There are many signs of summer. The nicer weather, picnics, drive-ins and if you are a fan of wrestling, SummerSlam has to come to mind.
The second biggest World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) event of the year takes place this weekend in Toronto and will be contested under the confines of Scotiabank Arena.
While Wrestlemania is the biggest event, SummerSlam is extremely popular amongst fans. This will be the thirty-second SummerSlam with the first dating back to 1988 where the main event was ‘The Mega Powers’ vs. ‘The Mega Bucks’
Sunday’s event is also the first time since 2004 that the event has taken place in Toronto.
So what exactly is SummerSlam? SummerSlam is an annual pay per view event that features the top superstars as they compete in a variety of matches. It’s similar to Wrestlemania in several ways, one of which is that it commands world wide attention.
In addition to the event itself, WWE is also hosting ‘Meet and Greets’ where fans can meet their favorite superstars at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.
Saturday night, NXT, WWE’s brand where they develop new talent, will host their ‘Takeover’ pay per view, which is also extremely well regarded amongst fans.
When you think of thirty-two years for SummerSlam and the fact that Wrestlemania just had its 36th instalment, this speaks volumes to the longevity of this brand and that their fans (affectionately known as the WWE Universe) can’t get enough.
While the faces of the superstars have changed over the years, many things haven’t and one is their ability to connect with an audience….sorry….'The Universe’.
I remain impressed with what WWE does outside of the squared circle as well. Their commitment to community is quite commendable. Whether it be their programs pertaining to reading, voting, anti-bullying, they take their role in the world very seriously and I truly admire that.
But let’s talk about SummerSlam. This weekend, the home of the NBA Champion Raptors, will see the top stars of the WWE broadcasted to a world wide audience as this card is stacked.
In the main event Brock Lesnar, who turned down an offer to return to the UFC, takes on Seth Rollins in a match for the Universal Title. One of, if not, the most popular superstars, Becky Lynch will defend the Women’s title against Canada’s own Natalya.
We will have a full report of both events.
If you can’t make it to Toronto rest assured, NXT Takeover Toronto, and SummerSlam are available on pay per view and the WWE Network.
