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Welcome to PWInsider.com's live coverage of the Summerslam 2017 Pregame Show!
The panel is Renee Young, David Otunga, Jerry "The King" Lawler, and Lita, and they welcome us to the show befoer throwing us to the back where Charly Caruso is going to be hosting segments in the lounge. Oh, and Sam Roberts is the lucky guy who gets to stand outside.
We turn our attention to John Cena vs Baron Corbin, and Charly interviews Corbin to point out how he's one of three men to ever cash in the briefcase and lose. We can't quite hear his entire response because the audio was going in and out, but the point seemed to be that Cena would pay. The panel discusses.
We see a video package of the history between Finn Balor and Bray Wyatt, then we go to the panel where David Otunga calls this the Battle For The Underworld. Panel unanimously expects Finn Balor to come out ahead on this one.
Video package hyping AJ Styles vs Kevin Owens, including Owens trying to sow mistrust between AJ and Shane based on what happened leading into their Wrestlemania match. Charly interviews Shane backstage somewhere the audio is working to ask how his history with AJ will affect his officiating. Shane says he understands the risks that come with refereeing, but if someone intentionally puts their hands on him, he will respond in kind. The panel discusses, then we go down to ringside to meet the Raw announce team of Michael Cole, Corey Graves, and Booker T, who will call our opening match...
The Miz, Bo Dallas & Curtis Axel vs Jason Jordan & The Hardy Boyz
Matt and Jeff start us off, tagging in and out on Axel and connecting with Poetry In Motion. Bo Dallass and Jason Jordan come in and Jordan gets an immediate advantage with a dropkick on Bo for 2. Bo winds up in peril for several moments until Axel pulls him to the floor as we go to...commercial?
We're back, and Bo is still in trouble until Axel trips Jeff during the Whisper In The Wind. Now Jeff is caught in the wrong part of town, but he gets to Matt to make the hot tag, and Matt cleans house. Matt with a second rope elbow to Miz for 2, but Miz turns around and unloads some It Kicks on Matt. Matt ducks the last one and hits the Side Effect for 2. Jordan is in now cleaning house on the Miztourage, suplexing Dallas out of the ring and then hitting a T-bone suplex on Axel for 2. Jeff hits a Twist of Fate on Dallass, Axel dumps Jeff, Jordan suplexes Axel and hits a corner shoulderblock. Miz comes in and hits the Skull Crushing Finale on Jordan for the win.
Winners: The Miz & The Miztourage
Good solid opener to get the crowd going for the next 78 hours they're going to be sitting there. Bo Dallas is starting to look like Pitbull #1.
Back to the panel, who take us to a video package of the Shield reunion leading into tonight's title match. Charly is backstage with them for Q&A time! The first question is what their team name is. The short answer is they have no idea and haven't really thought about it. Question 2: how does it feel being back together after everything that happened. Seth says it's surreal, after all the wars they had. Third question: what was their favorite Shield moment? Dean points out they opened this building with a TLC, and then they debate whether Jay-Z or the Shield own this building.
Out to Vic Joseph and Corey Graves, who are ready to call our first title match of the evening...
Cruiserweight Title Match: Akira Tozawa vs Neville
Back and forth to start, Neville dropkicks Tozawa's face off, but Tozawa comes back with one of his own that knocks Neville to the floor. Neville comes back in and Tozawa uses his speed to outmaneuver him until Neville snaps Tozawa's neck down on the top rope, then rams him into the ring apron on the floor as we go to break.
We're back, and Neville connects with a missile dropkick for 2. Neville maintains control for a moment before Tozawa dumps Neville to the floor and connects with a SWEET dive through the ropes. Back in the ring where Tozawa is on the rampage, turning him inside out with the slingblade and then a springboard...something that Neville catches him in a fireman's carry. Tozawa counters to the royal octopus in the middle of the ring, Neville gets away, but Tozawa hits a Shining Wizard for 2. Neville connects with a nice leaping enziguiri, then tries a sunset flip and Tozawa rolls through and hits another Shining Wizard. He's too tired to make a cover, so he collects himself, goes to the top for the senton...and Neville gets the knees up! Neville quickly goes to the top, hits the red arrow, and regains his crown.
Winner and NEW Cruiserweight Champion: Neville
AMAZING MATCH! Title is back on the right guy, too.
The preshow continues on Page 2!
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