WWE SummerSlam 2018: Results, Highlights, and Grades

Photo Source: WWE.com

United States Championship Match

Shinsuke Nakamura (c) vs. Jeff Hardy

Result: Shinsuke Nakamura defeated Jeff Hardy via pinfall

Rating: 2.75 out of 5 stars

We actually got an actual match between these two superstars at WWE SummerSlam 2018 after their Extreme Rules “match” lasted as long as a popsicle in the Sahara. And everyone can say what they want about the match, but all I want to make sure I point out is this: Jeff Hardy must be stopped before he kills himself.

I’m focusing on the Swanton Bomb attempt to the outside, where he landed cervical spine first on the ring apron. In case you hadn’t heard, the apron is the hardest part of the ring. For a guy his age, and with his history of high risk maneuvers and injuries resulting from them (and a past history with substance abuse related to those injuries), that was a mind-bogglingly stupid decision.

Look, I like Jeff Hardy just fine, but he walks around like a senior citizen already. He’s “old” for a wrestler, but he’s still a young man — there’s no need for those kinds of bumps for him. He barely got all the way around on the Swanton in the ring, so why make things worse for yourself?

But the match itself was fine, with Nakamura attempting to take a shortcut and getting busted, then having to actually work for a victory. The Randy Orton appearance after the match was expected, but him doing nothing at all was not. Incredibly odd way to finish the segment.