

[wwfan90]

i mean how many ppvs and raw and smackdown does southern cali get i live here and would love to see more raw and smackdown and ppvs here but guess what we get so little of those shows here, and so i am glad we getting that as a home summerslam here.

 

[The Sh4dy Legend Killer]

i would like Summerslam to get the Wrestlemania treatment (stadium/dome/larger arena) maybe have them in Football Feilds or Baseball Parks cause i would love to see a Summerslam at Yankee Stadium or something of that nature and they could have cities battle for the chance to host it ....like they do for WM

 

[Aquaman6686]

i mean how many ppvs and raw and smackdown does southern cali get i live here and would love to see more raw and smackdown and ppvs here but guess what we get so little of those shows here, and so i am glad we getting that as a home summerslam here.

LA had TONS of WWE shows before the SummerSlam deal. Obviously I don't know how many RAWs or SmackDowns you got, but as far as PPVs go, the Staples Center got Unforgiven 2002, Judgment Day 2004, WrestleMania 21, No Way Out 2006, and I'm sure I'm forgetting a few.

 

[TWJC: The Beginning]

I don't mind. LA is a huge tourist city so it's not like people from all over cant go. The "this is a global company and this stunts growth" is bogus. It's one show and it's in an alpha city, maybe THE Mecca entertainment city.

I do like the idea of doing it in huge arenas though.

I have no problem with it being held there.

2013 was pretty amazing. Everything had a purpose and 4 well above average matches with 2 classics.

Not really sure which is my least favorite.

I wouldn't like having another with a permanent home. This is special and it makes sense.

 

[The Eighties]

1. What are your thoughts on the Staples Center holding all Summerslam events from now on? Do you agree or disagree with that idea, why or why not?
I think it works conceptually, the summer is a time for blockbuster movies and Summerslam is WWE's version of a blockbuster movie. So going to the home of Hollywood and making it a huge event with Axxess and what not makes sense.

2. Which edition of Summerslam held at the Staples Center has been your favorite, why?
This years because the build up was great and the two main events delivered all I'd hoped for and more.

3. What about your least favorite of the 5 Summerslam shows held at the Staples Center, and why?
2010, I wasn't a big fan of the Nexus angle and it felt like a one match card, plus I thought the outcome hurt the already tenuous angle.

4. What are some other PPV's that you think could receive permanent homes, and what would your reaction be if WWE went that route? Why?
I think it would be a mistake as none of the other events conceptually make sense for this approach in the way Summerslam does with LA.

 

[hbkhhh44]

I'm also from LA and have been to all of the Summerslam shows.

I can see why they would have it here. It sucks having an event that's themed around the summer and have the weather be crap somewhere else. I remember them saying that this was their motivation to begin with.

But do I want it here? No, because it hurts our chances for Mania. We haven't even been in talks to get Mania since SS became a staple here, (no pun intended.) I'd love another Mania, but I don't see us getting both of the big PPVs.

My favorite was last night simply because I felt it was the most solid show in a long time, Summerslam or not.

Least favorite was last year too. Nothing exciting or special took place and the Brock match was awful.

And I wouldn't mind if certain PPVs had a permanent home as long as it fit the theme. I can't think of any other than SS in LA though.

LA wouldn't be getting many anyway. Wm26 was in arizona not too much of a drive. But my point is it wouldn't increase our chances of getting mania, there is no place to host it. This isnt the 90s and early 00s where we got wm21 at staples and wm12 at honda center

 

[LSN80]

1. What are your thoughts on the Staples Center holding all Summerslam events from now on? Do you agree or disagree with that idea, why or why not?

Sure, this is fine with me. If one PPV a year has a permanent home, the PPV becomes synonymous with it. We can look back, like we do at MSG, Montreal, or Chicago, and remember magical moments that happened there. It gives the arena the chance to become "hallowed grounds", so to speak, if WWE makes a concerted effort to make magic there.

After Summerslam 2013, it's hard to say they haven't.

2. Which edition of Summerslam held at the Staples Center has been your favorite, why?

Summerslam 2013, with 2011 being a close runner up. 2013 had two near 5 star matches with Punk/Lesnar and Cena/Bryan, a legitimately surprising heel turn by HHH, and a MITB cash-in by Orton. A solid undercard featuring Christian/Del Rio and Sandow/Rhodes made this PPV truly work.

They built it around two matches, and they both worked. What more can you ask for?

Summerslam 2011 had the Cena/Punk Undisputed Championship match, and a great NHB match between Christian and Orton. Barrett vs. Bryan was a solid undercard match, as was the 6 man tag opener. Still, the quality of the two high-stakes matches at SS 2013 and HHH's turn made for a more memorable and slightly better show.

3. What about your least favorite of the 5 Summerslam shows held at the Staples Center, and why?

Summerslam 2012. If there's anything worse than bad matches, it's a boring show, and that's what SS 2012 was. Unless you count HHH/Lesnar as an epic match, there was absolutely nothing here on the card that was "must see." Del Rio vs. Sheamus Part 57? No thanks. Cena/Big Show/Punk in a triple threat? I'm burned out on those. Ziggler and Jericho was a good opener, I remember, but inconsequential, ultimately, as Ziggler got his win back in the higher stakes match the next night on Raw.

Just a boring show. Some will have a problem with Summerslam 2010, as it was a one match show. But that match delivered in a big way, and we got a good match from Kane and Rey and Undertaker's return(and Kane's heel turn), along with Sheamus and Orton in a good WWE Title match.

4. What are some other PPV's that you think could receive permanent homes, and what would your reaction be if WWE went that route? Why?

None, and the thought itself is a terrible idea. For example, the 2014 Royal Rumble is in Pittsburgh, and my wife and I are planning on going and getting tickets the minute they become available. It's her favorite PPV, and one of mine. But what if they put that PPV every year in Florida? I like to travel, but my wife and I aren't going to the Sunshine State just for a show.

There are some cities that get a PPV a year, generally, and that's fine. Chicago comes to mind as an example. But I don't like the concept of WWE "Impact Zoning" their PPV's. The Staples Center for Summerslam is fine. Everything else random ensures fans get a chance to see their favorites live in big-time venues and moments.

3) Least favorite, Cena jobbing out Nexus. Took a promising angle and destroyed it with one match.

It's your opinion, but that doesn't mean its not an idiotic one. Let me explain this to you simply.

Yes, Cena took a DDT on the cement. But he didn't rise up from that and beat up Gabriel and Barrett 2 on 1, he outsmarted them. He moved when Gabriel went for the 450, and he tripped Barrett up into the STF. He stayed down or near the ground the entire time. It wasn't a massive comeback or the prowess of "Super Cena".

Cena, the veteran, simply outsmarted two rookies. As he should.

Took a promising angle and destroyed it with one match.

Did you miss the part at Hell In A Cell when Cena lost to Barrett and was forced to join Nexus?