Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.0
Audio		3.5
Extras		2.5
Overall		3.5

WWE: SummerSlam 2013 Blu-ray Movie Review

A slamming Blu-ray release or one that falls flat?

Reviewed by Martin Liebman September 24, 2013

"SummerSlam." No other WWE event flows off the tongue so effortlessly, so smoothly, so naturally. It's not just the alliteration that makes it so but also, for the professional wrestling fan, anyway, the understanding of what it means in the broader WWE universe as one of the hallmark Pay-Per-View events and an annual extravaganza that marks the passage of time and the continuation of wrestling greatness. Considering its long run, it's once of the most storied PPV events, a staple on the schedule and one of the most anticipated events of the year. Sure it lacks the prestige of WrestleMania, but so does every other event on the calendar. 2013's SummerSlam ranks as one of the best yet, with plenty on the line and a roster packed with the best talent the WWE has to offer, from seasoned veterans like John Cena and CM Punk, shining stars like Daniel Bryan, and newcomers like Bray Wyatt looking to make their mark on one of wrestling's biggest stages.

Not as suggestive as it looks in this picture.

As a staple of the WWE's pay wall programming, it should come as no surprise that this year's event took place in Los Angeles' Staples Center, home of the L.A. Lakers and L.A. Clippers NBA basketball teams. 2013's event also marks the fifth straight year the event found a home in the City of Angels' premiere sporting venue. This was a SummerSlam not unlike most every other SummerSlam, then, certainly if the recent past is any indication and definitely considering the WWE's penchant for putting on a great show. This year's edition offered audiences a billing of several great matches, including a double "main event," one pitting fan-favorite CM Punk against the hulking Brock Lesnar (and former Punk manager and mentor Paul Heyman) and John "Hustle, Loyalty, Respect" Cena against Daniel "Beard" Bryan with special guest referee Triple H. The event also showcased the PPV debut of Bray Wyatt, a World Heavyweight Championship match between Christian and Alberto Del Rio, and a mixed tag match featuring one-time lovers Dolph Ziggler and AJ Lee.

SummerSlam 2013's hot start -- literally, a hot start, as in a "ring of fire" match between Bray Wyatt and Kane -- sets the tone for a fast, fueled, and frenetic evening of wrestling mayhem with as much on the line, and as many juicy stories to be resolved, continued, or begun, as any other non-WrestleMania event in recent memory. The WWE certainly planned it well, as it always does, ensuring a program worth the cost of admission. Hosted by The Miz and presented as a throwback, scratchy, 70s-era, Grindhouse style retro event, SummerSlam never misses a beat and, while it doesn't advance the state of professional wrestling, it does more than enough to satisfy fans hungry for maximum physical mayhem and soap opera antics that only wrestling fans can truly appreciate. It might not all make much sense in the vacuum of the program, even with the commentary and a few building blocks shown along the way. This is a rare case where it absolutely makes more sense to watch the on-disc supplements before diving into the main program to help get a feel for what's to come and better appreciate the dramatic mastery that goes along with the wrestling intensity.

The following matches comprise SummerSlam 2013's card:

• Ring of Fire Match: Kane vs. Bray Wyatt.
• SummerSlam Match: Cody Rhodes vs. Damien Sandow.
• World Heavyweight Championship Match: Alberto Del Rio vs. Christian.
• SummerSlam Divas Match: Natalya vs. Brie Bella.
• "The Best" vs. "The Beast" in a No Disqualification Match: CM Punk vs. Brock Lesnar.
• Mixed Tag Team Match: Dolph Ziggler & Kaitlyn vs. Big E Langston & AJ Lee.
• WWE Championship Match: John Cena vs. Daniel Bryan.

WWE: SummerSlam 2013 Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

SummerSlam 2013 features a solid, typical WWE HD video presentation that largely mimics the look of a WWE television broadcast. The 1.781-framed image enjoys robust colors and solid detail throughout. Image clarity rarely falters, though wrestlers standing in front of the massive electronic signage near the entrance and ramp to the ring do appear rather distorted. Compression artifacts are often visible in the background and particularly in those same scenes in front of the signage; watch for wrestler stomachs and other random elements to go rather blocky. Otherwise, this is a good presentation. Image clarity allows for detailed crowd shots and clean, accurate definition. The color palette explodes with a variety of shades, whether wrestler attire or the bold flavors of the huge electronic signs. Black levels are usually strong, though they're a little overpowering in the Bray Wyatt lantern lighting shot near the beginning. On the whole, however, this is another stable, enjoyable transfer from WWE.

WWE: SummerSlam 2013 Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

SummerSlam 2013 arrives on Blu-ray with the standard WWE Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack. Generally, the track offers a solid, albeit largely basic, listen. It's a rather aggressive presentation, offering wide stage and surround support to music, whether overlaid onto the program or blaring through the stadium speakers. Dialogue comes through evenly and consistently, whether in-ring, backstage, ringside commentary, or voiceover narration. Some of the pyrotechnic effects sound a little muddled, but generally there's a good, basic presence to more action-oriented sound effects. In short, and like this video, this is a typical WWE soundtrack experience for a recently completed event.

WWE: SummerSlam 2013 Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

SummerSlam 2013 contains several bonuses, primarily in the form of pre-SummerSlam RAW and Smackdown highlight matches and moments. All but the SummerSlam Kickoff Show are billed as "Blu-ray Exclusives."

• SummerSlam Kickoff Show (HD, 5:03): WWE United States Championship Highlights. Dean Ambrose vs. Rob Van Dam.
• RAW Match (HD, 8:51): Daniel Bryan vs. Wade Barrett. Monday Night RAW -- August 12, 2013.
• RAW Match (HD, 14:17): Randy Orton vs. Damien Sandow. Monday Night RAW -- August 12, 2013.
• RAW Moment (HD, 9:08): Mr. McMahon Picks a Special Referee for SummerSlam. Monday Night RAW -- August 12, 2013.
• RAW Moment (HD, 20:19): Miz TV with John Cena & Daniel Bryan. Monday Night RAW -- August 12, 2013.
• RAW Match (HD, 14:18): CM Punk vs. Paul Heyman. Monday Night RAW -- August 12, 2013.
• SmackDown Moment (HD, 6:18): Bray Wyatt Tells a Story About Kane. SmackDown -- August 16, 2013.
• No Disqualification Match (HD, 16:22): Daniel Bryan vs. Wade Barrett. SmackDown -- August 16, 2013.

WWE: SummerSlam 2013 Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

SummerSlam 2013 won't be remembered as a groundbreaking PPV event, but it at least maintains the status quo and satisfies all of the requirements for a pay wall wrestling event. There are huge stars, exciting story lines, awesome wrestling maneuvers, and a few surprises that set up future events and will no doubt pave the way towards the next several PPV events. WWE's Blu-ray release of SummerSlam 2013 offers high quality HD video and solid lossy audio. Supplements are great, but some post-SummerSlam RAW and SmackDown fallout moments would be even better. Highly recommend to WWE fans.