Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		3.5
Audio		3.0
Extras		2.5
Overall		3.0

WWE: SummerSlam 2010 Blu-ray Movie Review

You're either with Nexus, or you're against this Blu-ray.

Reviewed by Martin Liebman April 15, 2014

The most destructive force in the history of the WWE.

Individual rivalries are fun, but group rivalries open up a whole new world of possibilities. 2010's SummerSlam Pay-Per-View event was headlined by a 14-man tag-team battle to the finish between WWE Superstars and members of the black-and-yellow T-shirt wearing "Nexus" breakaway faction made of former NXT rookies and led by Wade Barrett. The event additionally brought together a myriad of superstars for a collection standard one-on-one title matches (and one 3-on-1 handicap match featuring Big Show against a trio of wrestlers headlined by CM Punk) that range from "fluff" to "fun." The event will be remembered, however, for the return of fan-favorite Daniel Bryan (yes!) as a last-minute addition to the Team WWE roster in the battle for supremacy with heel team Nexus.

Cena: "Wanna grab a protein shake after this?" Barrett: "Sure, my tub or yours?"

2010's SummerSlam features half-a-dozen matches, none particularly riveting or historical but mostly entertaining and a few worthy of the PPV spectacle (and price tag). The event opens with a title match between Dolph Ziggler and Kofi Kingston, the latter of whom is, as always, a bundle of energy and who, again, sees his opportunity for wrestling ascendancy burned when the match takes an unexpected twist before its natural conclusion. The obligatory Divas matchup is followed by an interesting handicap matchup that's the first of two that pits size versus finesse and skill in a match between Big Show and CM Punk, the latter of whom wrestles alongside two allies from the "Straight Edge Society." Sheamus and Randy Orton put on the night's best show in a battle for the WWE Championship, a match that sees Orton as focused, determined, and deadly as ever. The penultimate match features the second size-versus-skill battle, this time between Rey Mysterio and Kane as part of a rewritten storyline following Undertaker's real-world injury. The evening ends with a lengthy seven-on-seven tag team match -- with a bit of pre-match drama, of course -- between "Team WWE" (Cena, Edge, Jericho, Hart, Morrison, R-Truth, and Bryan) against the villainous Nexus (Barrett, Slater, Otunga, Sheffield, Tarver, Gabriel, and Young).

SummerSlam has long been a staple of the WWE Pay-Per-View schedule -- it's been on, now, longer than an entire generation of fans has been alive -- but with that longevity comes a complacency that's rather evident in the 2010 edition. It's a decent enough event, features a solid selection of star names, and the wrestling is entertaining, but there's nothing to distinguish it from any other generic Pay-Per-View event. There's an artificialness about it, like the scriptwriters reformatted a couple of RAW or SmackDown shows and billed it as a PPV. Beyond the Orton-Sheamus battle, the final match was the best of the bunch -- no surprise that it garnered the most attention and effort -- and, at the time, Daniel Bryan's return was the unequivocal highlight of the entire event, overshadowing every title match and even the final seven-on-seven frenzy.

SummerSlam 2010 contains the following matches:

• Intercontinental Championship Match: Dolph Ziggler vs. Kofi Kingston.
• Divas Championship Match: Alicia Fox vs. Melina.
• 3-on-1 Handicap Match: Big Show vs. CM Punk, Luke Gallows & Joseph Mercury.
• WWE Championship Match: Sheamus vs. Randy Orton.
• World Heavyweight Championship Match: Kane vs. Rey Mysterio.
• 7-on-7 Elimination Tag Team Match: Team WWE vs. The Nexus: John Cena, Bret "Hit Man" Hart, Chris Jericho, Edge, John Morrison, R-Truth & Daniel Bryan vs. Wade Barrett, David Otunga, Heath Slater, Skip Sheffield, Michael Tarver, Justin Gabriel & Darren Young.

WWE: SummerSlam 2010 Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

SummerSlam 2010 is fairly typical of an early WWE Blu-ray release. Generally, the image offers a satisfying, clear HD image, a little raw by today's slightly loftier standards but fairly impressive nonetheless. The 1080i, 1.78:1-framed image offers solid, video-like detail, revealing fine facial and clothing nuance while also displaying admirable quality across the background, whether backstage or up within the Staples Center crowd. Colors are bold and accurate, particularly evident on the rather loud and unmissable red and yellow SummerSlam ring apron but also on wrestler attire and both digital and handmade signs. Black levels are satisfyingly deep and accurate, while flesh tones appear true. The image does suffer from some noticeable blockiness at times but isn't a significant drawback and rarely presents itself during matches. Overall, a satisfactory, good-looking image from WWE Home Video.

WWE: SummerSlam 2010 Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

SummerSlam 2010's Dolby Digital 5.1 lossy soundtrack satisfies the material's requirements. Fireworks blow with commendable stage presence and power. Music blares through the speakers as wrestlers make their way to the ring. Slams and crashes and all the sounds of wrestling mayhem play with a passably realistic presence. Crowd chants and cheering are suitably enveloping, particularly as the action intensifies and the cheers rise in volume. Ringside commentary and backstage chatter and interviews play with proper volume, clarity, and natural, front-center placement. It's a fairly standard, "heard-one-heard-them-all" sort of WWE track. In short, it gets the job done with little room for major complaint.

WWE: SummerSlam 2010 Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

SummerSlam 2010 contains an interview and a full episode of RAW.

• Home Video Exclusive Interview (HD, 1:04): Josh Mathews Interviews Daniel Bryan. SummerSlam -- August 15, 2010.
• Monday Night RAW (HD, 1:27:03): From August 9, 2010. This is the entire program, available to watch from start to finish or broken down into the following chapters: Bret Hart is Ready for Nexus, Evan Bourne vs. The Miz, Melina vs. Alicia Fox, Josh Mathews Interviews The Great Khali, Chris Jericho & Edge Prepare for Their Match, Mark Henry vs. Ted DiBiase, Sheamus isn't Scared of Anyone, NXT Rookie Tag Team Match: Kaval, Percy Watson & Lucky Cannon vs. Michael McGillicutty, Alex Riley & Husky Harris, R-Truth & John Morrison vs. William Regal & Zack Ryder, Triple Threat Tag Team Divas Summertime Spectacular: Brie Bella & Nikki Bella vs. Eve Torres & Gail Kim vs. Maryse & Jillian, Nexus Plan to Make History, and Nexus as Lumberjacks Match: John Cena & Bret Hart vs. Edge & Chris Jericho.

WWE: SummerSlam 2010 Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

2010's version of SummerSlam offers up competent wrestling on a big stage, complete with a plethora of big names and a few intriguing match-ups. What it doesn't do, however, is fulfill the hype of the pay event. Beyond Bryan's return, there's nothing outlandish (save for Melina's outfit) and certainly nothing particularly memorable. It's a moment-in-time event that transitions towards bigger and better things but that, on its own merits, comes up short of expectations. SummerSlam 2010's Blu-ray release offers solid video and audio along with an entire episode of RAW as a bonus. Recommended only to WWE on Blu-ray completists.